Impact Stories
IST Achievements in Numbers
From Discord to Harmony: A Family’s Journey of Transformation
Okumu Ronald, a respected member of the local council and a lead farmer of ACE Cooperative in his community, shares how his family has undergone a remarkable transformation:
“We weren’t working together as a family before. I didn’t involve my wife in decision-making, and our household lacked unity. But through the training programs of IST and WE Effect I attended, everything changed. Today, we work as a team, and I’ve learned to respect her and include her in important decisions. Our family feels like a real partnership now.
“In our leisure time, we plan together and dream of a better future. One of our goals is to buy a plot of land in town. We’ve already made the first payment, and we’re eagerly waiting to harvest our crops in January to complete the final installment. The trainings have not only helped me grow as a person but also shaped me into a role model within our community. I now speak out on family matters and seek counseling when needed. Because of this, the causes of gender-based violence in our household have significantly reduced. Decision-making is now inclusive, and our family vision is stronger than ever.”
Brenda, his wife, adds:
“Before, my husband used to spend a lot of time gambling, which caused strain in our family. However, after he received training and applied what he learned, he changed completely. People in our community now come to us for advice on how to handle family matters. We’ve become a trusted source of guidance for others.”
Cooperatives Unifying Market Women to Combat the Effects of COVID-19
Nancy and 50 other market women in the cooperative share their stories of pain, triumph and success from the cooperative. The Cooperative started in 2018 as a CBO but has over the years grown into a cooperative with an agenda to support the group members economically, socially, emotionally and in all other spheres of life.
The Water Story
Shortly after the second lockdown in Uganda, it was a mandatory requirement for all public places to have hand-washing water points at all main entrances. According to the directive, these places included markets, malls, taxi parks, bus stops etc. However, for Bardege Complex market which is a private market, this was a challenging directive since we did not have either the resources or the capacity to set up the hand-washing points. With millions of Ugandans still battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an added challenge of living without access to safe and clean water. Now more than ever, access to clean, safe and affordable water is key to the health and livelihoods of people in Uganda.
The Resilience and Innovation of Refugee VSLAs in Kampala During COVID-19
At the beginning of the Second Wave of COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda, most people’s businesses were brought to a halt as the country put measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Uwamusho Group, a refugee VSLA formed and supported by IST with support from UN Women, shared how they managed to navigate and survive the harsh effects of the lockdown on their business, families and livelihood.
Nakassi Nuulu: Empowered to Diversify for a Better Life
I had only one stall in the market where I used to sell only one item – Cassava. The business was not moving well as I had accumulated a lot of debts especially in the operation costs of running the business especially the transportation of items from the village to the market. I was struggling to balance the money for the business and basic needs and challenges with record keeping. There was no clear leadership structure for their department in the market.
In 2017, I was approached by a colleague to attend a business training at St. Jude Church in Naguru. In the training, I acquired skills in record keeping to be able to track the profits, losses and expenditure of the business.