From challenge to change

Aida, from a last-mile village in Kagadi, once felt weighed down by multiple challenges. "Our yields and income were always lower than what we expected. Necessities, such as water and hygiene, were a challenge," she recalls. Outdated farming practices, long walks to collect water, livestock damaging her gardens, and a limited income made it difficult for her to care for her six children.

Today, Aida stands not only as a joint provider for her household but also as a trusted community leader. As treasurer of both her Women's and Joint VSLAs, she has become a source of knowledge and support, helping her neighbors strengthen their livelihoods, manage resources, and build a brighter future together.

"The agriculture, livestock management, WASH training, and financial literacy sessions we attended in 2020 were the turning point in our well-being and daily routines," Aida shares. With modern practices like line planting and the use of organic compost, her yields improved significantly. "After the training, for the first time, we could harvest enough to feed our family and earn income to meet our needs." Over time, livestock management became an additional source of income. Together with her husband, Fuderi, she now rears goats and pigs, and in 2024, they purchased a cow, which has since calved and provides milk for the family.

‍

For Aida, her leadership role in the VSLAs and the broader community has been just as transformative as the changes at home. "I have consistently motivated my fellow group members to save small amounts of money regularly. I have also been offering guidance to my fellow women on effective management of their income and finances, encouraging them not to rely solely on their husbands but to be a source of support for the family as well", she says. The savings and loans have enabled her family to invest in new opportunities while helping her neighbors do the same.

‍

Her husband, Fuderi, reflects on the broader impact, "Our household and community have seen significant changes over the last five years. A majority of community members have enrolled their children in school, which was not typical five years ago. I believe this shift is a result of the mindset change training we underwent."

With their increased income, Aida and Fuderi have been able to send five of their six children to school and even purchase a new plot of land to expand their farming operations. Looking ahead, Aida shares, "We aim to launch a poultry farm by the end of this year to improve our income further. I want to ensure our children remain in school and achieve a successful future."

‍