Empowered Women Knit a New Future Through Street Business School Training
From hobby knitter to thriving entrepreneur: this was the transformative journey of Harriet Zalwango and her two business partners, who turned $1.91 and a dream into a successful crafting enterprise in their community.
For three women—Harriet Zalwango (29), Viola Nabajuzi (27), and Prossy Nakatelegga (20)—the idea of running a successful business once seemed like a distant dream. While Harriet occasionally knitted baskets as a hobby, Viola and Prossy had no income at all. Everything changed when they joined Street Business School’s (SBS) Community-Based Training (CBT) Program.
Curiosity led them to attend the training, but soon they realized its transformative potential. Prossy, reflecting on her experience, says, “I’m glad I signed up for the training because it opened my eyes. I realized I could have been running my own business all those years I was sitting at home.”
A key lesson for all three women was the importance of starting small. Viola found this particularly empowering. “The ‘starting small’ module made me realize that waiting for big things might take a long time, but starting small was the best idea for us,” she explains.
For Prossy, the module on “looking for a market” had the most impact. “It made me realize how important it is to find buyers for your products,” she says. Meanwhile, Harriet credits the “getting out of your comfort zone” module for giving her the confidence she needed.
“I had very low self-esteem, but this training gave me the courage to start working and put my skills into practice.”
The women also fondly remember the patience and dedication of the SBS trainers, who were also leaders within their community. “The coaches took their time and made sure we grasped everything. If you didn’t understand, they would go through the lesson again,” Harriet adds.
Better Together
After completing the training, the trio initially considered starting a street food business. However, inspired by what they had learned, they set their sights higher. With Harriet’s knitting skills already in place, she taught Viola and Prossy, and together, they launched a knitting business. “We first thought of cooking food to sell, but the training pushed us to aim higher,” says Viola.
With just $1.91 in capital, the women bought materials and started producing handmade baskets and mats, which they now sell in their community. On a good day, each woman earns around $3.55. Prossy attributes much of their success to the marketing skills they gained during the training. “The module on looking for a market gave me the courage to seek clients, and now people are buying our products,” she explains.
Each woman brings her unique skills to the business, serving different clients and reaching a broader customer base. They credit their success not only to their hard work but also to the unwavering support of the SBS trainers. “The trainers gave us such an easy time. The training was memorable,” Harriet reflects.
Today, the trio isn’t just running a business—they’re part of a movement that’s transforming their community. Empowered and determined, they are knitting a new future for themselves and those around them. “The people in the community weren’t as hardworking back then, but now many have started working and striving for a better future,” they observed.
Looking ahead, the women dream of expanding their knitting business and starting additional ventures. The skills they learned through SBS have given them the confidence and independence to take care of their families.
Their journey, from uncertainty to entrepreneurship, is a testament to the life-changing impact of SBS’s Community-Based Training, one that is empowering women to take control of their futures.
We are all better together! Join us in supporting more groups of women at Give.StreetBusinessSchool.org.
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