How three women transformed their lives in rural Uganda

What does it mean to be empowered? Three women share their stories of change, hope, and trees in rural Uganda.   

Patience’s story: Making a living with fruit trees 

In the small, rural village of Kasika, Biira Patience found it tough to make a good living.  

“I am a low-income earner, because in our area, the men are the ones with opportunities of getting good income-generating jobs,” she explains. 

“Women in this area have far fewer opportunities of getting money. This makes women fail to get basic requirements. Failure to get our basic requirements makes women live unhappily.” 

Fruit trees are a surprising source of joy, purpose and independence

The problem of income was deeply rooted in cultural attitudes. In many areas in rural Uganda, women not only lack opportunities, but they are also denied the right to own land, plant a tree, share in their children’s dowries or make decisions in the community. 

But a new organisation appeared and started to challenge these cultural norms – our partner, Alpha Women Empowerment Initiative (AWEI). With ITF’s support, they help women like Patience to earn a good, fulfilling living. 

“I was among the women who were selected by AWEI and I was trained on tree-growing and management. Thereafter, they supported me with tree seedlings, which include pawpaw, jackfruits and musizi.”  

These trees have given Patience and the other tree-planting women great hope for their future, as their delicious fruits provide them with a good income, reliable livelihood, confidence, and purpose. 

With AWEI, women can also try other new livelihoods. Jessica Sibyitha is one of the women working as a beekeeper!

Yozofina’s story: Equality in her family  

Yozofina sits among the coffee she grows with her husband John, and tells us her story. 

“In the past, I used to have misunderstandings with my husband due to coffee issues. We could plant and manage coffee together but at a time of selling the coffee, my husband would sell the coffee alone.   

Women often do the labour of farming and harvesting coffee, but when it comes to the proceeds, they get no say.

“Me and my husband happened to be among the couples who were trained by Alpha Women’s Empowerment Initiative. We were taught about working together and equal sharing of the benefits.  

“Then, after the training we came home and started implementing what we learned on working together and equal benefits sharing. We started working together in our coffee garden, harvesting, drying, and selling our coffee together. We can now plan for our money together. 

“I now feel harmony in my family.” 

Yozofina’s family are developing as coffee growers, enjoying sharing the work and the proceeds. When they sell their coffee, they plan to use the money to educate their children. 

Jackline’s story:  A safe home and a new future 

Kasika is a vulnerable village, afflicted by floods, droughts and landslides.  School student Jackline is a survivor of one of the mudslides. 

“Our house was washed away,” she tells us. “Our mother and three of our children died. Me and the rest of our children were also badly injured. When the landslide occurred, I was injured on my head and rushed to the hospital unconscious.” 

Jackline was treated and returned to the village, to her father and remaining siblings. 

Across Uganda, places like Kasika suffer tragedies because of weak soil and worsening weather. 

Alpha Women reached out to Jackline’s community, helping them to plant trees and grass in nursery beds, gardens and riverbanks. With these plants, the soil becomes rich and strong, so it won’t flood, wash away in heavy rain or become dangerously unstable. 

Planting trees and bamboo grasses to protect against floods and landslides

Jackline is a determined young woman, who refuses to let Kasika’s past tragedies stand in the way of her future. 

“Our friend Jackline opened up to us that she wanted to study and be a nurse, which is her dream,” says ITF project officer Samuel. “And we are glad to say that we are working together to see that her dream comes true.” 

Empowerment is more than just a word. It’s the freedom to earn a good living. It’s having a say over your own money. It’s being able to pursue your dream career. 

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Your gift today can support more women, like Patience, Jackline and Yozofina to earn a living and transform their lives. Please donate today.