Ripple Effect: How Sponsoring a Child Saves a Whole Family
“I owe my life and achievements to Children of Uganda.”
Margaret Nazziwa is one our guardians. When her son Robert joined Children of Uganda, her own life soon transformed too. She immediately started saving and it’s through these savings that she was able to move from one level to another despite the challenges she faces.
In 2010, Margaret chose to become her own boss. She quit her waitress job in a local restaurant, and decided to start up a food and fruits stall at her village. She gathered her year’s savings, which totaled UGX 100,000 (about $28), and used it as initial capital to buy fruits and food stuff for her stall.
Margaret chose a food stall because it’s what could fit with her amount of capital. She consulted with friends who were in the same business and was encouraged by them.
Margaret credits Children of Uganda for her great strides: “I owe my life and achievements to Children of Uganda,” she says.
Prior to starting her own business, she used to stay with her brother while her kids stayed in the village. With her own stall, she’s managed to rent a single-roomed house where she lives with her kids. She also can provide school requirements and pay school fees for three of them as well as for her young brother.
“Although I have challenges making ends meet because of the big number of people that I take care of, I believe that with Children of Uganda’s support, I will move mountains. Thank you so much Children of Uganda for your unending support.”
She does still need to hustle to make ends meet. The scope of expenses shows the slim margins. Margaret rents her single-roomed house for UGX 100,000 (about $28) per month and pays UGX 50,000 (about $14) monthly to rent her work stall. She earns at least UGX 5,000 (about $1.40) a day, which is just enough to cover her costs.
But Margaret’s life has changed from being dependent to independent. Her latest achievement was a plot of land, which she bought last year in Mutundwe village, Kampala. Her plan is to build her own one-roomed house on that piece of land in 2017. She believes having her own home will enable her save the money she would’ve used to pay rent, and use it for other developments.
The money our sponsors invest in our children has such far-reaching benefits, enough to transform an entire family.
