Empower Child Domestic Workers Through Education

Masika

Masika is a 17 year old hair dresser currently living in Munyonyo a Kampala Suburb with her mother. She was withdrawn from domestic worker where she earned  she was occassionly paid for her work. She was facilated to attend school enabling her to earn an education which has made it possible to better her life and also that of her family.

“My mother lost her job while I was in my senior one and since she was a single mother life was a challenge with no basic needs such as enough food, poor housing conditions after shifting from the house where we used to reside and above all I dropped out of school since my mother could no longer afford to pay for my school fees.” “I was taken up by a neighbor  as a domestic worker where I could wash clothing’s and also house keeping with a daily pay of 5000/= which I could give to my mother to keep or sometimes use to buy food. However after a month my mother delivered a message from a Pastor that an NGO called PLA was registering children for vocational training. This was a blessing to me since I was interested in hair dressing and indeed I qualified for the course at Kyebando Vocational Institution in Kampala. I was trained for a period of 6 month and after my graduation I got a job as a hair dresser in a saloon in Munyonyo where I earn 120,000/= per month. I am now able to cater for my basic needs and also give my siblings some pocket money. I thank PLA for the opportunity and the pastor he is connecting some of us to different saloons and garages.”

Seku

An 18 year old former Domestic worker from Nsambya Barracks, who was being tortured, abused, denied her rights and not paid since she was working for a relative who brought her from the village in Soroti. Life was not good at all and I had lost hope of owning a business or being as successful as I am today. I am glad gained confidence through the vocational training and I can now present myself in society as a graduate. Even my Auntie who used to mistreat me is proud of me and she says am glad you graduated with a certificate in cosmetology. When you have a low level of education you become so vulnerable in society today and this fuels grief, stress and poverty but I am glad that is now history. After her graduation from Nile vocational institute she worked in a saloon for a year and she had to leave to start partner with her sister and started up a business at Cavendish University in Nsambya. She sells drinks in fridge, stationary, cakes, bananas and Airtime. She earns 100,000/= per month and able to save 20,000/=. She is able to cater for her basic needs such as rent, food and clothes. She plans to buy land in the village and invest in agriculture

• Picture of Masika (DOC)