Impacting lives everyday
Read about women who are believing themselves to change their destiny.
For Judith Ayaa, a 30-year-old single mother in Gulu, life wasn’t easy. After leaving her marriage, she faced the harsh reality of raising three children alone. The hardest part? Watching her children miss school because she couldn’t afford their fees. With no steady income, Judith took a desperate step, borrowing 150,000UGX an equivalent of $40 from a money lender to start selling silver fish at Olayilong Market in Gulu. The business barely survived, and the debt weighed heavily on her shoulders.
But everything changed when Judith’s group connected with LINKAGES. With her first loan of $50, she expanded her stock and cleared her initial debt, a fresh start she had long prayed for.
As her confidence grew, so did her business. Judith secured additional loans of $162 and later $270 each one fueling her dream of building a better future.
Today, Judith’s silver fish stock has tripled, growing from 10 to 30 kilograms with a $405 investment. But the real victory? She can now pay her children’s school fees, put food on the table, and afford medical care. For the first time, Judith dares to dream bigger: purchasing land and building a permanent home.
With a proud smile, she shares, “I am very happy that I can now stand on my own to support my family as a single mother.”
Judith’s story is more than one of financial growth—it’s a powerful reminder that when women rise, entire communities flourish.
For Acan Georgina, a 30-year-old mother of four in Gulu, owning a piece of land felt like an impossible dream. As a member of the Hard Work Pays Matooke Dealers in Cereleno Gulu Market, she worked tirelessly every day, determined to provide for her children. But no matter how hard she tried, the dream of owning land and building a home for her family seemed just out of reach.
Everything changed when LINKAGES stepped in. Since December 2022, LINKAGES has supported Acan’s group with multiple loan tranches, offering them the lifeline they needed. In May 2024, the group secured a $3,243 loan distributed among its members.
From this lumpsum, Acan borrowed $162 to expand her business and cover her children’s school fees, a steps that would later transform her life.
With determination and smart investments, Acan’s business flourished. The profits she made didn’t just pay back her loan—they made her dream come true. Acan proudly purchased an acre of land worth $810. Her next goal? To build a family home where her children can grow up with the security she never had.
With deep gratitude, Acan shares, “This money has helped me achieve my goal of buying land. Thank you very much, LINKAGES, for making my dream come true.”
Acan’s journey is a powerful testament to how financial inclusion changes lives. With the right support, dreams are no longer distant, they become home.
At just 30 years old, Auma Kevin carries the responsibility of raising two young children on her own. Her days used to be filled with uncertainty, running a small market stall in Gulu Main Market with barely enough stock to keep her business afloat. Kevin had tried everything, borrowing from local lenders to money lenders, but the harsh repayment terms and crippling interest rates only deepened her struggles. The daily pressure to repay loans left her feeling hopeless.
“I felt stuck. The loans came with too many demands. I had no choice but to give up on borrowing,” Kevin recalls.
But Kevin’s story took a hopeful turn when LINKAGES partnered with her savings group, Jincwinyi Greens. For the first time, she accessed loans that came with fair terms, low interest rates and flexible repayment schedules that lifted the burden she once carried.
With her first loan of $27 Kevin added stock to her stall. The business picked up, and with her growing confidence, she borrowed $81 in the second tranche. The additional inventory attracted more customers, and Kevin’s income steadily grew. By the time she received her third loan of $121 she wasn’t just running a business, she was building a future.
“For the first time, I wasn’t afraid to borrow. LINKAGES made it easy for me. The loans came when I needed them most, and I could repay without pressure,” Kevin shares.
Today, Kevin’s small stall has transformed into a thriving business. She can comfortably pay school fees for her two children, cover rent, afford medical care, and provide daily meals for her family. But Kevin’s dreams stretch further, she’s determined to save enough money to buy her own land and build a permanent home for her family.
“My dream is to own land and build a home for my children. LINKAGES gave me the chance to believe in a better tomorrow,” she says with determination.
Kevin’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right support, women like her can break free from poverty and build lasting legacies for the next generation.
For Acan Georgina, a 30-year-old mother of four in Gulu, owning a piece of land felt like an impossible dream. As a member of the Hard Work Pays Matooke Dealers in Cereleno Gulu Market, she worked tirelessly every day, determined to provide for her children. But no matter how hard she tried, the dream of owning land and building a home for her family seemed just out of reach.
Everything changed when LINKAGES stepped in. Since December 2022, LINKAGES has supported Acan’s group with multiple loan tranches, offering them the lifeline they needed. In May 2024, the group secured a $3,243 loan distributed among its members.
From this lumpsum, Acan borrowed $162 to expand her business and cover her children’s school fees, a steps that would later transform her life.
With determination and smart investments, Acan’s business flourished. The profits she made didn’t just pay back her loan—they made her dream come true. Acan proudly purchased an acre of land worth $810. Her next goal? To build a family home where her children can grow up with the security she never had.
With deep gratitude, Acan shares, “This money has helped me achieve my goal of buying land. Thank you very much, LINKAGES, for making my dream come true.”
Acan’s journey is a powerful testament to how financial inclusion changes lives. With the right support, dreams are no longer distant, they become home.
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