(Texas State University-San Marcos, TX)-On April 25, 2009, Members of the Texas State Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team collaborated with ICHOOSEYOU ministries and organized a 5k run to raise funds in order to help the Karamojong tribe of Mbale, Uganda by providing new economic opportunities in their community.
700 Karamojong members [400 children, 200 women, and 100 men] live in the outskirts of Mbale, Uganda known as Namatala. Namatala is an area of poverty and where there is no close access to a water well. The Karamojong have little resources and very few, if any, personal possessions.
The “I Choose You-Race For Relief-5k run/walk” helped to raise funds to acquire land for farming and to help a small pork serving business thrive in the area. Not only does this help the Karamojong lift themselves up form poverty but, also helps them sustain themselves by putting in practice free enterprise concepts such as profit, product, sales, savings, and service. This will be a big impact in the economic structure for the Namatala community and the Karamojong.
SIFE is a global, non-profit organization that is literally changing the world through highly dedicated student teams on more than 1600 university campuses in 40 countries. SIFE offers these students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise, thereby improving the standard of living for millions in the process. Texas State SIFE is one of the leading collegiate teams within the United States. Texas State SIFE has placed within the Top 20 at national competitions since 1997 and was the International Champion in 2000.
