Patapia

Patapia is a social enterprise addressing the challenges of economic inequalities for refugee women in Uganda. Through training and peer groups, women get access to affordable small scale loans to lift themselves out of poverty through business. Patapia is a Swahili word that means "get also". It is founded by Rebecca Aime, a Congolese refugee herself.

As a refugee-led organization, Patapia addresses poverty and gender inequality by offering affordable loans and financing of clean energy products. Patapia technicians assess the energy needs and equipment requirements of customers, providing training for use and maintenance. Women can manage these loans through their phones, eliminating the need for a bank account, collateral, or credit history. Additionally, the organization facilitates the formation of "business families," groups of five to ten entrepreneurs who guarantee and support each other.

After recognizing that the women would benefit a lot from the SINA Framework, Patapia created its "Patapia INNOV8" to also replicate SINA to build a solid foundation for the women with purpose-alignment, strong personal and professional development and business skills.