Photo essay: the power of community in rural Uganda

In western Uganda, the Isimba village self-help group has met weekly since January. Each meeting takes at least an hour — the 30 members save, deliberate on loans, discuss community challenges, and address any maintenance issues with the well they depend on for clean water. Our staff at The Water Trust visit the group regularly to provide coaching on financial management and good hygiene and sanitation practices.
With a name like ours, it should come as no surprise that we formed the self-help group in Isimba with a water-related objective — build the capacity of the community to save for and contract maintenance and repairs to keep their well functioning for years to come.
The early results for this approach to sustainability have been excellent — 19 of the 20 self-help groups we formed are meeting regularly, have enough savings available for maintenance and repairs, and are making necessary repairs to keep their wells running.
But why are 30 people willing to volunteer an hour of their time each week to meet and work together?
In just seven months, the Isimba self-help group has saved more than $1,300, and extended more than $1,600 in loans to group members in this same period. The majority of loans fund business investments, but community members also rely on the group for school fees, medical emergencies, and other unexpected challenges.
Below group members share their stories.
Lillian Ajok: livelihoods and education

“[In our group], each member makes a contribution on a weekly basis, which is borrowed by other members. The good thing about this group is that I can borrow money easily to support my family. This group helps me to pay school fees and also buy farm equipment, which we use during cultivation. The food we cultivate from our gardens is used for our household’s consumption. …
“I had a very big problem when my child was sent home from school because of unpaid school fees as they were just beginning exams. I ran to the group and they helped me with money which I took to Masindi Senior Secondary School. The group loaned me 40,000 [$11] which I used to pay my son’s school fees. I am grateful to the group for their help that let me pay school fees on time.”
Godfrey Kiiza: support during tragedy

“This group has helped me in many ways. For example, in January 2017 my mother was hospitalized in Masindi hospital. The group started by donating 20,000 [$6] from the social fund as contribution to treatment. Unfortunately, my mother passed on. When she died the group also supported me. Even on the day of burial the group was with me. They did everything. They excavated the grave. They carried the body to the grave. They donated 60,500 [$17] to me as the group had previously decided that if any one loses a parent, the group contributes to that person. … As a member, I felt so good despite the fact that I had lost my mother. I felt cared for by my group and I want it to live long — amen.”
Harriet Pikwo: support for treatable diseases

“I had a financial problem when my grandchild fell sick and was admitted to the hospital. The group loaned me 10,000 [$3], which I used to treat my child in the hospital. Since they helped him with one heart, my child healed. I thank God for that. This is our group.”
David Byamukama: home improvements

“I received a loan of 100,000 [$29], and bought four iron sheets, which I used to roof my latrine that we use with my family. I thank our group for always supporting us as members whenever we need help.”
Darlson Nyangendo: the power of community
At The Water Trust, we work to ensure families living in poor rural communities still drink clean water, eat from clean hands, and live in clean homes. A strong, dynamic community makes that goal much easier, and much more sustainable. Based on the success of Isimba village and many others like it, this year we plan to scale up these self-help groups to more than 70 new villages, benefitting more than 50,000 people in rural Uganda.
