Single Mothers' Association - Uganda ::..Dignity and Development-Case Stories

MISSION:	To uplift and build the capacity of a single mother and the community for sustainable development
VISION:	A single mother who is self-reliant, healthy and dignified.

Child mothers are resources in the community, they sensitize in communities, and or dissemination information they have learnt, particularly on child care and nutrition, family planning etc all important information in everyday life, not only for child mothers but other people too. As a result, the attitude towards child mothers has changed.

“We used to be looked at as people who had reached the end of the world, people were despising us because we were pregnant, looking pale and with shabby hair. But now, they all want to associate with us because we look well - Single Mothers has redeemed us”

(Child Mothers, Entebbe)

The project has to some extent enabled many child mothers and orphans access income using the skills obtained from the training, some even before qualifying. One orphaned and vulnerable boy narrates his story:

CASE STORY OF KASIMAGWA TONY: SMAU OVC

My name is Kasimagwa Tony. My mother and father both died when I was six months old staying in the village.

When my parents died I was brought to Entebbe and looked after by my grandmother. I got a misunderstanding with my grandmother and left her home because she was mistreating me. I went to stay with my Uncle (Musisi) and I started working with him. My uncle, Musisi, died and I was chased from where we had been working. When I was chased I began living here and there. I had no specific place to live.

Later I saw my late uncle’s friend, Bumali, who owns a butchery and he allowed me to sleep in his butchery at night after he had finished work. I had no beddings apart from a mat. I spent one year living at the butchery. Bumali also gave me a job of cutting offals.

There was a man called Daudi who informed me about SMAU and advised me to go there. I went to SMAU and was registered by the Development Worker. Right now am in the motorcycle class.

I see a difference in my life.

“I have already started ‘eating cash’ because clients come I plait their hair. I hope I will earn more when I complete."

(Child mother assisted by SMAU at Katabi)