We build communities by creating jobs in Africa. When people have the capital to build their own businesses, they take control of their future, their love of life soars, they take pride in being able to make a contribution to their own community, and they give thanks to God.

Fall 2013, I built a small microlending organization, which has partnerships in Benin and Kenya, west and east Africa, respectively. The name of our organization is UBuild2.org. Our program has grown, having built 22 small businesses over the past 2 years. There are a couple of stories below. UBuild2 is a tax exempt, nonprofit organization (501(c)3).

We're ready to grow again. As the director, I have been asked by our board to visit our partners in Benin and Kenya, and new prospective partners in several other African countries.

Here's our itinerary:
     May 4-12 Kenya
     May 12-14 Ghana
     May 14-17 Togo
     May 17-20 Benin
     May 20-23 Liberia
     May 23-27 Sierra Leone
     May 27-June 2 Ethiopia

Our goals are as follows:
          To get to know and pray with the leaders of the communities I visit;
          To talk about how microlending will work in their communities;
          To meet the people who will be a part of our partners’ leadership teams;
          To meet some of the people who will receive UBuild2 loans for their small businesses;
           And to introduce youth entrepreneurship. This is new for us, but training young people in a formal setting in business and financial accountability has been a working model of outreach for over 20 years! We’re excited to include this as a new program for UBuild2.

Our fundraising goal is $9,400. This is for travel expenses to introduce microlending to our future partners in Africa. Because UBuild2 does not charge interest on its loans, it has no source of income besides direct gifts for projects like this. Thus our need for your support. Here's our budget:
          International Airfare  $1,050
          Domestic Airfare  $1,980
          Visas  $1,870
          Local Transportation  $1000
          Accomodations & Meals  $1,500
          Gifts for Partners  $2,000
                 TOTAL  $9,400

Here is Titika from Samburu, Kenya. With a $250 loan from UB2 she built a sundry shop which is providing a stable income for her and her family.

This is Keno from Samburu, Kenya. With a $375 loan he purchased irrigation equipment for his farm. He grows beans, maize, bananas, papayas, and chili peppers, which he sells in the local market. For more stories, check out the UBuild2 website HERE .

If we can raise support for this trip, we will cross a new threshold for the development of UBuild2. Our presence in Africa will give us insight as regards our future strategy, instill new confidence in our membership, and provide encouragement for our African partners.

This is the Rev. Gregoire Legbanon, the head of our work in Benin. He is the president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Benin.

This is Vincent Leiyoole, the head of our work in Samburu, Kenya. His wife, Julia, oversees the work of the World Mission Prayer League in Kenya. 

My Qualifications: I earned an M.B.A. with a concentration in Economic Development in Developing Countries (Eastern University, St. David's, PA). I'm the co-founder of India Partners, a nonprofit development and relief organization headquartered in Eugene, OR. I worked as a consultant in microenterprise and aquaculture for 8 years in India, and I'm the founding director of UBuild2.org .

Thank you for your consideration. If you'd like to be a part of our work, please contact us for more info. Thanks again :)

- Richard Ross