JANET – Unity is Strength Women’s Group
“Atye ki ot bati!” – “I have an iron-roofed house!”
Janet never dreamed that she would live in an iron-roofed house. She was more worried about surviving the day and getting enough food. Simply put, she had no time to think about a home.
Abducted as a child in her village of Mutema in 1994, Janet was one of many child mothers released by the LRA in 2004. Today, she is a mother of five – four of whom are in school – and is married to a former abductee, Alfred.
Here is her story:
When I returned home, I faced a lot of rejection from my family. Later, I met Alfred who is also a former abductee and started life with him. Life was not easy as we started from scratch. Alfred returned with multiple injuries and cannot do much work. I could dig alone and sometimes he would help me. His weakness has been a big setback in my emotional healing.
Alfred has had several operations in Kampala by World Vision Uganda, who removed some of the bomb splinters. I was also taken for an operation, and two bomb fragments were removed from my thigh. But we continued to struggle; the one who is feeling better today, does something for the family. We now have five children, four in school and the youngest is still at home.
We earn a living by farming along the swamp growing sugarcane, sweet potatoes, yams and other food stuff. We are keeping some ducks that sometimes we sell to raise money for school fees for the children. We make and sell burnt bricks during the dry season to raise money. Bricks are seasonal, and the work is challenging. Out of our income, we bought our piece of land and are not renting anymore.
I joined “Unity is Strength Women’s group” in 2013. The group has helped us to grow as a family. I used to fear talking in meetings, but now I can talk and give my views. My husband and I are members of the same group, and we host the group’s meeting in our home. Participating in the group makes me very proud – I have something to give and share with others.
I borrowed money from the group VSLA [village savings and loan association and bought seeds for green vegetables intercropped with maize. The green vegetable is a fast maturing crop which takes only two weeks and is ready for sale. I sell it off, buy more seeds and plant others. So I keep on working like that. I come to water it every morning because this is the dry season, and there is no rain yet. I make some good profits out of it which I use for meeting other basic needs like medical, soap and salt. Some of the profit I put in my weekly savings.
Here is the sweet potatoes garden that we planted and is now ready for harvest. We will sell some to raise money to meet our basic needs, pay children’s school fees, save some money in the VSLA and eat some.
This swamp feeds us; we survive here as we keep planting small small things all year round.
In 2014, we saved with the plan of building a simple structure that is semi-permanent. I am very happy that saving in the group has lifted my status. My husband trusts me, and we plan together. All our four children are in school, and we can easily pay their schools fees. It was not my dream to build an iron-roofed house. I could not think about it because even just getting food to eat a day was a problem. Now I have a house which will not disturb us with re-making it within a short time. “Atye ki ot bati!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Literally meaning; “I have an iron-roofed house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Janet and her husband in front of their new semi- permanent house
I cannot tell all the benefits I am getting from being in a group and saving with other women. The group has done very many things for me and my household. The counseling team is helping me a lot and even my husband. He used to be bitter, angry because of the pain all over his body but now he is very calm and treats me well. I thank God for bringing THRIVE to our rescue.
APWOYO MATEK
