A Renewed Hope Through Skills

My name is Acio Mirriam. I come from Akidebe Village in Minakulu. I am 18 years old, a student in Building and Concrete Practice (BCP) Course under the scholarship program for Skills Development at Ignite Change Vocational Training Institute.

Growing up, life was quite tough for me together with my siblings as orphans raised by a poor elderly grandmother. My sister and I sat for Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) twice through my grandmother’s support but still it was difficult for us to continue with our education after primary level. We both dropped out of school, stayed home for 1 year and never saw any hope of going back to school. The community made fun of our situation. My schoolmates who continued to secondary education mocked me, discriminated against me with all these I felt hopeless. Because there was no hope for further education, my sister and I started farming to support our grandmother’s effort to sustain the family.

Then I was selected to be taken under a scholarship program for vocational education at the Ignite Change VTI. While at school in the department of BCP, we learned basic building skills like setting out a building, building a superstructure, and more.

Mirriam busy building a wall

I am proud to say that from the time I joined school, my life has changed. The lost hope is regained back even in my family. I am better off than my fellow friends who joined secondary education because I have practical skills which they do not have. Even after only one year of my training, I am able to use my knowledge and skills gained practically to generate income. During school breaks, I get opportunities to work with contractors at their construction site and get paid. I can set and lay foundations, cast concrete, render and plaster houses among others. This money helps me buy other requirements for school and support my grandmothers’ and family’s needs.

With these set of skills at hand I can choose to be a boss of myself, an employer, or a professional suitable for the labour market. I am now growing to become a self sustainable youth, generating income in the household and able to support and provide for the family as I work to move my family out of poverty. I am a shining example of a skilled youth in the community trained for sustainable growth.

I want to say thank you to the Ignite Change Organization. Your programs have given a vulnerable youth like me the chance, opportunity and hope for a brighter future.

Live long to reach and empower many more orphans and vulnerable children like me with skills for economic transformation in their lives and that of their families.

May the Almighty God bless you!

Now hope is restored and I am able to solve my problems

Everyday You are changing lives. This is the story of how you have transformed Awilo Harriet's life - told in her own words. Harriet was not able to finish school. She was left pregnant and hopeless. That is, until Ignite Change saw her when the rest of the community had left her. Her story is just one of many. It’s a powerful reminder of how no matter where you are in the world we are all connected and we ALL need each other.

And next Tuesday your donation will be TRIPLED to reach and transform lives of families like Harriet's!

My name is Awilo Harriet. I come from Adak ‘A’ Village in Kamdini. 

Before knowing about Ignite Change, life was not good. It was tough for me as a young mother because I got pregnant in senior two and dropped out of school. People were talking about me in the community which was very discouraging. I did not know what to do to make myself valuable and that made me feel hopeless at that time. 

Ignite Change brought together a group of young mothers, we were trained for 6 months by a mentor from the Organization on important lessons like, life skills, business skills, God’s word, savings, and health education among others. When this training was done, we were graduated and given certificates, but it did not stop at that! We were then informed that 10 members would be taken for a tailoring. I am happy to say that I was among the members whose names were selected and benefited from the tailoring course.

It was not an easy journey especially for me as a young mother because at that time, I had a 6-month-old baby with whom I carried every day to attend the training course for 9 months. I endured and struggled until I completed my course because I felt overlooked and mocked by everyone except Ignite Change.

After completing the course, Ignite Change opened a tailoring center and gave us all the startup kits, tools and materials we needed to get started with our trailering business.

Today, I have become self-empowered, and my family livelihood has improved. I speak with all the confidence that I feel very different, my life has not remained the same. I have become very important to myself, family, and the community. I feel valued, respected, and helpful to the community because I am giving my skills and knowledge to other youths in my community by training them. 

My family's economic status has greatly improved. I now make clothes out of materials for people, and this is generating income to provide for my family. I now pay rent for my business and support my children’s education, buy food, pay medical bills and can meet my family needs easily.

These skills have taken away my worries and the pain I had when I lost hope. Now hope is RESTORED and I am able to solve my problems. My family’s economic status has improved, I am happy, and my family is happy.

I thank Ignite Change for coming to my rescue

My name is Awor Sophie, I'm a strong believer in Christ. I'm 30 years of age. I live in Buga cell, Western ward, Kamdini town council. My husband was unfortunately lynched by a mob early this year and I became a widow. At the time of my husband's death, I was pregnant with my last born.

Sophie Awor and her children as she shares her story

As my pregnancy grew, I felt terribly sick along with one of my other children. I was forced to sell one of the bulls left at home in order to raise money to get treatment both for myself and my child. My husband's brother did not perceive it in a good way, he became so mad at me as to why I sold the bull.

The worst news came a few weeks later when the bank came with an agreement they had with my late husband. The house where we live was to be taken by the bank since my husband put it as part of the security for acquiring a loan. I had nothing to do, if the bank was to take over the house, I and the children would have nowhere to live. So I decided to sell off a piece of land that we have in order to raise money to clear the bank loan. Which I did and our house was secured.

My brother-in-law became so wild at me and tried to take over all that my husband left behind. When I reached out to the clan [family] leaders, they tried to have us reach an agreement, but I didn’t see any change come out of it. The man wanted me out of his late brother's house, yet I have children to take care of.

One day, as I was walking on the road and I was crying, I met a certain woman who knew what I was going through, she then advised me to reach out to Ignite Change. She directed me where their officers are located and gave me confidence that Ignite Change would help me.

Indeed when I went to the Ignite Change’s offices, they listened to my story and swiftly came into action. They reported the case to the police, they then convened a meeting between me and the rest of other extended family members including the police officers incharge of Children and Family Protection. I explained all that was going on between me and my brother in law. He was ordered to stop all violences and insults he was throwing towards me. All that he had taken forcefully were returned to me including some herds of cattle he had hidden from my knowledge that my late husband had bought a day before his death.

He was quoted as saying ,”this organization [Ignite Change] is very serious on issues regarding the women, widows and orphans, no one who disturbs these people escapes the hands of the law.”

I thank Ignite Change for coming to my rescue, their name alone now stands as a big shield for me, they helped me discover things I previously did not know. I am happy now leaving without oppression from my late husband’s family, all that was taken from me were returned. I now pray that the organization grows even bigger. They have become fathers to the fatherless, and husband to the oppressed widows may God bless them abundantly.

Life Has Never Been the Same - Scovia Akello and Her Poultry Business

My name is Akello Scovia and I am 33 years old. I am a resident of Amukugungu village.

I came to know about Ignite Change when we were mobilized to come together under a group by our mentor. Under that group, they called the young mothers and orphans. So, we came together under a group that we named Oribcing Women’s Group in Ocini Parish, Kamdini Sub-County.

They started mentoring us on how best we can make money and save, however little it is, then develop from it. We were taught different business ideas and were encouraged to start saving under our group.

After completing the mentorship, I was motivated to start an income generating activity. So, I decided to start rearing chicken. I started by rearing 2 hens and a rooster. I kept them well, both hens laid eggs and the number increased at once to 32.

Scovia with her chickens

The Ignite Change mentor continued visiting me and I was advised to borrow money from our savings group and buy more chicken. I borrowed 100,000 shillings ($27.40) from the savings group and bought more chicks. A few died, but I managed most of them well.

After just less than 6 months, I realized a massive increase in the number of my chickens and as I talk now I have over 100 birds.

House for chickens to sleep in at night

I am now living a better life because at least I am earning from my birds. On a weekly basis, I make a sale of about 3 trays of eggs, each tray going at 13,000/=. I get over 39,000/= ($10.70) every week, something I never dreamt of achieving before.

All my 5 children are now happily sustainable and able to go to school. I am supporting them financially in their quest for better education. But previously, they were not all going to school.

By the end of this year, I am planning to make huge sales from the chicken and buy oxen to help me with agriculture so that I am able to do both planting and livestock agriculture.

Scovia with one of her goats she bought from her chickens

As of now , I am greatly impressed and I am happy that I am able to venture into other business opportunities. I have bought some goats and I have started rearing them. Slowly I believe I will buy more and they will increase in number just like the chicken has. In fact life has never been the same after I was taught and mentored, I foresee much more achievements in the future

Pegge Johns' Trip to Uganda (Part 2)

Visit to Government Primary School

Thursday. Today, we went to a government Primary School with Nommy which just happened to be the exact school Nommy attended as a child. This Government school was overcrowded and poorly staffed and could clearly have used more resources and teaching material.  

 Monday Morning Fellowship

Monday morning, I was able to join in with the Ignite Change staff for their weekly Praise & Worship time. Although I did not understand some of the words sung in their native language, one line rang through...Yahweh, Yahweh, you are a miracle working God, your name is Yahweh! 

Visting a Tailoring Business

We were then back out in the villages to meet and talk with tailoring students who previously have come through the Ignite Change program. It was so cool to see their enthusiasm and the pride they had in having their own machines and businesses! I saw firsthand some of their awesome creations and was truly impressed! Times are difficult here, but each person greets you with kindness and love. They go out of their way to give you a seat and make you feel so very welcome!

 Visit to Land and Vision Retreat

Tuesday the entire Ignite Change staff went to the land purchased for the Vocational School. The land is in a perfect location (right outside of town) and is level so every part can be used!  We shared a time of worship there and did a prayer walk around the 7.5 acres. The borehole that has already been drilled was operational and the families who live on the bordering land use it so they do not have to travel far to get water. As long as they maintain it, Ignite Change is more than welcoming for them to use the water. Following, the entire staff (they included me in, too) traveled to a nearby park (with a view of the Nile River!) for their Vision Retreat to plan for upcoming projects, projected growth and future dreams for Ignite Change and the impact it will have on the families in Kamdini ~ all while giving the glory to God for his hand in all that Ignite Change has been able to accomplish and praising Him for the lives and future projects yet to come.

Walking around the land of Ignite Change

Playing a game at the Vision Retreat

  Last Day and Farewell

My final day concluded with sweet good-byes to the Ignite Change staff at the office ~ taking pictures, eating cupcakes and having a brief Bible Study with them. And, to top it all off, a motorcycle ride from the office to the tailoring center and back through Kamdini with James. 

 Conclusion

Well, that's some of the highlights that I was blessed to experience and see during my time in Kamdini. It's been good to see firsthand the great work the Ignite Change staff, our brothers and sisters in Christ, are doing here on a day-to-day basis. However, there is still much work to be done to “empower families to achieve a bright and sustainable future.”  (taken from the mission statement of Ignite Change)!

Thank you for your ongoing love and prayers for Emily, the entire Ignite Change staff and all the lovely people in Uganda! Your continued support is going further than you can ever imagine!

 To God be the Glory!

 Pegge