From Uncertainty to Growth

In a last-mile village in Kyenjojo District, Lillian, 43, has built her life around farming and raising her three children. Her eldest studies Lands and Survey in Entebbe, her daughter is in Senior Two, and her youngest son is in Primary Four. Before 2023, life at home was marked by uncertainty, especially after the pandemic halted economic activity across the region. “I could not step out of my compound as we were in panic that we would fall sick. We stayed home with two of my children, always worried about what tomorrow might bring,” she recalls. With transport suspended and markets closed, farming could no longer sustain her needs. 

When her community partnered with RTV in 2023, it introduced the first meaningful shift in years. RTV partnered with the community to strengthen farming skills, household practices, and financial access. “After the trainings and the support they gave us through tools and improved seeds, I was very excited and was ready to implement whatever I learned,” says Lillian. She joined training sessions on good agronomic practices, including line planting, compost and liquid manure, pest management, and post-harvest handling. WASH sessions introduced tippy taps, dish racks, and improved sanitation, while financial literacy sessions helped form women’s VSLA. The mindset change training opened space for reflection around decision-making, peaceful homes, and confidence. Additionally, Lillian received improved seeds and tools.

 Her coffee garden, once producing modest yields, responded quickly to the practices she adopted. “I got UGX 1 million from the previous season, as compared to earlier, when I would get less than UGX 200,000.” She also started a livestock project through her VSLA. “With the income from piglets, I was able to purchase a door for my new house.” She now has three pigs, two of which are currently pregnant.

With this income, she opened a small clothes stall in the market. The improved maize and bean seeds further helped her feed her family and plan ahead for school fees: UGX 2.4 million for her firstborn, UGX 513,000 for her daughter, and UGX 200,000 for her youngest. Her VSLA consists of over 80 members, strengthening her ability to borrow for livestock, home improvements, and business investments. New sanitation and hygiene practices have improved health, with fewer frequent incidences of disease. “We really learned a lot of things, including personal hygiene at home. I no longer even take my children to the hospital,” Lilian shared.

Today, Lillian serves as the Agriculture Champion and VSLA secretary. Her plans include completing her permanent house, expanding her livestock, and growing her business. Her youngest son, 11-year-old Titus, often reminds her of what is possible. “When I grow up, I want to become a lawyer. I want to get more money so that I can give it to my mother,” Titus shares with pride.

Be part of our journey. Support last-mile communities by supporting Raising The Village. 

Raising The Village (RTV) partners with last-mile, rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and develops holistic initiatives that pave the pathway out of ultra-poverty towards economic self-sufficiency within 24 months. Our programs focus on improving agricultural incomes through training and providing agricultural inputs, diversifying income streams, removing barriers to participation such as lack of access to health, water, financial inclusion, and food security, and promoting healthy behaviors including adopting healthy WASH and gender equity practices. Since 2016, we have impacted the lives of more than 1.3 million people in last-mile villages in Uganda.