Bufumbo Women’s group constructed a new shelter for a young man who, despite being lame, is very hard working and determined to live a decent life. He does casual work for people in the community and also cooks porridge for children in a local church. He had been living in a dilapidated dry banana fibre thatched shelter which leaked when it rained. The members nominated him to have a new iron sheet roofed shelter and he could not hide his joy when he moved in and also received a new mattress and blankets: I appreciate UWCM together with the People who give them money to help some of us who have never dreamt of ever living in a house roofed with iron sheets! Thank you UWCM for putting a smile on my face and changing my identity. I can now confidently approach a girl for marriage though not now but when the right time comes, I will make sure I take her to church for a holy matrimony as a testimony that there is a God in heaven who cares about people like us! May the Almighty God bless you”
Another shelter was constructed for a single mother of nine whose husband disappeared 6 years’ ago. This woman has always worked hard to try and support her family and is now the head cook in a local comprehensive school and she also hires pieces of land where she grows food for her children. UWCM discovered that only does she care for her own children, but has also taken in 3 other children whose mother had died and now cares for them as well! UWCM therefore paid to have some extra rooms added onto her existing shelter and they are all living happily together.
Monitoring community groups: Each year, new groups are formed in communities because many people have realized the benefits of working in groups. Close monitoring of these community groups helps UWCM to identify their needs both at individual and community levels and then discuss the way to solve them to ensure development.
During one monitoring visit, a local officer thanked UWCM for the work they are doing in that community and said: this is the only organisation in this community which is serious, stable and organised as far as community work is concerned because of the continuous monitoring it does in its groups. He also asked that UWCM extend their programmes to other villages and help form saving groups in those areas because he has witnessed that this project has helped many families come out of poverty and so crime rate has reduced in the sub-county. He planned to call for a general community meeting and invite UWCM to talk to them.
Microfinance saving schemes: these continue to do incredibly well and many groups are able to use their savings to start small businesses eg roasting maize/selling porridge in the evenings and members of one group have a vision of making sure they invest in their children’s education and many of their children have attained degrees in different fields. Often groups visit each other on a weekly basis and take with them some sugar, tealeaves and soap which has encouraged members, especially widows, to remain in the group as that is where they get their identity and a sense of belonging.
Uganda Concern UK 