Breaking the cycle of poverty in Kampala’s slums
For families in Kampala’s slums, having the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty can be next to impossible. Our 2022 Big Give Christmas Challenge is fundraising £30,000 to build a new vocational skills training centre, called Hope Centre. Through the Hope Centre, more women and young adults will be empowered with hope and skills so they can better support their families. From 12pm Tuesday 29th Nov - 12pm 6th Dec your donation to our Hope Centre will be DOUBLED!
Read all about the cycle of poverty and why our Hope Centre and independent income generation is vital in breaking the cycle of poverty for families living in Kampala’s slums.
What is the cycle of poverty?
The cycle of poverty is defined by Sociologist Janet Mola Okokob as ‘a vicious spiral of poverty and deprivation passing from one generation to the next.’ The cycle ties generation after generation to poverty. When a family lives in poverty, many do not have access to the tools needed to break free from the cycle. Limited access to even basic education, income opportunities and nutritious food keeps families stuck in poverty.
Many families in Kampala’s slums are stuck in a cycle of poverty
Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world and many families struggle for basic necessities like food, clothes and water. Due to their inability to access training and education, they are unable to make ends meet. They are often forced to turn to informal work with low, irregular income. Uganda’s informal sector is made up of more than 13.67 million, or 98%, of the working age labour. 85% of these people live below the poverty line. Families living in Kampala’s slums face overcrowding, poor housing, food insecurity and few employment opportunities. Without a stable income, families can remain stuck in a cycle of poverty generation after generation. COVID-19 and multiple nationwide lockdowns have further reduced income opportunities just as families in our communities face yet another crisis with the rising cost of living. Food prices and other services within Uganda continue to rise, making it even harder for families and children to afford food and basic necessities. The pandemic has also meant that there are reduced employment opportunities and so gaining a regular income to afford food is even more difficult. The combined threat of the rising cost of living and the pandemic leaves little hope for families living in poverty.
Did you know that hopelessness is a barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty?
Without support and opportunities many families don’t have the chance to learn a new skill and earn a sustainable, independent income. However, those who are offered these opportunities are later able to reap the rewards of the hard work that they put in in the form of sending their children to school, putting hot meals on the table, or even clothing their loved ones with handmade pieces. This has potential to become a cycle of its own, positively learning, building and achieving.
Hope Centre
Empowering Families with Hope and Skills
Our 2022 Big Give Christmas Challenge is fundraising £30,000 to build a new vocational skills training centre, called Hope Centre.
The Hope Centre will provide free vocational skills training in knitting and tailoring, carpentry and business courses to support sustainable income generation for women and men living in Kampala’s slums. The Hope Centre will enable more women and young adults to gain the skills needed to lift themselves from poverty and move from surviving to thriving!
Our Hope Centre will be a beacon of future promise for families and young people in Kampala. Employment opportunities are scarce, informal and unreliable. By learning a new skill these adults and young people will be set for life with a valuable skill they can use for a regular income. Without an independent income, parents are unable to send their children to school, put food on the table, and more children are left vulnerable to abuse and neglect. The impact of the Hope Centre will be long lasting and felt for generations to come.
Jackson’s Story
Jackson* lives with his mother and younger brother. He joined our Carpentry project back in 2017 with hope of finding a brighter future for himself and his loved ones. After graduating from the project Jackson began working in a carpentry workshop and earning a steady income. Now, he is the family's sole provider after his mother sadly lost her job during COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Jackson’s regular income he has been able afford his family’s basic need and pay for his younger brother's school fees. He now hopes to build on his carpentry skills and earn enough money to start a business for his mother. We have no doubt Jackson will achieve this with his hard working mindset, after all his favourite thing to do is to create and invent new things!
Can you help us to empower more families like Jackson’s with hope and skills? Your support offers adults and young people control over their own futures. Between 12pm on 29th November until 12pm 6th December all donations will be DOUBLED!
Here’s how your donation can make a difference… £5 will be doubled to £10 which can provide business training for 2 women £25 will be doubled to £50 which can provide a carpentry tools start up kit £50 will be doubled to £100 which can provide building materials to build the Hope Centre £150 will be doubled to £300 which can provide 2 sewing machines References: https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad531-lived-poverty-remains-high-despite-ugandas-poverty-alleviation-initiatives/ https://urbanventures.org/facts-about-poverty https://www.icrw.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Gendered-Impact-of-COVID-19-on-Women-Workers-in-the-Informal-Sector-Uganda-Final.pdf