Transforming lives in slum communities in Uganda

26/4/2021

In Uganda, we support communities to create a protective environment for their children. Recently, we facilitated our annual 'Most Significant Change' exercise with the five slum communities we work with in Jinja, Uganda. People from each area gather to share their experiences and discuss which stories of change are the most significant to them over the year, and why. They then vote on which story they feel represents the most important kind of transformation for them as a community.

This is the fourth time we have used this technique in the Loco, Masese I, Masese II and Masese III and the second time it has been used in Wandago. Here are some highlights from the stories chosen by each community.

Namakusa Ruth - MASESE I

Masese I community chose the story of 37-year-old Namukasa Ruth who describes a transformation in both her parenting and her household income. Firstly, she received invaluable advice and support from Lydia Kisakye from her local Child Protection Team. She describes how she used to bark at her children and beat them, but since listening to Lydia “...I am no longer harsh to my children. Whenever I want to beat them, I remember what Lydia told me and then I just cool down. Now, I can sit down with my children and we crack jokes, not as before”.

She also talked about how a small business loan and training has helped her develop her soft drinks stall, and how this has tide the family over throughout some hardships in her husband’s fishing business.

Mutumba Steven - LOCO

A younger storyteller was chosen in Loco; 13-year-old Mutumba Steven. His was less of a personal story and more of a reflection. He described how when he moved to Loco four months ago, he was struck by the Early Childhood Development Centre. He loved seeing the colourful building and observing the class environment and the caring teachers. He can see how much the centre has benefited families in Loco and how many smiles the playground puts on children’s faces!

Acham Agnes - MASESE III

In Masese III Acham Agnes had her story chosen. She talked about how she has seen a general improvement in children’s behaviour and attitude as the community have learned more about parenting techniques and had access to family counselling through the Child Protection Team.

Sanyu Fazira - WANDAGO

Wandago community voted for a story about the impact of community workshops. 36-year-old Sanyu Fazira is a single mother of three children, who was struggling to pay the rent on her own with her fish frying business. She was invited to a community workshop at the Wandago Early Childhood Development Centre where she not only learned more about hygiene, how to take care of her children and not take out her frustrations on them, but also had intensive training on saving. She was so inspired that she returned home and set up a new savings group with 35 people, and was elected as chairperson. Over the year, the savings group did incredibly well and Fazira was able to buy a cow and invest more capital in her business. She says “My life got transformed”.

Kasobya Aisha - MASESE II

Kasobya Aisha from Masese II described a broader community transformation, saying how:

“Before I learnt about Children on the Edge Africa, our village was badly off, especially in terms of hygiene. People also used to fight a lot, men used to drink recklessly and would resort to beating their spouses and children. When Children on the Edge Africa came, they taught us how to live harmoniously, and about children’s rights and other human rights. We start inviting both men and women to the community workshops. People in the community learnt that domestic violence interrupts the rights of children. They also came to learn that living in an unsanitary environment is so impoverishing, as one always ends up in hospital. At the moment, our community is better and people respond when they are invited for workshops".

Children on the Edge aims to ensure that vulnerable slum dwelling children in Jinja, Uganda are safer and better protected. With your help, we work to ensure that children have a better start in life and improved prospects for the future. Read more about our work in Uganda.

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