Daniella Mwanvu, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, lives in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. For months, she ran a small shop called Lumbia Collection, where she crafted beautiful crochet bags, sweaters, scarves, and other clothing items. The business was her source of livelihood and a symbol of the new life she was working to rebuild.
One evening, after a heavy downpour, the structure housing her shop collapsed. By morning, everything Daniella had worked for was gone, her products soaked and destroyed. Faced with this devastating loss, she made a bold decision to continue her business online. She opened an Instagram store and began selling her products digitally.
During this period, Daniella learned about the 10X Program through Excel Hort Consult Agribusiness Incubator, one of the implementing partners operating in Western Uganda. Through the training, she gained essential skills in using a smartphone and the internet to grow her business. She learned how to take high-quality photos of her products, market them online, and reach customers beyond her physical location.
Today, Daniella conducts most of her business online, selling to a wider customer base and receiving orders from as far as Kampala. Lumbia Collection now stands firmly on the foundation of digital tools and new skills.
Beyond her own business growth, Daniella has become a source of support for other young refugee women. She now helps train others through the 10X Program Foundation course, translating lessons, so they are easier for them to understand and apply.
Her journey is a testament to resilience and innovation, proof that even after loss, new opportunities can emerge, and one person’s determination can ripple outward to empower an entire community.
