As the Covid-19 virus spreads across the globe, and the world’s communities isolate themselves against the pandemic, no doubt you have felt the effects of the lockdown measures and the loss of business and trade that followed. Here in Uganda we are also taking measures to combat the spread of the disease and to protect our most vulnerable citizens, and here at the Wilmat Development Foundation this has meant cancelling all our education and training courses for the foreseeable future and suspending all our volunteer and internship programs. Sadly, this means that people living in our remotest areas are now more cut off than ever, as we can no longer go out into communities to reach them. The disease has had a devastating effect on those living in remote and rural areas. Women and children have been cut off from larger towns and villages, which means it is much harder to access essential supplies like food, soap, hygiene products and clean drinking water. It has also become much harder to access health services, and children who don’t have access to technology can’t continue their education.
Our program currently supports 80 young mothers and caregivers, each with two to five children to provide for. Many of these women have been through our business and entrepreneurship courses, and have spent many months and years building up their small independent business. Now because of the virus, business has dried up and they have no choice but to spend their small savings and business capital to survive. Eventually, their money will run out and they will be forced to close their businesses. • It only takes $50 to feed one household for a month. Thanks to your help, we are using the money to purchase essential dry foodstuffs such as rice, salt, cooking oil and maize flour. We are also providing seeds so that they can grow their own food, providing a long-term solution and empowering our women to regain their independence.
Our aim is to raise $5,000, which will go to our most vulnerable women and children, helping them access food, medicine, and cleaning supplies while the pandemic isolates them. With your help, we will ensure they are not forgotten in this crisis.! Empowering a woman in Uganda means she can keep her business, remain independent and feed her family now and in the future.