Scovia, a resilient mother of eight in Bukiende, recalls a time when poverty overshadowed her relationships with her husband, children, and community.
Scovia tended to quarrel with neighbours, so she had no friends to rely on. At home, her husband’s neglect made her feel more isolated and she took out her frustration on her children, causing them to grow distant. “I felt like a bad mother… I didn’t have hope that my life would change,” Scovia reflects.
Even though she worked hard to support her family, her small farm didn’t produce enough to feed her children and pay medical bills. They survived on one or two meals a day, often missing school because of poor nutrition.
Yet, Scovia remembers, she prayed everyday for a change.
When empowerment leads to community
When FH partnered with her community, Scovia jumped at the opportunity to volunteer with FH. She took advantage of their child and maternal health workshops, also learning the many benefits of education for her children. Her children began returning to school and her involvement in health outreaches improved healthcare access for her community! She also became a Lead Farmer and shared new farming techniques with neighbours. “This has always ensured my family never lacked vegetables!” she exclaims. By joining an FH-initiated savings group, Scovia learned new ways to earn a living including soap-making and breeding livestock. With increased income and savings, she could pitch in when parents from the community rallied to buy seeds for the school garden, ensuring nutritious meals for her kids at school.
Today, her children are well-fed, healthy, and back in school! But the greatest change for Scovia was her relationships.
“My children now have friends, and this makes me feel good and gives me a sense of belonging. I feel loved by my community members,” Scovia smiles.
Her husband, too, now seeks her opinions, which strengthened their marriage. “This makes me feel like I have value to him and my views also matter.”
