From Struggle to Strength: Simon’s Rise as a Community Change maker.

In Nankoma Sub-County, Bugiri district, 35-year-old Simon Bageya and his wife Stella, a primary school teacher, struggled to make ends meet. Together, they earned less than USD 350 a month. Some months, Simon earned nothing from his volunteer work, while Stella’s salary was often delayed for months. With three young daughters, the family frequently depended on neighbors for support.

“It was tough as a man,” Simon recalls. “Whenever I didn’t earn, I felt low asking my wife for money. It caused many disagreements at home.”

Everything changed when Simon, a community volunteer with World Vision, was selected as a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) in the Empowered World View (EWV) model. The sessions opened his eyes to the possibility of transforming his family’s future. “For the first time, I believed we could break free from poverty,” he says.

Determined to lead by example, Simon and Stella drew a family vision board and decided to start a poultry business. With UGX 400,000 (about USD 100), they built a small chicken house, bought 100 chicks, and invested in feeds. Four months later, their first batch of hens was ready for sale. Instead of looking outside, Simon marketed them within his community, and they sold out quickly.

Today, Simon’s poultry farm is thriving. Customers book chicks weeks in advance, and his farm has become a learning hub for farmers, teachers, and even government officials. He also supports neighbors interested in poultry by linking them to suppliers.

“My dream is to become the leading distributor of chicks in the eastern region of Uganda, and I believe that I will fulfill that as well.” Says Simon.

His efforts have borne fruit beyond chickens. The poultry waste now fertilizes his backyard coffee plantation, which yields over 180kg annually, further boosting the family’s income. With proceeds from the business, Simon and Stella have bought two cows and three plots of land, where they are constructing their family home.

“I can now provide nutritious food for my children, eggs or chicken anytime they want,” Stella says with a smile. “We always have money at home, and small expenses no longer cause tension as they used to.”

Story by: Mungu Jakisa Brian, Communications Officer.