WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT GROUP
"Little Light Uganda" NGO gathered the mothers of the children benefiting from "Little Light" educational program and initiated the “Umoja” empowerment group
By buying an item you provide Food, Health, Education, and Hope!
The “Umoja”, the women’s group, improves the lives of women from Namowungo slum by providing them the tools to achieve autonomous economic,and social prosperity. It allows them to gain dignity and self-respect and to build a better social status proving that indeed, Unity is strength.
These amazing, strong and inspiring, women manage to uphold, under the harshest of circumstances, a smile and hope in the face of all difficulties. They gather every afternoon, in Little Light’s premises, and create, one by one, the beads that are then strung, with love and care, into unique jewels.
Little Light’s volunteers work closely with the women, supporting them in their endeavor, including running a website that sells their products in order to widen the pool of customers and get better exposure of their stories.
Cycle of Beads
Where women create ecological jewelry from recycled newspaper and market it both in Uganda and abroad
Health Education
Where women get access to health education including planned parenthood, sanitation and childcare
Micro Finance
Women are operating a self-system of micro-loans to promote each other’s economic development
Mama Pendo, meaning “The Mother of Love” in Kiswahili, brand name of the jewelry created by the “Umoja” women’s empowerment group from Namuwongo slum, Kampala, Uganda.
The initiative intends to improve the quality of life of these women, some of which are refugees from the war-ridden territories of Uganda, some single mothers struggling to give their children a proper education.
The first and most basic need is to build their financial independance and social strength.
Meet the Amazing "UMOJA" Women
These women work hard on every piece of jewelry they make, with incredible passion and care.
That is why we feel that it is so important that you know who crafted your specific, special piece of jewelry, and every piece you buy comes with information about the woman who made it.
Jaaja Mary, UMOJA Chair
Born in the district of Mitoma in Western Uganda in 1954.
Today she lives in Muyenga A, Bukasa Parish, Kampala.
She works as a cleaner in Victory Center Church, and sells her homemade liquid soap as well as handcrafts.
She has one son and six grandchildren,
Cissy Atuhilre
Cissy grew up in Bujuko Village,
Central Uganda.
Today she lives in Namuwongo Slum, Kampala and she has been a part of the group for 2 years.
Biribawa Night
Biribawa grew up in Gwase Village,
Eastern Uganda.
Today she lives in Namuwongo Slum, Kampala and she has been a part of the group for 2 years.
Jovia Natukunda
Jovia grew up in Mbarara Village,
Western Uganda.
Today she lives in Namuwongo Slum, Kampala. She has been a part of the group for 8 years and has two children studying in “Little Light”.
Janat Nabwami
Janat grew up in Bulenga Village,
Central Uganda.
Today she lives in Namuwongo Slum, Kampala. She has been a part of the group for 3 years and has one child studying in “Little light”.
Christin Basigare
Christin grew up in Kisugu near Namuwongo, Kampala where she still lives today.
She has been a part of the group for 8 years and has two children studying in “Little light”.
Grace Nambarirwa
Grace grew up in Masaka Village,
Southern Uganda.
Today she lives in Namuwongo Slum, Kampala. She has been a part of the group for 7 years and has one child studying in “Little Light”.
UMOJA's Journey
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2007
Little Light was founded
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2009
Women’s empowerment group was founded by Resty & Qasasa
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The group started English lessons
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Started making beads
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2011
Started selling beads in Uganda, Israel and Italy
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Raised enough money to buy guillotines to make beads
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The craft market widened, women started earning an income that improved their lives. In parallel, Light Light supported their children's education with scholarships
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2019
The group started to host jewelry craft workshops (for anyone interested in learning their techniques and making their own unique jewelry)
Our Challenges
- Limited market
- Costly materials
- Guillotines are in bad condition
- Insecure storage facility
What We Need
- Help in widening our market
- Safe storage space
- New guillotines
- A sheltered working space where we can store the materials and can work when it is raining