
At the market: Joyce gets her stall ready for the day’s work
Having a group of supportive members around her, has allowed Joyce to create a small business and become a community leader
Connie Akware
Joyce Akujo had to flee to Uganda from South Sudan with her four children. She remembers the early days in the Imvepi refugee settlement: “There was poor hygiene because I was squeezed in a tent with my children, I didn’t have enough food to feed my family, and one of my children dropped out of school because of lack of enough money for the fees.”
However, she soon settled into life at Imvepi and was introduced to ForAfrika’s communal gardening programme along with other women. The programme gives refugees training in food production so that they are able to provide for their families. Uganda’s refugee policy assists those trying to make a new life for themselves in Uganda by providing small pieces of land for cultivation.
Village savings and loans
Through her gardening group, Joyce also became part of the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) which ForAfrika uses to teach business and finance skills.
The group consists of 30 members who pool their earnings made through farming pursuits. Any surplus produce is sold at market and the money goes into a communal fund which members can access either as a sum of savings or as affordable loans.
The VSLA provides financial stability, social support and a sense of community to women like Joyce. The group meets weekly to discuss their financial status and other important topics such as parenting or concerns. Members of the host community are also invited to join, fostering unity and mutual benefits to both groups.
A network of support
“I did not only gain access to financial resources but also found a network of support and this has greatly brought peaceful-co-existence among us, we share a lot of experiences, learnings, I have found a home within this group, the whole group now rallies behind me,” says Joyce.
With the financial support Joyce started her own small business selling fish and ground nuts at the local market where she has a stall and is able to make about $6 on average a day.
“I also bought guinea pigs and goats with the loan I acquired; these goats have multiplied and they are greatly supporting me in paying school fees for my children.”
Joyce’s story has become an inspiration to other members in the group and she has taken on a leadership role.
“The VSLA has not only changed my life but the life of the entire group, I have improved my confidence and involvement in the community. ForAfrika has brought us hope”, Joyce says smiling broadly.
Connie Akware is Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant in Uganda