A play recounting the 1880 Seaham Colliery disaster will return to the stage next week, eleven years after it first touched hearts and minds in the north east and far beyond.

The Bitter Taste of Coal tells the harrowing story of Wednesday 8 September 1880 when 164 men and boys died following an underground explosion at Seaham Colliery.

The play is written by former miner and mine rescue officer, Steve English, with music by Mick Smith. It will be performed by Vane Tempest Theatre Group, which carries the name of the last colliery to close in Seaham in 1993. 

Performances will run from Tuesday 18 November to Friday 21 November at Seaham Town Hall. When the show was first put on in 2014, it was a sellout.

Steve English says: “It was suggested some time ago that the play should be put on again. They were so many people asking to see it who couldn’t get tickets to see it the first-time round because it was sold out every night, and it’s just taken eleven years to get around to it.”
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He adds: “There were a lot of people who had family members who were affected, directly or indirectly by the disaster, some forbearers who were actually killed in the explosion, and people came from far and wide to see the play. It was recorded and DVDs of the play were sent all over the world, as far as New Zealand and Canada.”      

Ben Wardropper, the theatre group’s Musical Director, plays Michael Smith, one of the miners trapped in the explosion. Laura Geary plays his wife, Margaret. Both took on the same roles in the 2014 production.
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There are some minor tweaks in the 2025 version, but Steve notes the biggest challenge in writing the script was capturing the emotion of the moment. “Both underground for the miners who were trapped and of the families, and others, who were above ground.” 

He recalls: “The first-time round, every rehearsal night, there were tears in everyone’s eyes and some were actually breaking out and crying with the emotion of it and it’s happening again now while we’re rehearsing this current version. I wrote it in such a way to convey the emotion, but you can only get that across when the actors actually perform and it comes across.”

But Steve stressed: “It should be emotional, it’s inevitable from history. It’s not Disney. We can’t change the ending. Those 164 men and boys did actually die. It was a dark chapter in Seaham’s history.”

Records show that, while trapped, Michael Smith left a note on a water bottle, which was found by rescuers. It read: “Dear Macerate, (unclear writing thought to mean Margaret, his wife) there are 40 of us altogether at 7am. Some are singing hymns, but my thoughts were on little Michael that he and I would meet in Heaven at the same time. Oh, dear wife God save you and the children and pray for me. Dear wife, farewell, my thoughts are about you and the children to pray for me. Oh what an awful position we are in.” 

Steve hopes the play will remind the audience of the dangers of coalmining and its deeply entrenched place in Seaham’s history.

“It’s a reminder of how hard and dangerous a job coalmining was and a reminder of what miners down the centuries went through,” he says. “How they and their families suffered because it wasn’t just miners killed, it was the families left behind as well, who suffered for generations. Also, a reminder that Seaham has such a rich history. The town owes its very existence to coal and coalmining.”

When it was first written, Steve carried out extensive research to ensure historical accuracy. From a blank piece of paper to going on stage took three years.

“I’m very proud. I’m pleased it was enjoyed by so many people and I was able to share the story with so many people. It was one hell of a job, starting from a blank piece of paper to develop the characters, and storylines,” Steve recounts, while crediting Mick Smith with the original idea for the play.

Steve points out: “A lot of the libretto was my imagination. No one knows what conversations took place, but you have to use the historical records of messages that were left on a tin bottle or a piece of timber. You use those and weave those into the storyline and think ‘well, how would I have felt in that position?’”

The explosion, thought to have been caused by the firing of a shot (the use of explosives to break up coal), was heard as far away as the outskirts of Sunderland. Thirteen lives were reportedly lost from one street alone - Seaham Street. 

The tragedy received national news coverage and an estimated 40,000 people gathered on the Sunday following the explosion to witness the first mass funerals.  Today, a memorial to the 1880 disaster stands in the grounds of Christ Church, Seaham.

The Seaham-based Vane Tempest Theatre Group has nominated The Road to Parity as its charity to support in 2025. Charity founder, Jonathan Hill, who is based in Durham, says: “To be supported by the theatre group this year is a wonderful gesture, but for that support to include a performance with such local and historical significance is extra special. We are so grateful to everyone involved, and I really look forward to seeing the show.”    

On a lighter note, Steve remembers being “volunteered” to write the play about 14 years ago after returning from a trip to see The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

“When I got back there was a notepad and pens, newspaper cuttings and references and what have you. And I said to my wife, Grace, ‘What’s all this?’ She said: ‘Oh, you’ve got a play to write. Mick’s been on and asked if there’s someone who can write a play and we said, yeah, you!’ That was my dear sister and my darling wife!”

​For further details about The Bitter Taste of Coal click on the flyer.

As Julius Seguya leaves his office in Katikamu in the Luweero district of Uganda, he knows there are many people in desperate need of help. His intervention will mean the difference between a life sentence of extreme poverty and financial independence.  

“I have a passion for helping these people - widows, orphans and those who are impoverished,” says Julius as he heads off on his motorbike to carry out Project Twekembe.

Project Twekembe is a partnership between The Road to Parity and Ugandan charity CACDI (Canaan Children's Development Initiative). It finds some of the poorest people on the planet and equips them to start a tiny enterprise, normally a street business. 

​Julius is a Project Coordinator for Twekembe, which loosely translates to 'let's fight against poverty'. “It is interesting because you can listen to stories, do some follow ups. Sometimes you get sad and feel like crying because of the situation they are in. In Uganda, everything is becoming costly, and some people are very poor. Sometimes, they go without food and they are scavenging around the villages to see how they can survive.”

The initiative, which has been tried and tested in India, provides people with a micro-grant to get the supplies and equipment needed to start a small business. Entrepreneurship has proved to be an extremely effective tool in the fight against extreme poverty in developing nations.

“When we give them this money, it really works for them," Julius says. “You find someone who has only been having one meal a day can now afford two meals, They can buy school books for their children and pay some school fees.”
Information about the people in dire need of help normally comes from local council leaders. But Julius and his colleagues also conduct independent outreach work.
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“First, we look at the nature of the children at home. When you find children who look malnourished, you can see they cannot afford to eat. You look at their clothing, the bedding they are sleeping in. You observe the status of the home.”
He adds: “Sometimes we visit villages and take some clothes and soap and other usables. You can easily tell which families are in need and extremely poor. This can also lead to identifying people as potential beneficiaries.”

Many of the people who have been vetted to be supported as entrepreneurs are ready with their own ideas. “Maybe they have a little bit of experience selling in the past," says Julius. "But for the few who don’t have their own ideas, we help them devise something, do research, and make sure they can benefit from the project. Once we decide the idea is appropriate, we train them.”

Training includes basic tips on how to run their business, the importance of cash flow and some simple marketing techniques.

“We try to train them to at least have books of accounts that can show the inflow and outflow of the money so when we come to see how the business is we can easily look at the books and advise accordingly. “

Many of the beneficiaries are illiterate, but have found ways to improvise with accounts, such as relying heavily on memory and using simple words as records. “But we don’t sit back,” Julius emphasises. “After giving the money, we make our own inspection. We make our own records for proper monitoring and reference purposes.” 

Under Project Twekembe, it is currently costing about £64 to set up each new business. Due to their simplicity, and fast turnover of goods, the businesses become profitable almost immediately.

​Julius explains: “Most of the new businesses are grocery – the reason being these people cannot take a day without selling. They cannot take an hour without selling so groceries are better.” 

However, while quick-selling groceries are highly effective for cash flow, they can be vulnerable to the seasons and availability. “There is a problem with the fluctuation of prices,” says Julius. “They try to buy from different places, but the price changes daily.”

Another challenge, he says, is responsibility. “Some of our ladies have five children and that one business for survival. They work tirelessly, but at the same time, they need to look after their families.”

Other businesses set up recently sell second hand shoes, snacks and chapattis, fish, clothes and carry out shoes repairs and sewing work.

Not all those who come forward are truthful about their circumstances, but Julius is aware. “People may lie, but I take the initiative and go into the field. I do the survey, I do the investigation. I go to the local council leaders and see if this person has given me the right information. If it’s not right, this person is not included as a beneficiary. I try as much as I can to get the right information, not to be lied to.”

Project Twekembe now operates in nine villages in and around the Luweero district north of the capital Kampala. Julius remembers all of his beneficiaries, but some occupy his mind more than others.

One is 41-year old Mwanje, married with three children. “By the time we came across him, the children were almost starving to death,” Julius remembers. “We gave him some initial assistance to feed his children.”
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Mwanje lost the use of his legs and has severe kyphosis (curvature of the spine). “We asked him if he could do any kind of work to help sustain himself and his family.  He said he could repair shoes, so we got him a place and he started repairing shoes. Since then, he has been able to provide food. In fact, children have been able to get scholastic materials to start attending school. His story stood out because when we reached him, he was crying. We are so happy he was rescued, and he is still operating his shop repairing shoes.”

Another case etched on Julius’s mind is widowed mother of four, Kazaire, who’s been battling a liver disease. “She was in hospital for five months. Doctors said they didn’t have medicine in Uganda to treat her, and she needed to buy them from overseas.”

The only way Kazaire could raise the 7,000,000 Ugandan Shillings (about GBP 1,500) needed to get the medicine was to sell the family house. “After taking the medicine, she went into a coma for one week but managed to recover. She still needed to buy more medicine from India to have full dosage. She sold everything apart from some charcoal.”

​Through Project Twekembe, Kazaire has been able to restock the charcoal her husband used to sell before he died. “Now, she is doing well and able to support the family. She still has the sickness, but it’s not like the way it used to be,” comments Julius.   

The Road to Parity started operating in Uganda in 2024 and word of the entrepreneurship programme has gradually spread.

“People know about this project and talk about it,” Julius says. “In fact, we have always received recommendations from the local council leaders.”
  
Reflecting on his work, Julius says the most rewarding part is seeing new businesses created. “When you go for further inspection, you can see that life has changed for the families. They can at least afford to put their children in clothes, second hand clothes. Those that couldn’t afford meals can now at least have lunch and supper. And those that couldn’t afford to send their children to school can now send them to school and they are studying."

​He concludes: “As the businesses perform, this automatically guarantees these people’s happiness, and at the end of the day, they can have a good life. Despite the challenges, most manage to keep the business standing.”

Ronnie left extreme poverty in his home village, hoping for a better life in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, but it was far tougher than expected and he ended up living on the streets. At 15, he slipped, underage, into the Ugandan military in a desperate attempt to care for his widowed mother and 3 sisters.

Carrying a gun as a teenage soldier, Ronnie was sent to guard a diplomatic residence in Kampala. The assignment proved to be fortuitous. Through the friendly couple who lived there, Ronnie was eventually introduced to Kiwi humanitarian, Jeremy England. “I came into the care of Jeremy, who took me into his home. I helped with garden work and general support around his residence,” Ronnie remembers.

The deal was that Jeremy would provide accommodation and a job for Ronnie if he returned to school. Not only did Ronnie get the education he was denied as a child, but he later went on to secure a degree in business administration and then a master’s degree in civil administration. His dramatic transformation meant he could finally support his mother, and paid for his sisters’ education.  

Lilian recalls she felt a ‘calling’ because of the love shown for Ronnie. “His story drove me to reach out to the vulnerable, the sick and the malnourished,” she says.

Together, they set up a children’s shelter in Luweero district, north of Kampala. The sanctuary for vulnerable youngsters has become known as Canaan Children’s Development Initiative (CACDI).
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CACDI has close relationships with the local authorities, police and community leaders – with children referred each year. In all, 50 young people are currently in its care, aged 6-23. Of those, 19 live at the shelter - the rest live with carers who are supported with school fees and equipment, and some living expenses.

​Ronnie, who is also involved with farming, including growing maize, pineapples and bananas, explains: “We have relied on our own savings, which came from various sources - agriculture, a security job I took in Qatar, donations, help from Jeremy, and Lilian’s job.”

Lilian points out that the sad reality in Uganda is that many children are abandoned by mothers who face horrendous circumstances; extreme poverty, widowed, domestic abuse, or suffering from HIV. “Our work brings us into contact with many of those women, and others, who desperately need help,” she says.
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In 2024, The Road to Parity entered a partnership with CACDI to help some of the distressed people it comes across to become financially independent.

Beneficiaries are provided with a one-off micro grant to secure the equipment and supplies they need to set up a simple business, plus some basic training. The enterprises are varied; mini eateries, stalls selling shoes, snacks, chicken, maize, charcoal, fruit, vegetables and stationery, as well as businesses repairing shoes and tailoring.
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Lilian says: “In many cases, these are widows running for our rescue, or victims of domestic violence. If we don’t help them create a sustainable income, they will end up dumping children. It is very common for children to be dumped, especially new babies. The mother will go to hospital, give birth and then run.”    

Nabaasa is one of the latest entrepreneurs to be supported. The 39-year-old mother of 4 is separated and faced eviction because she could no longer afford to pay rent.

Referred by the local council, she’s been helped to set up a street-side business selling fresh and cooked maize (corn on the cob), and chickens. “I can now meet my house bills, pay my children’s school fees and buy food,” she proudly says.

Following early outreach feedback, the entrepreneurship programme was given the name Project Twekembe, which broadly translates to 'let's fight against poverty.'  

Lilian says the project provides the “the missing link” to help stop domestic abuse and protect children.


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​Despite the complex challenges the entrepreneurs face, including illiteracy, none of the businesses set up so far this year have failed, and the mostly women have become role models within their communities. “The businesses give them pride,” Lilian says. “They are working and earning. It is what any mother would want – to be able to take care of their children."

​​Project Twekembe has recently supported its first male entrepreneur. 40-year-old Mwanje lost the use of his legs and has severe kyphosis (curvature of the spine). The father of 3 has been begging on the streets to support his family, while his wife tries to earn some money washing clothes for villagers.

​Mwanje has received assistance to set up a shoe repairing business. “Since I cannot stand or walk, I can manage this business sitting down,” he says. “So far, it’s not so bad. I can at least go home with some more money to help my family.”

As well as co-managing CACDI, Lilian is a supervisor with the Electoral Commission of Uganda. While the focus of her work there is helping to deliver elections, there is much to do in between - updating registers, confirming voter details, enrolling new voters and ensuring her team of more than 70 staff get paid. “Voting is now digitised,” she says. “But not like Europe. In African countries, even if it’s digitised, machines are often not functioning.”

Lilian was expected to follow her mother into midwifery, but decided nursing wasn’t for her. Instead, she joined the civil service from school and took her first degree in arts and social sciences at evening classes. She later secured a scholarship to study a master’s degree in international development at Seoul National University in South Korea.

She appreciates her work to support Uganda’s electoral processes is important, but it’s not where she derives most satisfaction.

​“It’s helping children that brings me pride and happiness,” Lilian says. “That 3-year-old boy, David, who was slowly dying when I found him in the rubbish, is now 8. He is healthy and attends primary school. 

Lilian adds: “One of the other children from the shelter is being helped through university. When I am with them, and see what they have become, I feel I did something good. Sometimes, I also feel a burden, like a weight, but I can never drop it until it’s done.”

For Ronnie, speaking about his past remains painful, but he is eternally grateful to the people who have helped him along the way, particularly Jeremy. “I now consider him like a father figure.”  

Ronnie also recounts the kindness of a man who took him in for a few months and gave him work at a car wash when he’d been living on the streets of Kampala. “Since then, I have been trying to find that man, but in vain,” he says. “My journey, my story has been shaped by some truly humane individuals. Canaan was born out of a desire to help children in similar situations.”

CACDI’s latest project – under Ronnie’s supervision - is a kindergarten and primary school with space for 350 children. It’s still under construction, but the aim is to welcome pupils in 2026.

Jeremy, meanwhile, is currently cycling 1,300km from Belgrade to Athens to help raise some of the USD 10,000 needed to finish the construction work, equip the classrooms and dormitories, install bathrooms, and erect a security wall.

“I’m doing it because I trust Ronnie and Sarah (Lilian). I’ve seen enough aid projects to know what makes one honest and sustainable – it's the people. These people are family to me.” 

To follow the ride, click here.

An entrepreneurship trial in Uganda to lift people out of extreme poverty has produced strong results with 13 businesses supported, and household income increasing by up to six-fold.

The poverty alleviation initiative was conducted by The Road to Parity and Ugandan charity, Canaan Children’s Development Initiative (CACDI), and saw businesses supported in rural Uganda, north of the capital Kampala.

Across the 13 enterprises, all but one showed a significant improvement in household income, while one of the entrepreneurs initially made encouraging progress before income dropped. Since the trial started in May, eleven businesses continue to perform well, representing a success rate of 84%.

All the entrepreneurs are women, eight of whom are the sole breadwinners. The average business grant was £59 (USD 74).

The enterprises are selling a variety of goods, including shoes, snacks, charcoal, fruit and vegetables, soft drinks, fish and stationery. Two mini restaurants have been established.

One of the most successful businesses has been set up by 37-year-old Robinah, whose stall sells chapatis and other snacks. The divorced mother of five was previously surviving on an allowance from her ex-husband of just 5,000 Ugandan Shillings a day, or £1 (USD 1.35). She was not even able to afford clothes for her children.

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​Robinah says the support she’s received has been transformational. “I started up this business, which has really changed our life with my family, I make 30,000 a day, restock with working capital for the next day, look after my family and also save something with my village bank group.”

Joyce, who is 43, has been helped to set up a mini restaurant. Her husband’s daily income of 6,000 Uganda Shillings was trapping them and their five children in extreme poverty.   

She serves sweet potatoes, soups and the locally popular, mashed banana dish, matooke – boosting household income to 30,000 Ugandan Shillings. “I can now meet my family needs, save a little for my business and also restock my food stuff,” she says.

The entrepreneurs were identified following outreach work in several villages aimed at identifying the poorest residents who wanted to start a small enterprise. Business ideas were discussed, and if applicants cleared vetting, they were prepared for trading with a one-off grant for equipment and stock, alongside basic guidance on marketing.

Following feedback from locals, the programme has been called Project Twekembe, which broadly translates to 'let's fight against poverty.' 

Another success story is Zubeda. The 43-year-old divorcee had been surviving through casual labour on farms or washing people’s clothes. She also tried to sell some shoes. These activities only brought in 6,000 Ugandan Shillings a day or £1 (USD 1.35) to look after five children.     

With support from the programme, she’s been able to significantly expand her stock of shoes and now proudly displays the colourful selection in the street. Her daily income has jumped five-fold to 30,000 Ugandan Shillings.  

Meanwhile, 43-year-old Aminah opted for snacks and vegetables for her business idea. A widow with seven children, she was scraping an existence washing dishes in the neighbourhood. “Life was not really easy for us,” Aminah says.

Project Twekembe has changed that. Amina now sells items from a kiosk by her home, boosting her daily income from 4,000 to 10,000 Ugandan Shillings. While Aminah is still looking to earn more, she is grateful for the opportunity and feels in a better place to look after her family.

​Jonathan Hill, Founder of The Road to Parity, says: “This is our first project in Uganda and the results are incredible. Once again, some of the poorest people on the planet have shown what they can do if they are just given a chance. We can see that having your own business instils such pride and gives people much needed hope. But, most importantly, the businesses provide financial independence and create opportunities that deep poverty cruelly denies."

Lilian Nayiga, overseeing the trial for CACDI in Uganda, says: “Initially, we weren’t sure whether this would work as we haven’t done anything like this before, but the results of Project Twekembe are far better than expected. These tiny enterprises have made a big difference. We are so proud of our entrepreneurs and now they can support their families in ways that just weren’t possible before. We are also pleased that with tweaks along the way, we could support 13 businesses instead of the 10 originally planned.” 

​One of the entrepreneurs who found her venture more challenging is Jackie. Married with seven children, she did manage to nearly double daily household income to 9,000 Ugandan Shillings, selling fruit and vegetables. However, it returned to 5,000 after she struggled to manage the perishable nature of the stock.

Jonathan adds: “I want to thank the team at Canaan Children’s Development Initiative for all their efforts on the ground to activate Project Twekembe as a brand-new entrepreneurs’ programme. I know, after bringing the model from urban India, some local adjustments were required for rural Uganda, but we now have a strong foundation to build on in Uganda.”

The Road to Parity announced the partnership with CACDI in April this year to conduct the trial and reported on progress in September. Following the successful completion of Project Twekembe, both sides will sign a new Memorandum of Understanding in early 2025 to continue their work.

In all, The Road to Parity, with its overseas partners, has set up 103 businesses in India and Uganda, benefitting nearly 600 people.  Project Unnati in India established 90 businesses from 2019 to 2023. With a new partner in place from April this year, it opened the way for the 13 ventures to be created in Uganda.
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The Road to Parity helps the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. Many of the beneficiaries are illiterate, widowed, victims of domestic violence, disabled - or face other severe challenges. They were often born into extreme poverty, and without intervention, will remain there for the rest of their lives. To support The Road to Parity’s voluntary work, please donate here.

Project Twekembe in Uganda is seeing its first entrepreneurs! 

​Among the beneficiaries to be rescued from extreme poverty is Agnes, who is supporting four young children.

Things have been extremely tough for Agnes after her husband was left disabled following an accident. Only two of her four children could attend school.  



She’d try to sell a few second-hand shoes to get some money in, but couldn’t afford much stock so was making about £1 a day (USD 1.35).

Now with support from The Road to Parity and our Uganda partner, Canaan Children’s Development Initiative, she's been able to give her little enterprise the cash injection it needs.

Agnes has significantly expanded her store with second-hand and new shoes – and her income has increased six-fold!

It might not seem much overall, but the extra money has made a big difference to Agnes’s family – and it’s helped all four children now attend school.

Project Twekembe is running in rural Uganda, north of the capital Kampala, identifying people in extreme poverty who want to become financially independent through entrepreneurship.

The initiative was given its name after several villagers mentioned the word Twekembe in early community outreach work. Twekembe broadly translates to 'let's fight against poverty' - so the name was adopted. 

As this is a new country and partner for The Road to Parity, the project is being run on a trial basis throughout 2024 with a group of entrepreneurs to test feasibility. ​

A luxury hotel is a far cry from the extreme poverty of The Road to Parity’s beneficiaries - but the musical, Dot Com City, presents an opportunity for the charity to benefit from a performance at the QE2 Hotel.

On Saturday, 27 April 2024, Simpson and Hall’s Dot Com City, The Musical will be performed at the maritime icon, now based in Dubai.

​Presented by DJMC events, the musical includes Gospel, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Ballads and tells the story of Victoria Dot Com, an evil tyrant who owns all domains and rules Dot Com City. She’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants - helped by sneaky sidekick, Megabite. But someone’s out to get her, and her cyber empire is in jeopardy….   

​The Road to Parity has entered a new partnership to support entrepreneurs in Uganda.

It follows an international search for a new partner after the conclusion of Project Unnati in India in 2023.
 
“We’re so pleased to be entering a new country and indeed a new continent to extend our fight against extreme poverty,” says Jonathan Hill, TRTP Founder. “The search has been long, but we are now confident we can continue our work to transform lives through entrepreneurship.”

​The new partnership is with Canaan Children’s Development Initiative (CACDI), a non-profit organisation in Luweero District, north of Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
 
CACDI comes to the aid of highly vulnerable children, such as orphans, disabled youngsters and those infected with HIV/AIDS to provide welfare and educational support. It also assists widows and victims of domestic violence, who will be the focus of the new partnership, beginning with a trial.
 
Lilian Nayiga, who is leading the trial for CACDI in Uganda, says: “CACDI’s partnership with TRTP is very timely and will provide what has been the missing link in CACDI’s efforts to combat repeated abuse against women in communities of Luweero district. In this regard transforming widows and vulnerable women’s lives through entrepreneurship will greatly lessen their dependence on the perpetrators of abuse hence availing a safe environment where young children can thrive.”    

Under Project Unnati in India, TRTP’s micro grant-based model was used to set up 90 businesses in the slums of Delhi. Many of the ventures in India were street-based stalls selling an array of high turnover daily items, such as fruit, vegetables, snacks, clothes and household goods.

Other businesses involved tailoring, welding, beauty care, air conditioning and bicycle repairs, among others. Although most of the beneficiaries had no prior business experience, the ventures would often become profitable quickly, significantly increasing household income. 
 
Using a careful screening process, entrepreneurs are identified before discussions take place on what might be a suitable venture. Once an idea is agreed, the beneficiaries are provided with some basic business training, along with the equipment and supplies needed to begin trading.
  
The TRTP model has been adjusted slightly for Uganda as the beneficiaries will be in rural, lower footfall areas, compared with the mostly high footfall businesses in India. Selling clothes is also felt to be unsuitable as their relatively high cost for the local market will slow sales and block cash flow.  

Unlike many similar initiatives in developing nations, the small grant available is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. TRTP believes people in extreme poverty have suffered enough.
 
TRTP and CACDI have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding to run the trial, which will be assessed at the end of 2024.  

The Road to Parity’s partnership with Indian NGO, Learning Links Foundation, (LLF) has drawn to a close after supporting scores of new businesses.
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The charity, which helps people in extreme poverty to become entrepreneurs, has been working with LLF since 2019. Together, they created Project Unnati, which has seen the establishment of 90 businesses in the slums of Delhi, benefitting around 500 people.

“All good things come to an end, and I fully understand that priorities can sometimes change in a partnership,” said Jonathan Hill, Founder of The Road to Parity (TRTP). “It’s been brilliant working with LLF. We have built an entrepreneur programme from scratch to assist some of the poorest people on the planet and delivered life-changing results. I am very grateful to the team in India for their contribution over the years to create something really special and meaningful.”   

Sudeep Dube, Senior Vice President at LLF, said: “Since 2019, it’s been an amazing journey of learning and implementing ‘Unnati’ Project in partnership with The Road to Parity, and needless to say that it was an incredible experience to work on this high impact program for the ‘Bottom of the pyramid’. Unlike any other project, it has been very rewarding in the sense that the time difference between outcome and impact was marginal. Together, this partnership has seen highs and lows of the program and faced the intimidating period of pandemic and never before lockdown period in history of India.”

Sudeep added: “Due to certain changes in our operational strategy, LLF will no longer be able to support the program, Nevertheless, we shall always be proud of making remarkable change in the life of beneficiaries who have been supported under the program.”

Under Project Unnati, a host of enterprises have been set up. Many were street-based, selling clothes, household goods, jewellery, cosmetics, fruit and vegetables, as well as tea and snacks. Other businesses have been supported to repair bicycles, carry out air conditioning repairs and welding. There have also been home-based businesses, such as tailoring and ironing.

The charity provides a one-off micro grant to help buy the equipment and supplies needed to begin an enterprise and some start-up guidance. The simplicity of the model means the businesses can become profitable almost immediately, generating a means of financial independence.   

In addition to being in extreme poverty, many of the beneficiaries are illiterate, while others have been victims of domestic violence, or are mentally and physically challenged – making the many success stories even more remarkable.

The project was named Unnati (meaning progress) after one of the first beneficiaries said she felt her new business would bring prosperity to her family after years of suffering extreme poverty.

TRTP secretary Richard Owens said: "It’s a sign of maturity that the charity is now able to evaluate and move beyond our very first overseas partnership. In my experience in the third sector as a CEO and trustee, the deep value and learning opportunity that come from this first ever partnership will be carried forward for many years ahead. Thanks should go to LLF for catching our vision and identifying beneficiaries. What a joy to see the social, emotional, and economic impact of our interventions. Now we look to the future!"

​Jonathan added: “Starting in India was the right thing to do because that’s where the idea for the programme came from. Now, for us to continue our work, we are looking for a new partner, either in India, or in another developing nation where there is extreme poverty. “

​​The programme which transforms the lives of families in extreme poverty through entrepreneurship has made solid progress with 26 new enterprises set up.
 
The new ventures established throughout 2022 have enabled the charity - with its partner in India, Learning Links Foundation (LLF) - to reach an overall total of 86 new businesses established.

In the most recent batch of businesses, five out of the six beneficiaries are illiterate, and more than half the group are supporting households of six people or more. Their businesses sell warm clothes, school bags, scarves/hosiery items, cosmetics, as well as lemon and masala teas. One of the entrepreneurs has set up a tailoring enterprise.  
 
Funding for Project Unnati began at the end of 2019 with the first group of eight entrepreneurs. The number of beneficiaries has steadily grown since then, despite major disruption in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid. 
 
Jonathan Hill, Founder of The Road to Parity, says: “As most of the world started to bounce back after Covid, we made steady progress in 2022. International payment issues prevented us from reaching the target of 90 businesses in total, but this will soon be reached as we continue to fund more life-changing opportunities.”   

​All 86 businesses established under Project Unnati so far have been set up in the slums of Delhi. Many of the entrepreneurs have set up street stalls, and home-based tailoring is another popular trade. Some of the less common businesses include an ironing enterprise, repair businesses for bicycles and air-conditioning and a welding venture.

The project was named Unnati (meaning progress) after an early beneficiary said she felt her new business would bring prosperity to her family after enduring extreme poverty.

​​“It's heart-warming to see that little twinkle in people’s eyes when they do their first sale or business transaction,” says Rashmi Mishra, who has helped manage Project Unnati within India since the start. “It's one thing to help people overcome their challenges but seeing them regaining their confidence and restoring their faith and trust in humanity is overwhelming.”

​Covid and extreme poverty
 
Covid-19 has damaged economies across the world. It has also worsened the plight of those in extreme poverty and increased the numbers who fall into this category of people who live on less than $1.90 per day.

​Global poverty had been in decline before Covid struck. According to the U.S-based Brookings Institution, the number of people suffering extreme poverty had dropped from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 648 million in 2019 – and was on course to fall further to 537 million by 2030. However, the pandemic has caused the number to increase for the first time in over two decades.

Oxfam International reported last year that the combination of Covid and rising food prices will push 263 million more people into extreme poverty – equivalent to the populations of the UK, France, Germany, and Spain combined.
 
Project Unnati, which started funding businesses in the months before Covid struck, has also seen business casualties along the way.
 
Out of the 86 businesses supported so far, 72 are still trading or 84%. None have failed since Covid restrictions were lifted in India. However, the challenges beneficiaries face on a personal level go far deeper than the impact of the virus.

In addition to being in extreme poverty, many of the beneficiaries are illiterate, while others have been victims of domestic violence, or are mentally and physically challenged.

How extreme poverty feels
 
In a 2015 blog for the World Economic Forum, entitled ‘What does extreme poverty really feel like?’ Gisela Solymos wrote: “People in poverty suffer from pain. It attacks a person not only materially but also morally, eating away at one’s dignity and driving one into total despair.”
 
In 2000, The World Bank stated there are three different types of pain caused by poverty.

1. Physical pain that comes with too little food and long hours of work
2. Emotional pain stemming from the daily humiliations of dependency and lack of power
3. Moral pain from being forced to make choices such as whether to pay to save the life of an ill family member or use the money to feed their children.

 
Jonathan says: “Given the complexities surrounding poverty, and the additional agony of Covid, it is truly remarkable that any of these businesses have succeeded, let alone 84%. The people we help are among the poorest on the planet. I have the greatest respect for their tenacity to make these businesses work against the odds.”  
 
Rashmi says: “Over the years, we have seen the people who have benefitted under Project Unnati becoming the inspiration and motivation to their friends and family.”
 
She adds: “At LLF, we have always believed in the concept of life-long learning and when it comes to learning by doing then the outcomes are astounding.”
 
Mohd. Sarfaraz’s story
 
Mohd. Sarfaraz comes from a background of extreme poverty. 

Before Covid struck, the 26-year-old worked in an air conditioning repair shop, and while he could sometimes earn 5,000 Indian Rupees a month, he was at the mercy of a boss who made arbitrary salary reductions.

​The pandemic made the situation even more desperate with increasingly meagre wages to support him and his parents.

The Project Unnati outreach team came across Mohd. Sarfaraz - and after learning of his AC maintenance skills, offered him an escape route.

He jumped at the opportunity and received support to buy AC cleaning equipment. His little business is taking off and he now makes an average profit of around 9,500 Indian Rupees per month (approx. £95). This is more reliable income and almost double what he earned before.

One day Mohd. Sarfaraz hopes to have his own shop and team of staff. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given. The extra money has enabled me to purchase medicine for my elderly parents. And I’ve been able to get new clothes for them.” 

Farida Khatoon’s story
 
Farida comes from a very poor family where six people had been trying to survive on £8.32 each per month. Her husband’s meagre labouring salary was trapping them in financial misery.
 
Farida is illiterate but knew how to sew and thought she might be able to bring some more money into the house by doing some home-based tailoring.
 
After discussing her idea with the Project Unnati outreach team, the 20-year-old was supported with a new business kit. Farida is now earning up to 5,000 Rupees a month, which has doubled the household income. “I’m doing much better now. I’m so happy,” she says. “I’ve been able to buy some tailoring material to help expand the business.”

​A programme that helps people in extreme poverty to set up small businesses has now supported 62 ventures, benefitting more than 300 household members, despite ongoing Covid disruption.

Project Unnati provided start up funding to 20 businesses last year, representing a 37.5% decrease from 2020. A further batch of 14 ventures planned for 2021 were delayed because of pandemic restrictions. Two of those could be set up last month with the rest to follow in the coming weeks, as conditions allow. 

This will bring the total to 74 enterprises helped since the first Project Unnati funding was released just over two years ago.        

Founder of The Road to Parity, Jonathan Hill, said: “Covid has once again caused significant disruption to our work. However, where possible and safe, we have made solid progress to identify and equip fledgling entrepreneurs in slum communities with the resources and guidance they need to become financially independent and escape crippling poverty.”

Jonathan added: “Our partner in India, Learning Links Foundation, are our eyes and ears on the ground. They have once again made the best of the very difficult circumstances thrown up by the pandemic so that more lives can be transformed through entrepreneurship. I am very grateful to the team for their efforts.”   

Among the 20 businesses supported in 2021 are tailoring ventures, a road-side mechanic shop, and street stalls selling a variety of items, including children’s clothes, fruit, omelettes, cosmetics, snacks, household items, slippers and jewellery. The latest group of entrepreneurs comprises 14 women and six men.

38-year old Mohd Zaheer was in dire financial straits, supporting a family of seven, when he came to the attention of the Project Unnati outreach team in August of last year. He's originally from Muzaffarpur in Bihar state near India's border with Nepal and came to Delhi as a teenager in search of employment. Along with inconsistent labouring work, he'd had some previous experience selling plastic slippers and his dream was to have his own little business. After discussions about his plans, Mohd Zaheer was given a small grant and guidance to get started.  Since then, he's gradually built up the business and now makes up to 10,000 Rupees a month in profit (nearly £100). "I'm very happy, so grateful for the opportunity and now hopeful for the future," he says.   

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​“This may not seem like a lot of money to many people reading this,” said Jonathan. “But when our intervention threshold is aimed at people scraping an existence on £10 or less a month, £100 a month is life changing. It’s also worth highlighting that £50 is about the level of grant support to set up each business, so the return on investment for these self-sustaining ventures is absolutely clear.”
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Sudeep Dube, a Partner with Learning Links Foundation, who has been with Project Unnati from the start, said: “Unnati is a great testimony of resilience of the bottom of the pyramid population. The way in which the beneficiaries have responded and the success that they have demonstrated, despite the adversities being faced by them, encourages us to continue this initiative and reach out to more such people.

​​Under Project Unnati (meaning progress), potential beneficiaries are prioritised for a business grant using a strict points system. At its core is identifying people in extreme poverty. Other factors are taken into consideration, such as helping those with minimal education, sole breadwinners supporting large families, victims of domestic violence, the physically and mentally challenged, and young men whose families are effectively trapped in extreme poverty because of unstable labouring income.​ 

​​Once the business grant has been released, the necessary supplies and equipment are sourced in preparation for trading, under close supervision. Guidance is also provided on how to get the venture up and running with ongoing monitoring to maximise the chances of success.

​The Road to Parity is a UK-registered charity, which was set up to fight extreme poverty in developing countries through entrepreneurship. India has been the first country of focus after academic field research conducted there led to the charity being formed. The longer-term plan is to use the micro-enterprise model to free families from extreme poverty in other developing nations.