Stories from Uganda: Olivia’s Story

I am a 43 year old teacher by profession and mother to four children.

I used to teach at Kananage Primary School where I attended a parents training class conducted by COFCAWE. From the knowledge I acquired in this class, I made use of the school garden to grow cassava that I’d sell to boost my income.

I borrowed money from the Village Savings Loan Association to which I used to buy feed for my pigs and to construct a bigger stie. My piggery grew from two piglets to 30 pigs, and I sold off 20 to pay for my children’s school tuition. I currently have 10 pigs and borrow from the VSLA to maintain my business. I am also still teaching, I am the deputy head teacher of a new primary school. I am teaching P5 and P6 science.

It brings me joy to see that my children are finally living well that we are moving forward as a family and that I am making money. When it’s like this, I said ‘glory to God’.

I must say, COFCAWE are my friends, from the boss lady to the very lowest. I got to know them at my former school, because of their training about how to care for, educate and support the girl child. They helped us form a new group and I was the chairperson of that parent’s group. The group has been saving up, and supporting each other, and I think the men cannot do that. The parents group helps us to work together, to support each other. You know, if there are two or three people, they can work together to get a pig, or even a cow. Feeding those animals is not easy on these small scale levels. But the group helps us to support each other.

The loans from the group have helped me a lot and sustained my life as a teacher. I think I am exceptional, and I’m proud of that. I can work on my piggery and can sell them each Christmas to help raise money (at the end of December, everyone wants a pig!). I can look after my gardens, to rear my poultry. You cannot just ask anyone for money, but in my group, I can ask for a loan.

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