Odulla Joseph, originally from Tororo, Uganda founder and director of Liberty Conservation and Development Association shared his interesting stories of personal growth and development. Liberty Conservation and Development Association, addresses the issues of job creation, poverty eradication and expanded access to information within Uganda. These issues are important because without access to information, development cannot take place, and for poverty to be eradicated, income generating activities need to be organized. His unique approach to solving these issues was to start an integrated social enterprise including ICT, fish farming and tree planting. Through this integrated organization, a community can fight against poverty while developing a ‘greener’ sustainable community. Through the sales of fish, seedlings and green maps; volunteers within the community can develop a network of sustainable life for the community. This network of individuals create new jobs opportunities and natural resources; while computer training services developed through Odulla Josephs initiatives help generate further revenue in hopes of developing advance employment opportunities for the future.
Odulla advises aspiring young social entrepreneurs especially those in Uganda to enter social entrepreneurship as a way to reduce poverty. He feels that creating employment is the key to successfully eradicate poverty in Uganda and entrepreneurship will promote employment, creative ideas and initiatives which affect the greater picture of unemployment within the area. Odulla's words: "you should take risks and you will see yourself through." Odulla is an inspiration to youth who aspire to be entrepreneurs in their own right. Through his dedication to social issues within his local and global community, Odulla hopes to change the world, one step at a time, to “go green” while fighting poverty. He plans to train 500 people in computer knowledge; to plant half a million seedlings; to dig 10 fish ponds and raise 40,000 fish and to create at least 5 green sites in Tororo – all in one year.
Understanding that the road to success is not always easy, Odulla shares some of the challenges he has faced along the way. "The major challenges I have faced are the challenges of getting funds/inputs such as computer and satellite connectivity and we have not yet overcome this development issue." However, this said, Odulla remains strong in his fight for economic stability and continues to seek ways to partner up with individuals with similar goals. Using the internet as a tool to address the issues, access information and seek association with organizations and conferences such as the GK3, young social entrepreneurs such as Odulla, can network with organizations, creating a larger network for social change and essentially voicing individual missions for social success.
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