By hope okeny | project leader
In the village market of Laliya, you will find Rita, carefully arranging and cleaning her stall, ready to sell her farm produce. She has worked in this stall for the last five years. Rita has a long story to tell and her eyes tell it all. Rita was abducted as a young girl at the age of 12 years. When she escaped with her six month old daughter strapped on back, little did she know that she would be rejected by her own family whom she had longed to see whilst in captivity. Rejected and alone Rita sought help with a local women’s group- Karin Women Farmer’s group.
She lived in poverty and turned to alcohol to drown her sorrow. During her captivity, she had contracted HIV/AIDS, not sure with what to do with her life, Rita turned to alcohol. Hoping that the alcohol would numb her pain and troubles away, she soon became known as a drunk.
Her neighbor on noticing her life struggles shared to her about the women’s group that meet once every week to learn and benefit from micro loan opportunities. She also shared that Rita can get treatment from the medical centre. But with no skills, Rita was not sure if this was a group that she could be accepted in as she could neither read nor write.
On Tuesday afternoon, together with her neighbor they went to the Karin Centre for the weekly support group meeting; where she met many welcoming ladies. She was warmly welcomed by the group trainer and this prompted Rita into a quick decision to join this group.
After several meetings with the women group, she signed up to borrow a small loan. Rita also remarried and now has three children. In the trainings she has not only learned life skills, but also business skills to run her small business. At the Karin Medical Centre, Rita is able to see friendly medical workers and receive treatment whenever she falls sick.
When she was given a small loan to start her business and through perseverance and commitment, she is now able to provide for her family. Her children now attend school and she and her husband are happy together.
When I met Rita at the market stall, she was very warm and she welcomed me to her stall where she offered me a stool to sit on.
On asking her about her business venture; she looked at me with warmth and exclaimed and said, “I am getting by”! Even though I had heard her story of her times in captivity before, I knew she had only told me a small portion of it.
Today, Rita remains a very consistent member of the women group, her story has changed and influenced many women in the group.
For me I see great change in Rita ….she has experienced transformation and is willing to share her experience to others. Her story presents a need to continue serving the communities.
Through our work we are restoring Gulu, one person at a time, bringing life and renewing hope through the Karin Community Initiatives Uganda ….through people like Rita. But this work would never be accomplished without people like you.
The year has began, there is need to continue and I urge you to continue partnering with us in this transforming journey. Share our Globalgiving page with your contacts and tell them why you decided to donate to us and why they should do the same.
Please help us to transform the lives of more former child soldiers, by becoming a regular donor of this critical work, or making another one off donation. Thank you for your support. It really makes a great difference!
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