What begins as a handful of coins and small currency notes passed around a circle each week is reshaping livelihood prospects of thousands of young people in central Uganda. Through TeamUp-supported Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Mityana and Kassanda districts, youth aged 15–30 are building assets, creating businesses, and securing dignified livelihoods.
In 2025 alone, 5,219 youth (2,687 male and 2,532 female) united in 180 VSLAs saved UGX 759,215,600 and accessed UGX 493,211,000 in affordable loans. While these numbers tell a powerful story, the real transformation lies in what the savings have become.
Across VSLA groups, young people are converting their savings into tangible, life-changing assets:
- Permanent homes replacing temporary shelters
- Land for agriculture
- Plantations and other agricultural enterprises boosting food security and income
- Business entreprises generating reliable cash flow for households
VSLA members report are posting higher household incomes, improved financial discipline, and increased resilience to shocks. They are able to pay school fees for their children, access healthcare, invest in farming, and respond to emergencies without falling into exploitative debt. In short, they are moving from vulnerability to stability and prosperity.
Gorret Zawedde, a VSLA member in Butayunja Subcounty, Mityana district proudly shares that through VSLA savings and access to seed capital, she has built her own house, established a coffee plantation, and launched a daily income-generating business, a journey that would have been unimaginable without an organised saving structure.
Equally powerful is the social capital being built. Youth groups are grounded in trust, transparency, and collective responsibility, strengthened by formal registration and constitutions that guide accountability and leadership.
What makes VSLA groups supported by TeamUp unique is their integration into Youth Farmer Field Schools. Here, young people do not only learn how to save they learn how to generate the income they save. Through hands-on training in sustainable agriculture, crop management, and agribusiness, youth are equipped with practical skills to grow coffee, manage farms, and run enterprises. In essence, youth learn as they save and save as they learn, creating a powerful cycle of productivity, income, and investment.
The VSLAs are nurturing a new generation of financially literate, disciplined, and confident young leaders. Through TeamUp’s mentorship, participants gain skills in business management, sustainable agriculture, leadership, and advocacy.
