Case Stories: Decent Work Transforms Lives

Before I joined [SAIC], my life totally depended on sex work. Sometimes we would have to sell our bodies on credit which would never be paid. To cope with the demands of sex work, I started using all types of drugs. The more I did, the less I minded about using condoms – it was up to the client. I was raped on many occasions, had multiple abortions and suffered many ailments. However, SAIC became my turning point!

UYDEL trained me in tailoring, which paved the way for my success. After completing the course, I was given a start-up kit of one sewing machine and I took a loan from the youth saving group. Currently, I run my own tailoring workshop and I have never looked back. I am now a business woman and I represent my fellow young people in dialogue meetings at both city and national levels. I also train people who wish to learn tailoring. My dream is to employ and train young girls that are sexually exploited.

I have personally observed some challenges in the course of project implementation:

1. There is minimal follow-up of beneficiaries that received start-up kits and some I know resorted to selling the kits to get quick money.
2. Failure to monitor the newly-formed youth groups to ascertain their progress, challenges and benefits, so as to continue motivating and supporting them where necessary.
3. There is need to provide start-up capital on top of start-up kits to cater for business rents and other necessities like licenses.

Doreen

“I used to operate my business in an informal setting. I was only known to people living in my small suburb of Lufula zone until I received a phone call inviting me to attend a training in business management and financial literacy. To me, it was a dream come true since I had so much desired to have such skills but had no money to sponsor myself. I acquired a multiplicity of skills that enabled me to compete favourably in the business world. I have continually applied these skills both in my business and daily life. I now see a very big difference compared to what I used to be. Previously I struggled to access basic necessities, but now I can afford to pay for services out of my sweat.

I make sure that I work on their [customers] demands in time, and inject profits back into the business to enable sustainability. I want to be the most famous phone repair technician in Uganda and I am focused to achieve my dream!

I want to thank the project. It really helped me personally to change my life…the project gave me hope in life. I have my certificate, profession, and a job – something I had never even dreamt of before. I have gained self-respect and I am so proud that I can stand on my own.”

Shafic