Tears, emotional trauma, depression and hunger were my state of life for 5 years after I together with my 3 children were neglected by their father for other women. Narrates a one Justine who struggled with life after separation with her husband. This project is set to equip 77 single mothers with practical long life skills to improve on the social - economic welfare of families of single mothers. The project will be implemented in five district of Uganda-Kamuli, Iganga, Kayunga, Wakiso and Hoim
About 10 years back, the demographic surveillance site indicated 17% of Ugandan children were living in single mother families. It's further noted, the trend of life of single motherhood is fast becoming a regular family type and that cases of abject poverty, early marriages, crime, indecent living, malnutrition, are more synonymous with people in single mother families. Coupled with poor cultural and archaic beliefs which mold a girl child for dependence on man, the development is under played.
Top mothers Initiative promotes training in practical lifelong skills in fashion and design (tailoring), decoration, hair dressing and cosmetology, baking, catering, carpentry, mechanics and other hand craft items. These training are done both on site and sometimes in training institutions for those with minimum qualifications. The organization also conducts financial literacy training for the members to ensure economic empowerment. Here, village saving and credit scheme is promoted.
There is potential for the program lessons to be shared with other members in other places throughout the country. In Iganga district 6 of our members have learned the tailoring skill and are living as an inspiration to the rest of the people in community. They are able to provide for themselves and have their children attend school. In Kampala - Nakawa Division, 3 of our members are merrymaking after learning hair dressing skill and have established their own service centers. They give service
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
