David’s Story #2


My journey began with a mission to empower the youth of Uganda through psychosocial activities, working alongside AYInet. Initially, my goal was to introduce art-based healing practices for war-affected youth, but I quickly ran into a significant obstacle: the high cost of paint. This challenge, however, became the spark for an innovative solution that not only met our immediate need but also laid the foundation for a sustainable venture.

In the heart of Uganda, I saw the potential to create high-quality, affordable paints using locally sourced materials. With the leadership of an enthusiastic volunteer named Sharon, we formed a team dedicated to learning the craft of paint-making. What started as a necessity soon blossomed into an opportunity for growth and development. Our homemade paints attracted more participants to our activities and ignited a new sense of creativity and joy among the youth.

As I engaged more with the community, I realized something deeper: while the artistic and mental health activities we offered were valued, the youth had an even stronger desire for employment and economic opportunities. This insight encouraged me to think beyond the immediate impact of our work and to imagine how it could also address the economic aspirations of the youth we sought to support.

The idea that handmade watercolor paints could sell for a high price in global markets opened up exciting possibilities. Drawing on Uganda’s rich natural resources—earth pigments, gum arabic, and honey—we launched a collaborative research project. Our goal was to produce artist-quality, handmade watercolor paints for export. This project also became the subject of my master’s thesis in social work and offered a potential economic lifeline for our Ugandan partners.

Over the next eight months, with modest funding and a lot of determination, we faced and overcame numerous challenges. Eventually, we developed prototype paints, ready to be evaluated in European and American markets. This marked a major milestone in our journey, turning a simple initiative into a potential sustainable business model for the Ugandan community.

This story is about much more than just making paint; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of opportunities that benefit communities locally and globally. We are now on the verge of turning a challenge into a thriving business that not only celebrates Uganda’s artistic heritage but also provides tangible economic benefits to its youth.