From Small Ventures to Big Dreams: Peace’s Journey to Financial Independence
Written by: Lilian Nansubuga
At 23, Peace Giramiya was a determined young mother of two, working hard to support her family. She sold mandazi, pancakes, and silver fish in her community, doing whatever she could to make ends meet.
“I was selling some small items, but just to pass time, I wasn’t taking it very seriously,” she said.
Her life began to change when the village chairperson called a community meeting to announce a business training program. “The chairperson told us that the training was about business, and it would benefit us a lot. So, I was eager to join,” Peace recalled.
Without hesitation, she signed up for the Street Business School (SBS) training program.
From the very first session, Peace was motivated to keep attending. “I didn’t miss any of the training because when the coaches shared success stories, I was inspired. I had been managing small ventures without seeing results, so I knew this training would help me,” she said.
Her favorite topics included money management, finding capital, and starting small. “I thought the only capital one needed was money, but now I’ve realized it’s not just about money,” she said.
Motivated by what she was learning, Peace quickly applied her skills and even started a new business: cooking and selling porridge. Starting with almost nothing—borrowing a saucepan, sugar, flour, and cups from a neighbor—she made the business work.
“I started with no money at all. I only had my stove,” she said.
Now, Peace earns around $3.60 in daily profits. She uses her earnings to pay school fees for her son and sister, and she also saves through four different savings groups, contributing $2.77 per week to each.
Besides financial skills, Peace also enjoyed the fun and engaging aspects of the training. “I loved the gift rewards we got every time we participated. They motivated us and encouraged us to come out of our comfort zones,” she said.
Peace hasn’t kept her knowledge to herself. She has shared the skills she learned with three others in her community, helping them start their own businesses.
“Since I passed all eight modules, I had to share what I learned,” she said.
Looking ahead, Peace dreams of buying a plot of land and opening a restaurant in Buliisa. “I learned customer care, so I make sure I prepare very good porridge and add milk, since that’s what people enjoy the most,” she said.
Grateful for the training, Peace celebrates her growth and the wider impact on her community. “We didn’t know about business skills like budgeting, but now I can maintain a business and even save—something I was never able to do before. I hope this training continues to change lives across the country,” she said.
Through hard work, determination, and applying the knowledge she gained, Peace has transformed small ventures into meaningful opportunities, creating a brighter future for herself, her family, and her community.
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