Irene: Overcoming the Impossible
USAID program provides better outcomes for vulnerable children and youth
Seventeen and head of her household. That’s Irene Lamwaka, a tall and slender girl from the Northern Ugandan district of Gulu, who dropped out of school last year to make sure her younger sisters were fed and clothed, and could continue their education.
Every day, Irene prepares large pots of pilao, a hearty dish of rice and meat, that she sells to customers in her neighborhood to be able to support her family. She gets up early to go to the market to buy the ingredients, lights the charcoal, cooks the meal, and gets it to the hungry customers by the afternoon. She works long days, but she has a dream that keeps her going.
“I want to work hard this year to earn money to get training to become a successful seamstress,” she says shyly.
In 2018, Irene’s mother died from AIDS, and she and her sisters became orphans, having lost their father to AIDS a few years earlier. “It was out of necessity,” says Irene that she had to step in to care for her 16-, 13- and 7-year-old sisters, the youngest of whom is HIV positive.
Living in a neighborhood riddled with crime, prostitution, and drug abuse, Irene became a substitute mother to her sisters, trying to protect them from violence and sexual abuse — and to keep them and herself safe from becoming pregnant or HIV positive. Staying outdoors after sunset is out of the question for the sisters. In Uganda, where HIV prevalence among the population is 6.2 percent and the teenage pregnancy rate for poor households is over 30 percent, these threats are real for young girls.
Irene and her sisters could have become destitute if it wasn’t for Josephine Odokonyero, a para-social worker from the USAID-funded Better Outcomes for Children and Youth (BOCY) in Eastern and Northern Uganda. Through BOCY, Bantwana, Josephine counselled the family during their mother’s illness, and is now guiding Irene through her maze of obstacles.
Under the program, Josephine and her colleagues are key to helping vulnerable children and families like Irene’s gain control of their lives. Seventeen million children under the age of 18 in Uganda live at risk, faced with situations that significantly threaten their physical and psychological well-being. BOCY, coupled with the U.S. Government’s DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) program, have taught Irene skills to confront gender-based violence, to prevent HIV and administer antiretroviral treatment for her HIV-positive sister, and to manage all aspects of a household while saving for the future, and — perhaps most importantly — to gain the self-confidence to believe that she can do it all.
“I have learned to deal with my difficult emotions and how to provide support, save, and budget for the family,” says Irene, who within a short time has become a true entrepreneur and an example to many in her community.
When Irene took over her mother’s ailing food business, she started with 5 kilograms of rice and 7 kilograms of meat. “I soon realized that the demand is high and borrowed 40,000 shillings ($10.80) to purchase 10 kilograms of meat and 15 kilograms of rice.” Irene is now selling about 80 plates of pilao a day, earning approximately 210,000 Ugandan shillings ($56) — a respectable daily income! She was able to pay back the loan, invest money to keep her business going, and has even hired an additional person to help her prepare the food.
It’s no wonder she has become a beacon to other girls in her neighborhood who come to consult with her about their challenges and learn how to protect themselves, earn income, and save for the future.
But first and foremost, Irene is concerned for the well-being of her sisters.
“I prioritize my sisters’ education and would like the youngest to start school next year,” she says, relieved that her 7-year-old sister has learned to take her antiretroviral medicines and is feeling better.
Having overcome obstacles that seemed impossible a year ago, Irene now views the future with hope and optimism. “Next year I plan to expand my business. I want to start cooking other foods in addition to rice, and rent a permanent food stand,” she says brightly.
About the Author
Anna-Maija Mattila-Litvak is Supervisory Development Outreach and Communications Officer at USAID’s Mission in Uganda. She specializes in journalism, photography, and communicating about international development and why it matters.
USAID’s Better Outcomes for Children and Youth in Eastern and Northern Uganda project offers critical services to 15,000 families and 90,000 children, including children with disabilities, to protect them from HIV, violence and other vulnerabilities, and to improve their livelihoods and well-being.
