The Mother’s Union was started by two women from the United Kingdom
in October, 2008. It is empowering young women and mothers in the village of
Nyakatare to learn a new trade that will help them generate income for their family.
Along with knitting machine’s, the UK women also donated sewing machines, needles, yarn and four computer’s to learn basic skills and allow them to open an internet cafe to generate income.
The women from the UK had taught them how to use the machine’s, but they hadn’t learned how to use the needles yet. So we started a knitting circle! I went with Taniuska and Holly to teach the women how to knit. We taught them how to make scarves and hat’s with straight knitting needles. They were really fast learner’s and were making their own pattern’s and finishing hat’s on the second day.
This was a great opportunity to build relationships with the women, learn about their families and share stories of our own. It was also a lot of fun! Previous to the race I was in a knitting circle with some amazing women on Kauai! So it was a privilege to be able to pass on the skill that I had recently learned on Kauai to women in Uganda.
Most women don’t continue their education past Secondary School (High School) due to the cost of attending University. After Secondary School, the next step is generally marriage. Bride’s are purchased with a dowry, generally livestock. So an educated woman with a trade that can generate income for her family is highly sought after, giving her family a higher dowry for marriage and empowering them to earn a living for themselves before marriage, many are saving money to continue their education at University because of the valuable trade they are being taught. A trade they can also pass on to their daughter’s to make a better life for them as well, empowering generations to come.
We are currently in Kampala getting ready to travel to Ireland on the 29th where we’ll be joining 6 other World Race squads currently on the field at a conference called The Awakening! We’ll debrief with our Coaches after wards and then head to Ukraine to start our ministry for month nine!
