Recently, we sat down with Noel, an eighteen-year-old and member of one of the twenty safe spaces in Luwero, managed by the Luwero Cluster, (Just Like my Child, Team Uganda, Nakaseke Child Community Care and Concern for the Girl Child) supported and funded by Children’s Rights and Violence Prevention Fund, Adolescent Girl’s Power Program grant .
Noel was unable to complete high school because her family could no longer afford her school fees. Nevertheless, she has gained skills and knowledge from the safe space she attends, which are now helping her generate an income. She openly shared her struggles, triumphs, lessons, and dreams with us.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT SAFE SPACES
My name is Noel, and I am eighteen years old. I love anything and everything to do with fashion. I heard about the safe space I am in, when one of our local leaders came to my house and told me about them. She knew that I was not doing much at the time and told me that if I joined the safe space, I would be able to learn new skills and make friends. I was happy to hear this as I was not in school at the time, and as a result, I was not seeing my friends regularly.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED BEFORE JOINING THE SAFE SPACE?
A big challenge I faced before joining a safe space was a lack of funds. I have many siblings and my parents had to pay school fees for several children. They could no longer afford to pay for my school fees, which forced me to stop high school in senior four. Sometimes we did not have enough money, so I could not buy feminine hygiene products, which affected my confidence. I felt unclean and did not like being with people because I was scared that they would judge me.
I asked my father if I could go and look for a job, but he refused. Having no money, not attending school, being idle, and unable to work made me feel so hopeless and angry at everyone and everything.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR SAFE SPACE?
When I joined the safe space, they taught us many skills. I learnt how to make clothes; I am wearing a skirt I made. This was a good skill to learn because I love clothes and fashion and I have always been interested in learning how to make them.
I also learned about HIV and the steps I can take to avoid becoming infected. I used to think that if someone gets HIV, they can be healed by a witchdoctor, but I’ve learnt medicine like Antiretroviral is what treats the disease.
Another thing I learned in safe space sessions was how to save money. We made and sold many items as a group, like liquid soap, clothes and snacks. This allowed me to earn some money from the profit we made. I know how to manage and save money because of the financial literacy lessons we were taught.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY DOING IN LIFE
Since word spread in my village that I can make clothes, I now accept orders and make different people, different items of clothing. I was able to start a small clothing business after learning how to make clothes during safe space meetings, and with the money that I make, I can now buy things I need for myself, like feminine hygiene products, without pressuring my parents. I didn’t finish high school but now I have a small clothing business.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I want to be the best fashion designer in Uganda! I want to grow my business by designing and selling clothing on a bigger scale. I’d also like to buy some land, which I’m in the process of doing, now that I’ve began saving money through my safe space’s saving and lending group.