Impakter
  • News
    • Culture
      • Art
      • Cinema
      • Entertainment
      • Literature
      • Music
      • Photography
    • Style
      • Architecture
      • Design
      • Fashion
      • Foodscape
      • Lifestyle
    • Society
      • Business
      • Foreign Affairs & Politics
      • Health
      • Tech
      • Science
      • Start-up
    • Impact
      • Environment
      • Eco Life
      • Circular Economy
      • COP26
      • CityLife
        • Copenhagen
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle
        • Sydney
      • Sustainability Series
        • SDGs Series
        • Shape Your Future
        • 2030: Dream or Reality
      • Philanthropy
        • United Nations
        • NGO & Charities
        • Essays
  • Business Hub
  • Sustainability Index
  • Partners
  • About
    • Team
    • Contributors
    • Global Leaders
    • Write for Impakter
      • Republishing Content
      • Permissions and Copyright
      • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Culture
      • Art
      • Cinema
      • Entertainment
      • Literature
      • Music
      • Photography
    • Style
      • Architecture
      • Design
      • Fashion
      • Foodscape
      • Lifestyle
    • Society
      • Business
      • Foreign Affairs & Politics
      • Health
      • Tech
      • Science
      • Start-up
    • Impact
      • Environment
      • Eco Life
      • Circular Economy
      • COP26
      • CityLife
        • Copenhagen
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle
        • Sydney
      • Sustainability Series
        • SDGs Series
        • Shape Your Future
        • 2030: Dream or Reality
      • Philanthropy
        • United Nations
        • NGO & Charities
        • Essays
  • Business Hub
  • Sustainability Index
  • Partners
  • About
    • Team
    • Contributors
    • Global Leaders
    • Write for Impakter
      • Republishing Content
      • Permissions and Copyright
      • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Impakter
No Result
View All Result
Home Equal Rights

From Where I Stand: “I started my business with 15 dollars”

byUN Women
July 4, 2017
in Equal Rights, SDG Series, United Nations
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
EDITOR’S NOTE:  THIS PIECE IS AUTHORED BY UN WOMEN AS PART OF THE SERIES “FROM WHERE I STAND”, WHICH CAPTURES PEOPLES STORIES AND THEIR DAILY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. SEE THE FULL SERIES HERE. 

Sandra Letio started a soap-making business with only USD 15. Today, she is 29 and her business is valued at USD 700,000. With sheer determination, talent, supportive parents and a team of young staff who believed in her, Letio overcame the barriers she encountered. At the CSW 61 Youth Forum, she inspired young entrepreneurs, but also reminded decision-makers to give equal opportunities to youth.

I was 23 years old and unemployed, looking for jobs, but finding none. My mother suggested the idea of making and selling soaps. I had USD 15 to invest and a basic recipe for making soaps.

I made soap at night, and went door-to-door to sell them during the day. I had ten customers that first week. They all liked my soap and asked for more. I made USD 22 from the first batch of soap. I kept aside some of the profit and bought more supplies. Within a month, I had more than 50 customers.

I still remember the first time I went to a shop, to ask the manager, if she would buy soap from me. She looked at me from head to toe, saw my shabby outfit, my unbranded soap, and told me that unless my soap was branded, had the standardization mark, no shop will buy it.

I felt demoralized at first, but didn’t give up. Without hesitation, I wrote to the Uganda Industrial Research Institute and sought their help to improve and brand my soap.

(She) told me that unless my soap was branded, had the standardization mark, no shop will buy it.

I registered my company as “Pelere Group”. In my Madi (indigenous tribe) language, Pelere means ‘something wonderful’.

Today, I employ 20 people—half of them are below 30 years of age, and most of them are women. I have expanded my business and sell over 10 products now, from detergent to soaps and cosmetics, all organic. Today, my business is valued at USD 700,000 and I plan to expand it internationally.

When I first started, no one thought I would be so successful. Many people refused to take me seriously, or give me contracts, because I was young. Some men even harassed me; said they would give me business if I married them! But I persisted.

I am the ambassador for youth entrepreneurs in Uganda. Whenever young people tell me that they don’t have the money to start a business, I remind them how I started, with USD 15 and an empty jerrycan, where I mixed the ingredients for my soap.

We may be young, but we should be given equal opportunities.

Sandra Letio, now 29, started a soap-making business with only USD 15. With sheer determination and talent, and with access to financial resources facilitated by UN Women, Letio grew her business into the Pelere Group, now estimated to be worth USD 700,000. Since then, she has worked with UN Women Uganda to successfully facilitate youth entrepreneur’s access to financial loans and grants. Letio recently shared her inspiring story with participants at the CSW61 Youth Forum. Her story exemplifies the benefits of promoting entrepreneurship for women and youth towards fulfilling the vision of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8—full and productive employment and decent work for all.


Impakter Editors note: Over the next two months, every Tuesday, Impakter will be republishing selected articles from the UN Women “From Where I Stand” Editorial Series.  Featured Photo Credit: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Tags: Equal RightsGender equalityImpaktersustainable development goalsUN WomenYouth Development
Previous Post

Centering the Queer Patient Experience

Next Post

The Hidden Roots of Trump’s Fighting Instinct

UN Women

UN Women

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life.

Related Posts

The 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) successfully closed its two-week long session today (6 to 17 March) with the acknowledgment of the critical role of technology and innovation in achieving gender equality
Equal Rights

UN Commission on the Status of Women Reaffirms the Role of Technology and Innovation in Achieving Gender Equality

March 19, 2023
Rishi Sunak introduces the Illegal Migration or "Stop the Boats" Bill
Equal Rights

New Policies Reveal UK Priorities; Will They Stop the Boats and Stop the Press?

March 12, 2023
What Are the GDP and Innovation Costs of Excluding Women From the Digital World?
Equal Rights

What Are the GDP and Innovation Costs of Excluding Women From the Digital World?

March 11, 2023
Next Post
The Hidden Roots of Trump’s Fighting Instinct

The Hidden Roots of Trump’s Fighting Instinct

Recent News

ICC Putin

ICC Arrest Warrant: Will Putin See the Inside of a Courtroom?

March 20, 2023
IPCC report

UN IPCC: Leaders Urged to Heed Science and Act Now to Avert Climate Catastrophe

March 20, 2023
Critical Water Shortage: World to Face a 40% Deficit by 2030, New Report Warns

Critical Water Shortage: World to Face a 40% Deficit by 2030, New Report Warns

March 20, 2023
impakter-logo-light

Impakter informs you through the eco news site and empowers your sustainable lifestyle with its eco products marketplace.

Visit here IMPAKTER ECO for your eco products needs.

Registered Office Address

32 Lots Road, London
SW10 0QJ, United Kingdom


IMPAKTER Limited

Company number: 10806931

Impakter is a publication that is identified by the following International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is the following 2515-9569 (Printed) and 2515-9577 (online – Website).


Office Hours - Monday to Friday

9.30am - 5.00pm CEST


Email

stories [at] impakter.com

About Us

  • Team
  • Contributors
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partners

By Audience

  • Lifestyle
  • Green Finance
  • Culture
  • Society
  • Style
  • Impact

Impakter Platforms

  • Media
  • Index

© 2023 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Culture
    • Style
    • Society
    • Impact
  • Business Hub
  • Sustainability Index
  • About
    • Team
    • Partners
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

© 2023 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

Impakter.com uses cookies to enhance your experience when visiting the website and to serve you with advertisements that might interest you. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.