Innocent’s Book Making Business
Book selling might not sound like much of a marketable commodity in the west, but in Uganda, educational material is a luxury very few children can afford. However, a young man named Innocent used his bookmaking skills to provide for his family, and thanks to the efforts of Asante Africa, he was able to hone his craft to make a real living, and provide other children with the material they need to educate themselves.
Like many young children in Uganda, Innocent has not had the easiest home life. The fourth child in a large family, his mother died when he was only 10 years old, and his father followed when he was 17. Thankfully, he didn’t have to be alone. Asante Africa appointed a guardian to take care of Innocent and support his studies. To provide for himself and his family, Innocent developed a niche for crafting paperback books to sell at the local markets.
Innocent always wanted to attend secondary school, and pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. However, that goal is not easy to attain for many in his position. Due to the economic decline in the region after the Covid-19 pandemic, Innocent could not afford the school fees he needed to continue his education. Not all was lost, though. By joining Asante Africa’s Youth Livelihood Program at secondary school in Uganda, Innocent was able to improve his skills in communication and leadership, and he would use them to turn his bookmaking hobby into a legitimate business.
Along with several other students from his fourth semester, Innocent began running a workshop where they would make and sell books together. The profits they earned from the sales would help Innocent and his fellow classmates to pay for their school fees and other educational necessities. Innocent now makes the equivalent of $25 or more each month, much more than he would have made working a regular job in his village.
Most educational material is very expensive in Uganda, but since these books are locally produced, they are much cheaper and more accessible for the children in need of them. Not only is the bookmaking operation helping Innocent and his peers pursue their academics, but it is also helping several other children in the community.
Innocent is saving up his profits to continue his mechanical engineering studies. That goal might not have been possible for many children in his position, but thanks to his drive for his goals, and support from Asante Africa, Innocent was able to turn his hobby into a force of good for his community. Once he comes back to school to pursue his major, it is safe to say that Innocent’s success story is only just beginning.