Uganda’s median age is 16. Our economy over the next decade will be shaped, for better or worse, by what young women do. This is why CWEN invests as hard as it does in the Youth Bootcamp.
The case for investing early
Every study we’ve seen — including our own — shows that women who start a business before 30 are more likely to be running it profitably at 40. The early years compound. Support early, and you’re not running one woman’s business, you’re shaping a career trajectory.
What young women tell us they need
Access to mentors. Pitch training. A peer cohort. Honest feedback. And, surprisingly often, the confidence that they’re allowed to charge for their work. The Bootcamp is designed around all five.
“Investing in a 23-year-old woman entrepreneur is not charity. It is one of the highest-return investments available in Uganda today.”
What we’ve seen
Three cohorts in: 75% of graduates are still operating their business six months after the program. That number is astonishingly high for any entrepreneurship program anywhere in the world.
What’s next
We’re expanding to two cohorts per year, adding a follow-on peer mentorship structure, and piloting a seed grant for graduates who hit defined milestones.
