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Ruth felt like she was in prison

She and her husband Vincent live in Mitwizi village in Uganda. They are members of the Tukwatirewamu Orphan’s group, whose 30 members are all caregivers of orphans. They have six children ranging from seven to 17, and care for them as if they were their own.

Ruth used to do all the chores without the support of her husband. She had no friends because Vincent would not allow her to attend any community gathering or training. “He used to tell me that a woman who gets friends around the village gets bad manners and will get other men. So he kept me in the home without allowing me to go out of our home. In fact, I was a prisoner.”

In 2017 PWRDF partnered with Send a Cow Uganda with a grant of $21,000 to support an ongoing gender empowerment and livelihood development program in the central district of Rakai. The area has the highest proportion of children under 18 who have been double orphaned (both parents are dead), mostly from HIV and AIDS-related causes; 92% of households consider themselves moderately or severely food insecure according to an August 2016 SACU survey.

Ruth was selected as one of the group’s Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and it has transformed her life. She received training in social development, sustainable organic agriculture and animal management and Ruth’s family never misses a training.

SACU staff got husbands from neighbouring communities who had allowed their wives to join the group to persuade Vincent to relent. “That is why I love Send a Cow – it got me out of this prison.

“My relationship with my husband and children is very good,” says Ruth. “My husband reminds me when the group meeting is or even takes me to the meeting venue. I can go for the meeting and he remains at home caring for the children including cooking for them.”