Her name is Namaganda Victoria 23 years old and a beneficiary of UDHA with funding from TASO-GF. She now lives in Buikwe District, central Uganda while her permanent residence is in Buvuma district. They are four children and she is the oldest and the only girl. her parents separated when she was in primary two. So, they were staying with their father. But three years ago her father was kidnapped. To date, they don’t know the reason for his kidnap neither do they know where he is. With our mother away and their father’s disappearance, they had to take care of ourselves. Being the elder sister, she started selling sweet bananas so as to care of the family. It was also during that time in 2019. When she started hearing about COVID-19, she didn’t care much because it all seemed like some dream far away. Soon, she started hearing stories of people suffering and dying. She was scared and imagined how life would be if the virus reached Uganda. The biggest question on her mind was if people in developed countries were dying, who would save us in Uganda? In no time, the disease was nearer to us. she heard of cases in neighboring Kenya, which is a stone's throw away.
she knew it was bad news. Everything and everyone was stopped except essential staff like health workers. Days, weeks and months passed and there was no change. Young girls my age were getting pregnant and others married off by their parents because of poverty. In our own case, life became hard. Some days, we went without food. she cried endlessly remembering how much our parents used to take care of us when they were together. With time amidst all sorrows, she never gave up her faith in God. she continued praying to God for intervention in their lives and covid 19 ended and life was back to normal and was offered a kiosk to sell drinks and fruits to earn some money.
One evening, she was selling her commodities, she had an announcement of UDHA through the office of chairman LC 1 announcing registration of AGYWs who dropped out of school to be enrolled in skilling program and also be supported in business ventures. For her, that was the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. God was starting to answer her prayers. With all hopes gone, this seemed a dream but it was a reality a dream come true. She was very happy when she was assessed at her business and given capital to add in her business.
TASO through UDHA , has not stopped supporting the most vulnerable children like me in these dangerous times. They are helping out of school children in my community to continue changing their behavioral mindset towards life and if not for TASO, I would have participated in prostitution which would subject me to HIV infections and STIs. Her business venture has finally expanded and she is doing well financially with a sense of negotiating for safe sex practices.