A Strong Foundation
And tonight, Rose Nakyanzi will sleep comfortably thanks to our Family Empowerment Program and an investment from The 100 Women Club. This is her story:
Rose (the aunt of COU sponsored student, Paul Lukyamuzi) was given 500,000 Ugandan shillings ($139) by our supporters back in 2018. She used the funds to purchase coffee beans for a new business venture. Below, you can see her drying and then packaging the beans in front of her old, dilapidated home. At the same time, she was encouraged to join the COU established Ssimba Eyeterekera Village Savings & Loan Association (VSLA).
When Rose joined the VSLA in July of 2018, the group share cost was 1,000 shillings ($.28) and the maximum one could save in a week was 5 shares. From the proceeds of her new coffee business, she was soon able to save 5,000 shillings ($1.38) per week. In the first cycle, the share-out was 250,000 ($69.40), which Rose invested back into her business. In the second cycle, they increased the share value to 2,000 shillings ($.56) and she again bought 5 shares per week.
From these profits, Rose bought iron sheets which she stored away with the dream of building a new home – one she hoped would be far better than the small, mud and wattle house she and Paul resided in.
From that initial 100 Women Club investment, Rose was able to save and borrow within her VSLA group and this allowed her project to grow exponentially. And in a little over a year, through hard work and determination, Rose’s dream came true. In October of 2019, construction began on her new, permanent brick house.
Inside Rose’s new home 
Rose shows off her garden 
Paul working in the garden 
Ssimba Eyeterekera’s VSLA members stand in front of Rose’s new home/their new meeting place
Rose says that it would have taken her much longer to realize her dream if not for Children of Uganda’s support and her VSLA participation. Today, Rose proudly hosts the Ssimba Eyeterekera’s VSLA meetings in her new home and it has become a symbol of hope in the community. The old house still stands as a testament to the progress she’s made.
After: Rose and Paul’s new brick house
