We sat down with Lauren Weeks from Path to Prosper to hear all about the amazing work her and the charity do. 

Support Path to Prosper via the Toucan app. Download here.

Hi Lauren, first things first, what's your role at Path to Prosper?

I’m the Chair.

Which causes do Path to Prosper support and what work do you do?

We provide professional training for vulnerable young adults in areas of extreme poverty.  

Our key aims are providing professional training for young adults in areas of extreme poverty; empowering women and advocating for equal access and opportunity; and building a sustainable model that removes the need for aid.

What sort of things do you use donations for?

We are a very small charity, run on a volunteer basis, which means 90% + goes directly to the beneficiaries in the form of education, accommodation or medical support. 

With education, that means theoretical + practical classes (including any resources they need. E.g. Mechanics tools or hairdressing instruments.) 

For accommodation, sometimes the students live over 3 hours walk from school, and in circumstances that don't allow them to study as they wish. We provide accommodation during term time so they can focus on their studies and have a safe place to live. 

Finally, we provide any medical care they need as well as prescriptions or doctors visits. For example, one of our students had an eye infection and we provided a course of medication for them to heal successfully.

What have you worked on that you're most proud of?

We are proud of all of our students, but there’s one in particular who stands out who is studying Pharmacy at Kampala university with the main focus to support his community. 

What are the biggest challenges still to overcome?

Funding in order to get more students through their education. Our aim is to not be needed, with the students putting their education back into and supporting their community.

Other than donating, what’s the one thing people can do to support your charity and its mission?

People can share our name, as well as offer to help in the operational running of the charity. We always need event managers plus other roles to help us.

Support Path to Prosper via the Toucan app. Download here.