The Power of “We Have”

How communities are discovering what they already have and building from it

The first quarter of 2026 has been a powerful reminder of what makes VICOBAPlus different.

Across communities, something is shifting.

People are no longer starting from “What do we need?”

They are beginning from “What do we have?”

And that simple shift is changing everything.

It is restoring confidence.

It is unlocking ideas.

It is bringing people together.

And it is turning ordinary groups into communities that act, build, and grow together.

A Movement Growing Through People

This quarter, six new VICOBAPlus groups were started in six different communities.

Each group is more than a number. It is a new beginning.

A space where people come together to:

• share their realities
• rediscover their strengths
• support one another
• and take small but meaningful steps forward

What is striking is how these groups begin.

Not because of external pressure.

Not because of incentives.

But because someone has experienced change — and invites others into it.

This is how VICOBAPlus grows.

It moves through people. It is carried by belief. It is sustained by community.

When Learning Crosses Borders

One of the most defining moments this quarter was the visit of Ugandan facilitators to Rwanda.

Rwanda was the first place outside Uganda where VICOBAPlus was introduced. What began as a pilot has now grown into something deeply rooted and alive.

For the Ugandan team, this visit was not just about seeing progress — it was about experiencing what is possible.

They encountered:

• families that have rebuilt stability
• men and women working together more intentionally
• communities supporting the most vulnerable
• members contributing toward healthcare and housing
• livelihoods steadily improving over time

But beyond what they saw, they returned with something even more important — renewed belief.

Belief that VICOBAPlus works beyond where it started.

Belief that the journey is real.

Belief that there is still more to build.

And just as importantly, the learning is no longer one-directional.

Rwanda is not just a place that received VICOBAPlus.

It is now shaping it — offering lessons, stories, and inspiration back into the wider movement.

More Than Livelihoods

While many groups are saving, starting businesses, and improving their incomes, the deeper story is not financial.

It is personal.

It is relational.

It is communal.

People are beginning to see themselves differently.

They are recognizing that they are not empty — they are resourced.

Groups are beginning to function differently.

They are not just meeting — they are supporting, encouraging, and building together.

Communities are beginning to respond differently.

They are not waiting — they are acting.

This is where VICOBAPlus becomes more than a model.

It becomes a way of thinking, a way of living, and a way of building together.

Communities Taking Initiative

Across the different groups, one thing is becoming clear:

People are not standing still.

They are:

• supporting vulnerable members within their communities
• starting and growing small livelihood activities
• sharing resources and ideas
• taking responsibility for collective progress

There is a growing sense that:

“If we have something, we can start.”

And from that place, action follows.

Not perfect action.

Not immediate results.

But consistent, steady progress.

What This Quarter Is Teaching Us

This quarter has reinforced truths that continue to define the VICOBAPlus journey:

• Change begins with mindset
• Growth is strengthened through community
• Progress happens step by step
• Leadership emerges from within

There are no shortcuts.

But when people stay with the process, the change becomes real — and it lasts.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, the focus remains simple and clear:

• continue walking with the six new groups as they grow
• strengthen facilitators as stewards of the process
• create more spaces for shared learning across communities
• encourage community-led initiatives to deepen impact

The strength of VICOBAPlus is not in how fast it grows —

but in how deeply it takes root.

A Living Movement

This quarter has shown us something we cannot ignore:

VICOBAPlus is alive.

It is alive in the confidence of individuals who once held back.

It is alive in families learning to work together.

It is alive in communities choosing action over waiting.

It is alive in facilitators who continue to believe and lead.

And it is alive wherever people choose to begin with what they already have.

This is the power of “We Have.”