By CATRIONA STEWART

A FILM maker is to launch a ground-breaking documentary scheme to raise money for women entrepreneurs in Uganda.

Carol Cooke’s campaign asks supporters to buy a copy of documentary Barefoot in Business to watch or screen to friends during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Money raised will be fed back in to the Barefoot in Business Fund, a training and support programme for female entrepreneurs across the African country.

Carol, who is the Director/Producer of the documentary, said: “As an entrepreneur myself, I am hugely passionate about this project.

“As you’ll see from the film, these women are truly inspiring and aren’t asking for our sympathy or hand outs.

“They’re simply asking to be taken seriously and given the chance to show the world what they’re capable of.

“This is about trade, not aid, and these women mean business.”

The Evening Times first told about Barefoot in Business in 2014 when Carol brought the stars of her documentary to Glasgow, including the country’s first female undertaker and a woman who made her business turning plastic straws into fashion items.

They met with their Scottish business peers before attending a reception at the Scottish Parliament.

In Uganda, some 40 per cent of women are not paid for their labour and Bank loans are based on land ownership and, with 90 per cent of men owning land, accessing finance to become self-employed is tough.

Carol felt inspired by the women she featured in her documentary and has spent two years devising a plan to support them to set up their own businesses.

During Global Entrepreneurship Week, from November 14 to 20, individuals and organisations are invited to pledge their commitment to the campaign by purchasing the documentary.

Anyone who signs up to help promote the project and host the film on their website is given a share of the sales to go towards their own organisation or be donated to a charity of their choice.

Carol, from Cowcaddens, added: “Access to finance is one of the biggest challenges facing our Ugandan entrepreneurs.

“However, it’s an issue the world over. We want this to be a win-win situation for our fellow entrepreneurs, filmmakers and everyone involved.”

Carol’s project has the backing of Creative Scotland and Young Enterprise Scotland.

Mark Thomas, Screen Officer at Creative Scotland, said: “Creative Scotland is proud to have supported Scrumptious Productions’ feature documentary Barefoot in Business.

“The film provides a refreshingly positive, empowering image of women in Uganda across the social divide.

“Carol is an emerging documentary filmmaking talent from Scotland who is finding innovative ways to reach audiences and generate positive social change for female entrepreneurs in Africa.”

Geoff Leask, Chief Executive at Young Enterprise Scotland, added: “Our mission at Young Enterprise Scotland is to inspire young people to learn through enterprise and because of this we see huge value and development for the young people of Scotland through our collaboration with Barefoot in Business.

“I have no doubt that many will be inspired through this project.”

Carol is also asking people to promote the video by using the hashtag #wemeanbusiness

For more information see www.barefootinbusiness.com