Here in America, motorcycles are common. Most of us know at least one person with a Harley or a Honda. Usually though, if a family has a motorcycle, it’s a secondary vehicle. Cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs are the necessities here. We often don’t know how to get by without them. But in developing parts of the world, often these same vehicles are luxuries. Motorcycles are much more common, considerably less expensive, and incredibly utilitarian. This can be seen across East Africa, where motorbikes are known as boda-bodas. It’s not uncommon to see an entire family riding on a boda-boda built for an occupancy of two. The truly courageous will haul furniture better fit for a pickup on the back of a boda boda. In this part of the world, they are the necessity. In fact, boda boda’s make up 85% of the transportation needs in Uganda.
Ezra Ssekirime knows this well. He has been learning and gaining experience as a mechanic inU ganda for the past four years now. His goal has always been to work honorably in his trade while reflecting Jesus Christ to those around him. His dream has always been to open his own garage. Now, with Plentiful Harvest’s help, Ezra is doing just that. Funds raised through the 2022 Plentiful Harvest Soccer Tournament went to help Ezra finally open his own garage in Mukono, Uganda.
Plentiful Harvest founder Timothy Busuulwa says the business is crucial because it touches the heart of transportation in Uganda. “Opening a garage in a community where people expect honesty and integrity, that changes the ball for society,” Timothy said. “This company is very trustworthy and also will give people jobs. In other words, you will be able to provide employment for young men and women that are interested in mechanics.”As of today, only two months of being open, he has hired and trained 2 young men that now work for him.
As Ezra grows his shop, he plans to hire more young men and women who also want to learn to be mechanics and do it well. Plentiful Harvest and Ezra both desire to be a resource for others to come learn, grow their own businesses, and become community leaders in their own right. “The garage is a business that can create opportunities for many young men and women that have skills and are going into mechanical industry,” Timothy said. This is really at the heart of what Plentiful Harvest seeks to do in Uganda. We want to empower young men and women to open their own businesses and work to reflect Christ to their nation. In a country where politics are often greased with graft, something as simple as honest work can have a huge impact.
Ezra’s garage is just the most recent step. Plentiful Harvest will also soon help young entrepreneurs open a fish trading business and an electronics shop. By providing these opportunities for young Ugandan men and women, we hope to change the heart of the nation.
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