Operation Kindness, Uganda

Mandala Trust funded the start-up costs for office space and equipment for Operation Kindness Uganda who offer support and training for local young people and students from disadvantaged backgrounds, a regular youth speaker’s forum and regular outreach to the local community engaging in acts of solidarity including neighbourhood clean-ups.

Mandala Trust also funded the start-up costs and initial 12-month pilot project for the Kampala Kindness Co-operative, run by Operation Kindness Uganda. This youth co-operative sought to model a way of transforming society by promoting social and economic solidarity amongst young people working together for the common good.

The co-op is run on principles of voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training and information, co-operation among co-operatives and a central concern for the wider community.

The pilot project, making and selling good-quality and fairly priced sandals, aimed to uplift the lives of its members through co-operative business activity.