In this section, we hope to cover any questions that you are looking for answers to. If your question is not covered, then please email us and we will add the question and the answer to this section for all to see.
Why do we need to pay for schooling and training, when we are just wanting to plant and harvest melons for a profit?
The project relies on the goodwill of its 60 members and therefore we need to provide a good service to them, if they are to continue to do this for years to come. Additionally, many of our costs are reduced, as we do not need to acquire or rent land and this is likely an equal trade off for building some long-term assets for Uganda and rural communities.
How do I know I am supporting a future social entrepreneur?
Many of the members of the project have already demonstrated their enthusiasm for working for their communities through undertaking social projects and generally they are only taken onto the project, if they have shown interest in and given us ideas how they could support their communities. If a member does not want to participate, then they can leave the project and we will replace them.
Not every member is planting melons. Why do I have to support these other people?
Not every member has land available to them, particularly if they are particularly disadvantaged or were born in Kampala, with little link to their village. However, these members will be involved in other ways, such as peer mentoring and training and all will be undertaking their own social projects as well. Originally, members were chosen from slum districts and thus not all of our members have land.
How many crops will there be in a year?
We anticipate there to be up to two crops in the year, though three crops would potentially be possible, if the planters are enthusiastic, or we need to boost income.
How do we know this will work?
A temporary school was built this year to pilot the idea and 10 sites were planted and melons grew well at all bar one location, which was affected by drought. A full activity programme has been run all year with the pilot group.
How much land will we utilise?
10,000 seeds can be planted in one acre, so we intend to plant 500,000 seeds in 50 acres in up to sixty separate sites.
Why melons and not something saleable locally?
Melons are a high value crop, when you can find a market for them in a large town. Locally they have little commercial value, for the effort required. The three main reasons for selecting melons are that we can generate substantial return on investment, we can develop logistics to market, to encourage villagers to plant higher value crops, we can train up villagers how to grow a crop that could earn them more money and hence boost the economy in the village. To protect your investment, produce which are heavy and have a low local value are less desirable for thieving.
What precautions are you taking against theft?
Our intention is to work with each community on an ongoing basis, providing them with advice, support and seeds for agriculture and training their young people at our Chrysalis School, so we liaise with local elected dignitaries in each area where planting takes place, either personally, or through the families of the young people we have as part of the project.
What do you know about melon-planting? What is our track record?
Social Enterprise Africa CIC is enlisting the assistance of an agricultural consultant. You can read about their track record here.
What do you do to check that the melons are being cared for?
Social Enterprise Africa works with a local trusted person in each area – North, East, Central and West, who will check on the progress of the melon crop on an ongoing basis. We provide them with a motorcycle, so they can easily move from place to place, but also earn some income for themselves, independently. These riders will be specially-trained on the melon crop and will also liaise with the farmers to assure the harvest takes place at the correct time. They will also accompany the drivers, that will move the melons to market.
Is this the first share issue instigated by Social Enterprise Africa CIC?
Yes, but we do not expect it to be the last, nor do we expect to limit ourselves to melons or even Uganda. A school is planned for 2013 in Zambia and we will likely be having a share issue for that project too.
Why do we need a share issue?
Social Enterprise Africa CIC is not supported by a charity, nor government funding, though its work has a social purpose. Therefore, we need to develop a positive cash flow in order to develop new sustainable projects. A share issue we believe will also help us develop an awareness of the poverty-alleviation model we operate to many thousands of people, which will enable a channel to raise capital for further sustainable projects in the future.
Is this like a Kiva loan?
Yes, there are some similarities, as we plan to be able to repay the money in full. However, there is a good chance that you will earn a return on the money you invest, as well. You will, however, have an opportunity to re-invest the money, plus any return into a new project at the end of 2012.
If I choose to redeem my money, will there be a cost to this?
Yes, there will be an administrative charge, though we will charge this at cost. Currency fluctuations may affect both the level of return and the redemption charge.
If you do not reach your target, then what will happen?
We have a series of alternative plans, which allow the project to continue in a different way, with less investment in capital and reduce the amount of seeds planted. These will be posted up, if needed.