Passion-Driven Leader
“I thank God for COU. The knowledge I got from COU’s training is what has helped me build my business. I can now be assured of a bright future for my children. I was able to repair our house and I got my own land all because of COU. I can’t thank COU enough.”
-Kalolina Kitone
It takes hard work, determination and focus to run a successful Income Generating Activity (IGA) and Kalolina has it all. In September of 2017, she was among our first Family Empowerment Program (FEP) beneficiaries selected for IGA support. Her daughter, Jovia, had joined our sponsorship program the year prior.
At the time, Kalolina was a single-mother struggling to provide for her large family – but she had a strong determination to change her situation. Her dream was to become a commercial farmer.
Kalolina with her daughters including sponsored student Jovia (in pink) receiving initial farm inputs support from COU back in 2017. 
Kalolina shows off her young passion fruit vines 
Jovia and Kalolina in their matured passion fruit field 
Jovia meets with COU Project Assistant, Resty Nalwadda, during the lockdown. 
Kalolina and her family receive their anti-malaria and dignity kits during the lockdown. 
Jovia is happy to have a new solar lantern, mosquito nets and sanitary napkins.
Thanks to an investment from The 100 Women Club, Kalolina received IGA management and skills training, as well as quality seeds, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, a backpack sprayer, water containers and more. She started out with a vegetable growing project and later ventured into passion fruits.
Passion fruit growing can be very profitable as long as one has the capital to maintain the garden and can get good yields from it. In favorable seasons, Kalolina’s harvest is worth 1,500,000 Ugandan shillings ($416) which she uses to pay school fees for her other children, meet needs at home and to continuously maintain the garden.
From her profits, Kalolina was also able to buy an acre of land to expand her farm, built a new kitchen and repaired the family’s house which was in bad shape.
Kalolina has kept her project standing amidst the challenges of lockdown. She adapted by growing her passion crops in various stages for a more consistent supply and income, as well as diversifying her project by introducing small-scale poultry farming.
She can now save at least $5 a week from selling her chicks and this is strictly for her savings in the local Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA). On average she earns $60 a month from which she saves and also caters to her children’s needs.
According to 12-year-old Jovia, her mom is a super woman – always working hard to fend for the family, offering good counsel, playing an active part in her education and encouraging her to succeed. Kalolina is a remarkable role model for her children and a leader in her community.
And succeed Jovia has! In fact, she recently took her Primary Leaving Examinations and emerged as our top performer earning a Division 1 score with an impressive 9 Aggregates. She is an exceptional student who loves science and mathematics. Jovia works hard in class to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor.
‘’I love my mother very much and I have a dream to support her when I grow up. I know I cannot match her sacrifices for us, but I pray that one day I will be able to support her. I love seeing my mother happy. She has been there for me and my siblings. I cannot thank her enough; she is such a sweet and firm mom who grooms us to be responsible citizens in future. I can’t stop praising my mother.’’
-Jovia
