My name is Kapel Joel, a 28-year-old from Maaru Sub-County in Kotido District. I am married, and together with my wife we are blessed with two children, expecting our third this year. I am a group member of the Kiteteunag group.

Before attending IST trainings, my life was very different. I was known in the village as a heavy drunkard, and my family life was not good. I left all responsibilities to my wife and never even referred to her as my wife, but simply “that woman.” I spent most of my time with a bad group of friends, and at home, I believed I was the sole decision-maker what I said was final, and no one could challenge me.

I was not involved in farming at all my daily life revolved around spending time with friends, drinking from morning until evening. But I thank WFP and IST for the unbelievable work they have done in my life since July 2024. I can see my life is getting bright. Something I had never imagined.  With the support I received, I was able to access PDM funds, and for the first time, I sat down with my wife to plan what we could achieve together through farming.

Right now, we together with my wife cultivated 8 acres of sorghum, 1 acre of cassava, an acre of sweet potatoes and 2 acres of millet and half acre of ground nuts. This is what we proudly own as a family. Thanks to WFP and IST, I am now confident that my household will always have enough food, and I will also be able to sell part of the harvest to earn money and take care of my family’s needs.

Because of WFP and IST, I was inspired to open a bank account, and now as a family we save our money there. So far, we have managed to save 350,000 UGX (USD 100), and our plan is to buy an ox-plough to support our farming and increase production, just as we had envisioned in our family vision journey.

Today, my family is a happy family, and many people wonder how we are managing to do it. In Karamoja, it is common for women to be left to do most of the hard work during harvests especially with millet but in my family, things have changed.

As a trained TOT, my dream is to see this same change spread to other families in Maaru. I have already started talking to my fellow men those I used to drink with 6 families showing them that when a man and a woman work together, even the children are happier. They are beginning to believe in me because I am living as an example.

In Karamoja, men are often known for avoiding household and farming responsibilities and that’s how we end up dying of hunger.  I am determined to change that mindset through using GALS Tools.