Empowering Communities: Nassazi Janat’s Success Story

The Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSHJM) have dedicated over 20 years to serving the Mukono District, particularly focusing on communities reliant on agriculture and small enterprises. Many of these households live in poverty, with numerous families raising children with disabilities who suffer from malnutrition.

Electric Aid has consistently supported the SSHJM Children in Need (CHIN) project with an annual program aimed at enhancing food security and income for 150 households. This initiative trains farmers and farmer groups in Farming as a Business (FaaB), urban farming techniques, and savings and credit programs. By promoting climate-smart and environmentally-friendly practices, such as growing drought-resistant crops, harvesting rainwater for irrigation, and planting diverse vegetables, villagers have boosted their agricultural output. This increase allows them to sell surplus produce to meet financial needs while ensuring sufficient nutrition for their families.

A Story of Transformation: Nassazi Janat

Nassazi Janat, who lives with her husband, a part-time boda-boda rider and pastor, and their six children, struggled to make ends meet on their limited income. Joining the SSHJM-CHIN Electric Aid project through the Namulugwe Elim Women's Group, Nassazi received training in farming as a business and essential agricultural inputs. She now cultivates a variety of vegetables, including Sukuma wiki, cowpeas, S. aethiopicum (nakati), amaranthus, and climbing yams. She also has access to quick, reliable loans with low interest rates.

With the profits from her agricultural activities and loans from her savings and credit group, Nassazi has achieved remarkable progress. She built a new permanent, iron-roofed kitchen and paid tuition for her three school-going children. Her investments have also expanded her vegetable farming and improved her banana garden, allowing her to provide her family with a balanced diet.

"I truly appreciate SSHJM-CHIN and the Electric Aid program for transforming my life and my entire family's lives," Nassazi shared. "In the past, my children were frequently sent home due to unpaid tuition, and we could only afford one meal a day without sauce, cooking in an unsafe, open-roof structure. Now, I can send my three children to school with half the tuition paid upfront and complete the payments before they are sent home. We now enjoy three nutritious meals a day, and I cook in a safe and clean kitchen."

Through the support of SSHJM-CHIN and Electric Aid, Nassazi Janat's story highlights the significant impact of community-focused agricultural training and financial support, leading to improved livelihoods and better futures for families in Mukono District.