A growing business for Julius

Julius

Our Livelihoods projects offer support and training services to disabled people and employers across Africa and Asia, and campaign for better disability awareness.

As part of these projects, we supported Julius from Uganda. This is his story.

I’m urging community members to support people with disabilities without any discrimination.

Julius sits on a stool outside of a building site

Julius was born with a learning disability. He dropped out of school at a young age because his teachers didn’t understand how to support him. He was stuck at home, relying on his father after his mother left. 

But after hearing about our project, Julius’s father registered him right away. Julius was medically assessed and given mental health support and careers training.

Julius was keen to start his own poultry business. After taking an interest in business skills, he joined a training group where he met lots of other budding entrepreneurs.

They were each given a loan by Leonard Cheshire to help set up their business. However, instead of keeping their individual loans, they decided to combine their money.

By doing this, the money could be turned into a group savings account, which is kept topped up by each business owner. The idea meant the group could continue to grow and support many more disabled entrepreneurs long after the original project ended.

With the loan, Julius was able to start his poultry business. Now, his business is thriving. 

The money he’s made supports his basic needs and pays for his sister’s school fees.

Julius’s father always wanted to help but admitted he didn’t know how.

He said:

‘At first, I doubted his ability, but he has proved me wrong.

‘I’m urging community members to support people with disabilities without any discrimination.’

Ability June 2019

A woman working in a charity shop

£15

could go towards the costs of training qualifications and work placements which will help disabled people be seen by employers

Enter here

£25

could provide materials and equipment to support disabled people in Africa and Asia to set up their own business

A man in a black suit sits on the steps of a building

£50

could go towards the cost of running a programme like Change 100, which helps young disabled people develop their skills and gain valuable experience.

Or donate other amount
could help towards running a programme like Can Do, which helps give disabled people vital opportunities to volunteer, gain experience and socialise

£8

a month

could help towards running a programme like Can Do, which helps give disabled people vital opportunities to volunteer, gain experience and socialise

A woman aided by crutches walks through a kitchen

£10

a month

could contribute to training employers in Africa and Asia how to support disabled staff members, encouraging them to give more disabled people jobs.

A woman aided by crutches walks through a kitchen

£20

a month

could help fund adapted equipment so disabled people can search for jobs at and contact employers

Or donate other amount