“I came to Jitokeze in 2018 to join the fashion design and garment making training. I was lucky to get this opportunity immediately after completing my primary school level but failed to proceed due to financial constraints. My aunt who was a participant in the farmer empowerment program got me admission after she learnt of how my mother and I had been arrested for selling illegal liquor. After my primary exams, I had started helping my mother in brewing her liquor which she would later sell to her customers. During this period, I was exposed to so much evil but I had no way out. My father had left my mother and remarried forcing her to use all means to fend for me and my younger sister. When my aunt learnt of my arrest, she came and picked me and that is how she enrolled me into this course. sewing was a bit hard considering the fact that I wanted to proceed with my secondary education instead but my aunt couldn’t afford the fee. I however developed interest and within six months I had mastered the skill and started enjoying my work. I started getting cheap fabrics from the pocket money that my aunt was giving me to sew dresses for my sister and I. I also asked my aunt for a small portion of her garden and planted kales and capsicum to generate some income. I am hopeful that by the end of this year, I would have raised enough money to register for NITA grade III exams. I always visit my mother and sister when I get a chance during holidays. Though our state has not changed, I am happy am being empowered and I believe my skills will transform our life and my mother will start living a decent life.” Mercy Nekesa.

“I joined Rongosol self help group in February 2018 and that was the changing point of my life. I used to sell beads but more often my business would close down due to lack of money for continuation. The little money I would get from the business would go directly to home expenses.
When I joined the group and started saving, it did not take long before I started getting loans. I would take up to 10,000 shillings to invest in my business and it started to grow. Part of the loan would go into settling bills as well as I wait for the profits.
When my profits started scaling, I reduced the amount of loan and increased my savings. I have started doing development at my home. Recently I purchased water pipes and channeled water to my farm. This is because I want to venture into farming and as a woman it is against our taboo to divert furrow water for irrigation. With constant flow of water am planning to establish a banana plantation and raise vegetables for selling.
My husband is impressed because I am no longer depending on him. He has started helping me and sometimes he gives me more money to save in the group account I am a happy woman and I am proud of my achievements.”
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“I joined Korosion self help group in 2016 because I wanted to be around other farmers and learn from them. We were trained on sustainable agriculture, poultry keeping and self help group concept. I couldn’t venture into framing because I did not have land and was living in a rented house.
Through the self help group my life has changed greatly. We were trained on saving weekly and taking loans to invest in small businesses.

I started by taking a small loan to purchase one bucket of honey which sold quickly earning me some profits. I repaid the loan and requested for more. I continued adding buckets until I started purchasing 20 buckets at once.
The money I would get from my business would offset the loan, offset home expenses, reinvest in the business and enable me save on a weekly business.

Things started to change and I reduced the amount of loan I would take because my profits were scaling up. I managed to purchase a piece of land and built my house and a small shop.
My husband joined me and started helping with cleaning the honey, supplying to our customers and when it is scarce, He would go to get it from our supplier. Our lives became comfortable and our children enrolled to good schools for quality education.
From this business, I have purchased three parcels of land on which I am planning to construct rental houses. I am still a member of Korosion self help group and on meeting days I leave my husband to run the business. If I had stayed alone, I wouldn’t have reached where I am now. It is good for people to learn to pull their resources together and assist each other.”

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“When I dropped out of school in class three to get married, I thought my life had come to an end. There was no way I was going to defy my father’s orders as that would cost my mother her marriage.

I stayed in that marriage for four years before I got the courage to walk out. I went back home and requested my parents to allow me join a polytechnic for tailoring training. Surprisingly they agreed and enrolled me in Jitokeze in 2015.
I was determined to complete my training and have my own business to cater for my two children. Their father was not contributing towards their upkeep citing my walking out of the marriage as the reason.

During my training, I was lucky to work in the production class and earned myself a sewing machine by the time of graduation. I had no intentions of bothering my parents again and I am glad I didn’t.

I worked extra hard at Jitokeze and raised enough money for purchasing some fabrics to kick start my business. I relocated from Morpus to Lelan where I established my business in partnership with another seamstress.
Though my business is picking slowly, I have started enjoying the benefits. From the profits I make I am able to settle my house rent, home expenses and even save some for emergency.

My children are still staying with my parents but I send them money from time to time. I am planning to take them and enroll them in a school close to me to be able to monitor their education.”

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