Widow Empowerment Foundation Uganda

Widow Empowerment Foundation Uganda is a non-government and non-profit making organization that was established to meet the needs of hurting widows and their orphan children in Uganda. It was founded by Tumusiime Moses in Dec 2017. There are thousands of hurting widows in Uganda who have no means to earn a living and sustain their families. This has affected the welfare and day-to-day lives of the widows and their orphan children. It is for this cause that Widow Empowerment Foundation Uganda was established. Why WEFU? -In Uganda, thousands of women lose their husbands each year. Emotions combined with uncertainty exacerbate the shock of losing a spouse, partner and soul mate. Many emotions, losses and trying circumstances leave the widows experiencing extreme grief, due to depression, loneliness, and a feeling worthlessness. We are here to walk through these feelings and trying circumstances with the widows, offer help and support and be a non-judging and understanding ear to listen and help. We know first-hand how hard it is to pick up the pieces when a husband and often times a father dies. It can be devastating for even the strongest women. Immediately the burdens of the spouse’s role are placed upon the shoulders of the grieving widow who has to be strong in the weakest of the moments and times. It is even more complicated in Uganda where the majority of the women are unemployed and not highly educated to take care of themselves and their orphan children. Widows in Uganda go through immeasurable pain for them to survive and raise their single children. It is such a harsh reality that widows and their children face problems like hunger, lack of shelter, lack of clothes, lack of school fees and scholastic materials, lack of essential health materials such as sanitary pads among others. We can’t eliminate the grief journey but it is clear that there are all sorts of things, big and small, that we can do to make the path more manageable How? We create open doors to a safe haven for widows, ensuring they do not go through their experiences alone but with life long – connections plus lasting support and impact. In addition, our members empowered through shared life experiences and bible studies. We motivate, inspire, encourage and empower widows by organizing seminars, workshops and outreaches. Widows get to associate, share and learn. Women are free to share their deepest feelings and concerns without worrying about confidentiality.

Easing the burdens of the hurting widows and their children.

Widow Empowerment Foundation Uganda has touched and impacted more than 70 widows directly and more than 100 women indirectly through seminars, workshops, trainings, retreats, support and sensitizations in the last 6months. We have been in position to equip all these widows with both soft and hard skills. We have supported our widows to produce and market products such a handcrafts, liquid soap, snacks, counter books, journals among others. Majority of the widows have been able to create and run their own small scale businesses for self-sustainability. One of our outstanding widows is called Allen. After attending various trainings, workshops and seminars that our organization organized, Allen was inspired to start a CRISPS BUSINESS with only $10 as capital. At the moment, Allen earns close to $40 per day and she is in a position to take her children to school and meet her needs.  The products made by the widows are sold to both local and international buyers and huge profits are being earned. v Majority of the widows can now afford to take their children to schools, meet some of their needs and survive in the widowhood life. We have encouraged widows who have undergone intensive trainings to share the knowledge and skills they have acquired with other women in the community and by so doing, a lot of women in Ugandan villages of Sembabule and Lyantonde have been able to learn the same and produce products which they sell and make money. Widow Empowerment Foundation Uganda has been and is still providing scholastic materials to the orphan children in order to share and ease the burden. I the two academic terms of 2018, WEFU has provided pens, books, uniforms, shoes, mathematical sets among others to some of the children of the widows to empower and enable them access an education and have a bright and the best future. v In addition, we are paying a portion of school fees for 15 children in schools. As a result, hope, joy, peace and a sense of worth have been restored in the lives of the widows and their children.  More so, some children have acquired hands on skills to prepare them to face the world and be in position to create opportunities for themselves.