Charles Batte does not put his entrepreneurial eggs in one
basket. The 27-year-old’s name is likely to spark memories of the awards he has
won for his works in the world of social entrepreneurship, particularly the
Empower Community Farm in Katiiti village Mpigi District, which employs more
than 50 workers and a health centre in Nansana.
However, these are only some of the proverbial baskets holding
his eggs. One other such basket is Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU), a social
enterprise he set up in 2013, with a mission to address youth unemployment and
deforestation.
Inception of the idea
When Batte agrees to my request for this interview, he proposes we hold it at Rubaga hospital where he works as a medical doctor. “The idea was one of the initiatives under my now renowned “Self-Sustaining Community” model of enterprise tailored to transform my community through; job creation, improving access and affordability for health, education and youth empowerment,” he says of the start of the venture.
When Batte agrees to my request for this interview, he proposes we hold it at Rubaga hospital where he works as a medical doctor. “The idea was one of the initiatives under my now renowned “Self-Sustaining Community” model of enterprise tailored to transform my community through; job creation, improving access and affordability for health, education and youth empowerment,” he says of the start of the venture.
“After getting the farm and health centre on their feet, I used
funds from the two to breathe life in this fresh enterprise where Shs30m has
been spent, so far, in actualising the idea.
The model of TAU works in such a way that Batte meets the needs
of two groups of people at ago. On one hand are corporate companies or
manufacturers whom he persuades to spend their Community Social Responsibility
money on tree planting in order to reduce their carbon footprint.
“For example, we approach Centenary Bank (we are currently in
talks with them) and calculate for them the carbon their operations contribute
to the atmosphere,” he explains. “We also calculate for them the number of
trees they have to plant to reduce this carbon.”
On the other hand, we have youth who are pregnant with business
ideas and are seeking for a helping hand to deliver these ideas. He offers
these youths basic start-up business training and a three – year mentorship.
TAU also gives these youth trees to plant in nurseries.
When the corporate company or manufacturer pays for, say 10,000
trees, TAU buys these trees from the youth under its training programme. An
agreement is signed that this earned income is spent on actualising the
business ideas the youth have been working on.
“This way, TAU is able to hit two birds with one stone. Address
the challenge of youth unemployment and sustain the environment,” he says.
The medical doctor says TAU is currently through with its pilot
project under which the venture partnered with Aga Khan High School to equip
150 students with hands-on experience of setting up tree nurseries of up to 600
fruit trees.
TAU which currently employs five people will kick off with 50
youth in Katiiti village. Batte says he prioritised youth in rural areas in
order to reduce the growing number of youth flocking the city to do nothing,
leaving behind money-minting opportunities in the villages.
Advice to entrepreneurs
Motivation and self – drive are key. There are very many stumbling blocks in the pathway of a social entrepreneur, he says, but one can only go around them if they constantly remind themselves that quitting is not an option.
Motivation and self – drive are key. There are very many stumbling blocks in the pathway of a social entrepreneur, he says, but one can only go around them if they constantly remind themselves that quitting is not an option.
He narrates that during his early days as an entrepreneur (in
2009); he invested his hard-earned cash in growing maize on three acres of
land. “However, all the maize dried up. In such a situation, only the
conviction and hope that there will be a good day can induce you to get back on
your feet,” he says.
The medical doctor also stresses the importance of patience and
looking beyond fear. He explains that young people tend to yearn for quick
results yet they are rare to come by. He says the frustration one encounters
before a business finds its feet is a priceless experience for an entrepreneur
to master how to transform an idea into a profitable venture.
“The
youth should also learn to start with what they have. They should look beyond
fears such as; how things will turn out or the imagination of a slow progress,”
he states.
