Exploring the Power of Saving: A Transformative Journey for Young Mothers.

BY: BETTY MUJUNGU

Kansiime Patience has been a member of the Kataraka United Mothers Savings Group for the past one year, a period during which she has experienced personal and financial discipline. As a single mother of one, her journey has had challenges, particularly in meeting her domestic needs.

However, through this savings group, she has found a supportive family of friends and a means to manage her responsibilities more effectively.

“I joined the group to enable me to save, sell, and share experiences with fellow young mothers to avoid discrimination in the village. I have benefited a lot from it, and I don’t regret joining it. We get different elders who come and advise us on various issues like savings, poverty eradication, and relationships,” she emphasizes.

The Genesis of United Mothers Savings Group

The Kataraka united Mothers Savings is a group of 30 thirty young mothers from various villages in Nyakagongo ward, central division of Fort Portal City. The group was established in 2022 under the guidance of Ms. Oliver Kateeba, a para social worker with support from Baylor Uganda.

Oliver’s vision in mobilizing and forming the group was to empower young girls and women financially, emotionally, and economically, with the goal of uplifting their household status. She explains that the group’s activities go beyond just saving money; they also provide hands-on skills such soap making, hair dressing among others. These activities are designed and facilitated by Baylor Uganda to spark a productive mindset among the young mothers, enabling them to become empowered and productive members of society.

A Community of Support and friends.

The young mothers meet every Friday and share ideas, discuss the challenges they face, and collectively find solutions. This regular interaction has created a strong sense of support among the members, who have found that their shared experiences and mutual support are key components of their journey of growth.

One of the group’s key initiatives is a credit and savings plan. The women save a portion of the money they earn from selling their soap and other small enterprises, which they can later access as small loans to address their immediate needs.

Guidance and Counseling support.

Ms. Oliver Kateeba plays a key role not just as a leader but also as a mentor to the young mothers. She utilizes her experience as a para social worker to provide guidance and counseling, helping the young women navigate the challenges they face.

“These are young people who need counseling and guidance. I use my experience to guide them and invite various people to come and offer guidance to help us achieve our objectives of being responsible people in life,” Oliver says.

Beyond the immediate support provided within the group, Oliver is also focused on connecting the women with broader opportunities. She is actively exploring how they can tap into various government programs, such as the Parish Development Model and the GROW project funds to further enhance their financial and social well-being.

“We are looking at how we can tap into these Parish Development Models and GROW to see how it can help us grow. We are already in contact with our area councilors and City Community development officer to see how our group can get this support,” she adds.