Life Has Never Been the Same - Scovia Akello and Her Poultry Business
My name is Akello Scovia and I am 33 years old. I am a resident of Amukugungu village.
I came to know about Ignite Change when we were mobilized to come together under a group by our mentor. Under that group, they called the young mothers and orphans. So, we came together under a group that we named Oribcing Women’s Group in Ocini Parish, Kamdini Sub-County.
They started mentoring us on how best we can make money and save, however little it is, then develop from it. We were taught different business ideas and were encouraged to start saving under our group.
After completing the mentorship, I was motivated to start an income generating activity. So, I decided to start rearing chicken. I started by rearing 2 hens and a rooster. I kept them well, both hens laid eggs and the number increased at once to 32.
Scovia with her chickens
The Ignite Change mentor continued visiting me and I was advised to borrow money from our savings group and buy more chicken. I borrowed 100,000 shillings ($27.40) from the savings group and bought more chicks. A few died, but I managed most of them well.
After just less than 6 months, I realized a massive increase in the number of my chickens and as I talk now I have over 100 birds.
House for chickens to sleep in at night
I am now living a better life because at least I am earning from my birds. On a weekly basis, I make a sale of about 3 trays of eggs, each tray going at 13,000/=. I get over 39,000/= ($10.70) every week, something I never dreamt of achieving before.
All my 5 children are now happily sustainable and able to go to school. I am supporting them financially in their quest for better education. But previously, they were not all going to school.
By the end of this year, I am planning to make huge sales from the chicken and buy oxen to help me with agriculture so that I am able to do both planting and livestock agriculture.
Scovia with one of her goats she bought from her chickens
As of now , I am greatly impressed and I am happy that I am able to venture into other business opportunities. I have bought some goats and I have started rearing them. Slowly I believe I will buy more and they will increase in number just like the chicken has. In fact life has never been the same after I was taught and mentored, I foresee much more achievements in the future
Pegge Johns' Trip to Uganda (Part 2)
Visit to Government Primary School
Thursday. Today, we went to a government Primary School with Nommy which just happened to be the exact school Nommy attended as a child. This Government school was overcrowded and poorly staffed and could clearly have used more resources and teaching material.
Monday Morning Fellowship
Monday morning, I was able to join in with the Ignite Change staff for their weekly Praise & Worship time. Although I did not understand some of the words sung in their native language, one line rang through...Yahweh, Yahweh, you are a miracle working God, your name is Yahweh!
Visting a Tailoring Business
We were then back out in the villages to meet and talk with tailoring students who previously have come through the Ignite Change program. It was so cool to see their enthusiasm and the pride they had in having their own machines and businesses! I saw firsthand some of their awesome creations and was truly impressed! Times are difficult here, but each person greets you with kindness and love. They go out of their way to give you a seat and make you feel so very welcome!
Visit to Land and Vision Retreat
Tuesday the entire Ignite Change staff went to the land purchased for the Vocational School. The land is in a perfect location (right outside of town) and is level so every part can be used! We shared a time of worship there and did a prayer walk around the 7.5 acres. The borehole that has already been drilled was operational and the families who live on the bordering land use it so they do not have to travel far to get water. As long as they maintain it, Ignite Change is more than welcoming for them to use the water. Following, the entire staff (they included me in, too) traveled to a nearby park (with a view of the Nile River!) for their Vision Retreat to plan for upcoming projects, projected growth and future dreams for Ignite Change and the impact it will have on the families in Kamdini ~ all while giving the glory to God for his hand in all that Ignite Change has been able to accomplish and praising Him for the lives and future projects yet to come.
Walking around the land of Ignite Change
Playing a game at the Vision Retreat
Last Day and Farewell
My final day concluded with sweet good-byes to the Ignite Change staff at the office ~ taking pictures, eating cupcakes and having a brief Bible Study with them. And, to top it all off, a motorcycle ride from the office to the tailoring center and back through Kamdini with James.
Conclusion
Well, that's some of the highlights that I was blessed to experience and see during my time in Kamdini. It's been good to see firsthand the great work the Ignite Change staff, our brothers and sisters in Christ, are doing here on a day-to-day basis. However, there is still much work to be done to “empower families to achieve a bright and sustainable future.” (taken from the mission statement of Ignite Change)!
Thank you for your ongoing love and prayers for Emily, the entire Ignite Change staff and all the lovely people in Uganda! Your continued support is going further than you can ever imagine!
To God be the Glory!
Pegge
Pegge Johns' Trip to Uganda (Part 1)
I thought I would send along a recap of my trip to Kamdini. I know this is a bit long (sorry), but there was much to do and experience while I was here, I couldn’t pick which to eliminate so I’ll share it all.
Community Engagement - Cases
My first Tuesday morning we headed out to the villages with one of Ignite Changes’s caseworkers, Betty to meet with families and people from cases Ignite Change is involved with:
One family with a mentally ill child (they are helping provide treatment and medication),
One rape survivor (Betty is working with a sweet lady from the village who works at the medical clinic and is helping with placement/temporary housing for stability while the case is being investigated, which is far from over) and
An 85 year old grandmother who has been taking care of her two grandaughters (ages 8 and 10) because she has no other family left. They have been homeless for a period of time and needs housing (Ignite Change has plans to put a hut up for her asap).
This is definitely one of the hardest parts of this trip - to see people living in such extreme conditions. Huts for homes, cooking on an open fire, no shoes, clothes in grave disrepair and kiddos who will probably never travel more than a few miles from home their entire lives.
Youth Empowerment - Graduation for Young Mothers
The second Monday here was a true delight! I was able to attend the Young Mothers graduation in one of the nearby villages that Ignite Change serves. Mere words cannot describe the pride, joy and overall feeling of gratitude and accomplishment expressed by 55 lovely young ladies who came through the program led by Ignite Change, specifically the project officer, Colline. Just by listening to them speak (some through a translator) - it was apparent how much confidence they now had prior to the beginning of classes. Not only transforming their lives, but also the lives of their immediate families (there was one husband that spoke who had everyone in stitches talking about the remarkable change in his wife) and even into the village who will see the impact moving forward. It was amazing to hear of their newly formed businesses and how numerous ladies have come to know Jesus! At the end of the program, each young lady received a certificate of completion, a Bible translated into their native language and a mosquito net (a must-have for the prevention of malaria). I could tell how grateful they were!
Visit to Other Vocational Schools
To get an idea of Vocational Schools in the area for the upcoming Ignite Change build, on Tuesday we were off to see Vocational Schools in the area. The government school was very run down, classrooms were very basic (desks and blackboards) there was clearly a lack of tools, and the dorms were overcrowded. We were watching some of the students practicing laying bricks and it was visible to the naked eye that the rows were unlevel. The students were not even using a level which I believe is a necessary tool for this type of work. Unfortunately, the government schools are poorly run and staffed.
Professional Development Training on Child Development
On Wednesday I led a class for the Ignite Change staff on Child Development. We talked about appropriate ways to instruct and talk to children, open-ended questions, and language development. In Uganda children are “seen and not heard”; - and too often children are yelled at and, unfortunately, hit for correction. At the end of class, staff started sharing stories about their childhoods. One staff member said he was so happy the day his father died because he would no longer have to endure beatings. Another shared how she was sure the lady in her home was not her mother, (which she was indeed her mother) because the lady was so mean to her. Their stories were heartbreaking and situations I could never imagine. Needless to say, I was in tears listening to their stories. However, it did give us the opportunity to discuss how our Heavenly Father loves us! and how Jesus modeled the perfect example of love throughout his life on earth! We looked at numerous Bible verses to support how we are to treat others, including our children! At the end, each staff member was up to the challenge to be the change so desperately needed here moving forward, not only in their own families, but to share with neighbors and those who they come into contact with through their work. Praise God!
…. to be continued. Part 2 will be posted soon.
You Believe You're Stuck
My name is Akao Juliet, I am a woman, 20 years old. When I met Ignite Change, I had already given birth. In my heart, there was something I wanted to do, but there was no way to reach it. Our mentor from Ignite Change took us through training. I now have many new ideas on how I can get out of poverty and develop by starting up a business.
Before I met Ignite Change, I was not doing anything, I was only farming. I had trained as a tailor, but I did not have the items needed to start a tailoring business. After receiving training on development, my interest grew in starting my own business. Before, I had no idea how to get the items needed to start, I thought I had no way of getting money.
After receiving advice from my mentor, I used the little money I had to rent a garden and plant soybeans back in March 2022. From the harvest in August, I got 3 sacks of soybeans and I sold them for 650,000 shillings ($176). Then I used that money to buy a sewing machine and other materials like threads and zippers to start my tailoring business. I rented a storefront on the road side where people could easily find me.
Akao Juliet with her Income-Generating-Activity
Even after the training, Ignite Change continues to mentor us and give us advice. They even helped us start saving by giving us a savings box. Up to now, the members of our group are still saving together.
At this time, I want to thank Ignite Change for changing the lives of girls like me. Let's say you have dropped out of school, your parents don’t have money. You believe you’re stuck. But through their good advice, I was able to start a business. So I want to thank them for that. I thank them also so much for continuing to bring good things to our community. Up to now, I am doing well. I have my own business. I can help my parents or siblings or my relative who is sick because I have enough money. I was able to leave where I was and now I have become someone who can stand strong by myself.
-Akao Juliet, Young Mother, 2022
Now I am a Powerful Woman
My name is Akao Janet and I am one of the young mothers in Adak.
Ignite Change trained us for 7 months with a lot of topics that changed our lives.
After graduating, Madam Colline (our mentor) came back and started mentoring us the alcohol users. In my case, I was a serious drunkard and alcohol brewer.
During the mentorship, I had two basins of peas (Aguka) in the house and then the mentor asked me if I could sell them off believing my life will change out of it.
When I started selling the peas, my mentor never left my side but kept on guiding me on what to do. I sold the two basins and got the profits of which I bought another sack. Form one sack, I bought 5 sacks. After selling 4 out of 5 bags, I have 700,000/= as an income. This changed my life and I took my mind from alcohol brewing/ drinking and now I am a powerful woman.
I can now pay my children’s fees, buy food items like salt, sugar, and soap, etc. I don't beg for anything from a man.
In two years to come, I want to get a weighing scale in front of my home and start buying from farmers in bulk and put the produce in trucks for big cities.
I would like to ask Ignite Change to extend this program to other people not stopping with us so that many can also become powerful like me.
Recognition to the organization for their support to change our lives.