Getting A New Life-Line As A Single Mother-Story Of Beatrice Fuambe

Beatrice Fuambe (32) was born partially deaf.

She comes from a family of 8 children (3 girls and 5 boys) from Unjuku Village, Nebbi District. Parents strived to take Beatrice to different hospitals in an attempt to correct her hearing problem, till they were told nothing more could be done. With a lot of struggle, she acquired a basic education at Nyacara Primary School in Nebbi District, where she dropped out in P6. She later enrolled for a tailoring course, where she got some basic skills and got married to a Boda Boda rider Nebbi Town, who was initially supportive but later neglected her with her two children. She had no choice but to return to her own parents in the village.

When the TCT project resurfaced, Beatrice was one of the DYP who eagerly joined together to form a support group in Nebbi district, where she is an active member. Beatrice has benefited from various trainings, including business skills, how to make snacks (such as Rolex, chapatti and mandazi) and they were also provided with startup capital for a joint group project. She also got a job at a gas station called JK Petrol Station in Nebbi Town. This has made her a busy young woman able to take care of her children.

Beatrice is now involved in two savings groups, including Nebbi district Deaf Association, where she saves an average of 20,000 Shs every week and the Kilamba savings group, a general group where she saves 30,000 Shs weekly.

“All these have been made possible the training support from SignHealth and the introduction of the savings programme. I am now able to pay fees for my child, now in primary one at Papahello nursery and primary school, due to the savings in different groups”.

Despite her busy schedule, Beatrice does not miss any of DYP peer group activities and she is one of the key project resource persons during weekly SL training for other deaf youths and service providers at Nebbi hospital.

“The project support, especially the startup funds and trainings in financial literacy, opened our eyes and we are now able to save for our survival”- Beatrice concludes.