Empower Children and Women in the slums of Kampala

Dear Generous Supporters,

Some impact can only be fully understood when we see it up close.

Last week Friday, Joy for Children Uganda participated in a Rotary Club Mega Project in Kajjansi, an initiative that brought together community women to learn, connect, and inspire one another through financial empowerment and also receive health services. It was a proud moment for us because the knowledge shared during the event came directly from women whose lives have been transformed through your support.

Over the years, Joy for Children Uganda established and strengthened four women's savings and investment groups in Bukoto, Bwaise, Kivulu, and Mulago. Through continuous financial literacy training, mentorship, and group savings initiatives, these women have developed the confidence and skills to improve their household incomes, manage finances, and support their families.

We were given an opportunity to select four champion women leaders from these savings groups to facilitate learning sessions for other community women and girls. They shared practical experiences and trained participants on income and expenditure management, budgeting, saving and investing, responsible borrowing and debt management, protecting household assets, and the importance of financial planning. The session was highly interactive and by the end of the training, the impact was already evident.

Key outcomes included:

• Community members agreed to establish a new savings and investment group named Joy Women Savings Group – Kajjansi.
• Participants committed to meeting weekly every Saturday to save collectively and support one another in growing small businesses.
• Women recognized financial insecurity and poverty as major drivers of domestic violence and family conflict, reinforcing the importance of economic empowerment in creating safer homes.
• Participants requested continued mentorship and financial literacy training from Joy for Children Uganda to strengthen the group's sustainability.
• Several women expressed increased confidence to start or expand income-generating activities using the financial management skills they had acquired.
• New connections were created between experienced women leaders and emerging community champions, laying the foundation for peer-to-peer mentorship.

These achievements reaffirm our belief that sustainable change happens when communities are empowered to lead their own development. By investing in women's financial independence, we are not only improving household livelihoods but also strengthening families, increasing children's wellbeing, and building more resilient communities.

Our work does not end here. Over the coming months, we will continue mentoring the newly formed Kajjansi savings group, provide technical guidance, monitor their progress, and support them to develop strong governance and financial management practices. We also wish to provide a USD 500 seed grant to help the group launch income-generating activities and build a strong financial foundation.

None of this would have been possible without you. Every dollar, pound, or Uganda shilling you contribute creates opportunities for women to learn, lead, and transform their communities. Thank you for believing in our mission and for walking this journey with us.

Dear Supporters,

Because of your generosity, vulnerable children and women living in Kampala’s informal settlements were able to access nutritious food and regain hope during a difficult period. During this reporting period, food assistance was delivered in Bwaise, Kivulu, and Bukoto, reaching 50 households (125 people), including 70 children and 55 women.

Your support helped families facing severe food insecurity put meals on the table. One beneficiary, a mother of four from Bwaise, shared:

"Before receiving the food package, my children would sleep hungry. The beans and maize flour gave us strength and peace of mind. My children could concentrate again in school and I could focus on rebuilding our livelihood."

Another beneficiary, a 13-year-old child from Kivulu, said:

"I was worried because there was little food at home. When we received support, I felt happy because my younger sisters could eat every day."

How your donation translated into Impact

1. $20 helped purchase 20 kilograms of beans, supporting 5 women-led households with a nutritious protein source.
2. $30 was used to conduct monitoring and evaluation activities for the established saving groups and train women on the effective management of VSLAs.
3. $100 helped provide food assistance to 3 vulnerable families, including children with disabilities and single-mother households.

During this period, a total of:

1. 150 kilograms of maize flour
2. 100 kilograms of beans were distributed to vulnerable households across the project communities.

Beyond the food itself, your support restored dignity and hope. Families reported reduced stress, improved child nutrition, and the ability to direct their little income toward school needs and healthcare.

Thank you for standing with children and women living in Kampala’s slums. Every contribution you make helps ensure that families facing hardship can access nutritious meals, access income, and look toward the future with renewed confidence.

With gratitude,
The Project Team