"I am able to pay school fees for my grandchildren, thanks to Vision Fund"

By Charlotte Muhwezi, Donor Liaison officer World Vision.

Losing a child is the worst thing that can ever happen to any parent, but losing three children and a husband is unbearable and extremely painful.This is the story of Rose Utuko aged 60 who lives in Abanya B,Kamidini parish, Gulu, nothern Uganda . Left  helpless after the death of her husband and three children, she had no option but to look after those that were left in her care.

Rose lost her husband in 1997 and she was left with six children including an adopted one. As a primary school teacher, she struggled to raise them up with her meager salary . Thankfully, she managed to educate the oldest two to some level hoping that they would support her in raising and educating the younger ones in future. Disaster struck in 2004 when she lost the very children she had educated to an illness. Jane Awuma(RIP) and Christopher Alunyo(RIP) all passed on in the same year. They both left behind two  children. As Rose was getting to terms with her loss, she lost her fifth born again, Susan Adong to an ectopic pregnancy. She too left behind  four children.

As if she had not had enough trouble,  Rose lost her job as a teacher as she had reached her retirement age , and was now at home with eight hungry children. Instead of drowning in self pity, Rose looked around for a solution and it was at that time that she heard someone talk about Vision Fund and the loans they give. Not knowing how to get more information, she prayed to God for a good opportunity to cross her path. In Kamidini where she resides, World Vision had just built a borehole for the community and was carrying out frequent trainings for water user committee members. Being part of those being trained, she used the opportunity to inquire from a WV staff about Vision Fund. The staff gladly gave her as much information as she needed and directed her to  the Vision Fund offices. “luck was on my side for once in my life” Rose said. She went straight to the Vision Fund offices and got more information and training on microloans. She then got her first loan, Ush500,000 (US$200). Alex Opiyo is the loan officer that supervised Rose . This marked the turning point in her life.  She invested  the loan on agriculture, by growing sweet potatoes, peas, beans and maize on her land. From the harvest, she got money to pay back the loan and  pay school fees for her grandchildren. “There are so many institutions that give loans but I urge anyone who wants a loan to go to Vision Fund because they are welcoming and understanding should there be delays in paying the loan”.

 Diana, her oldest grandchildren says that if it wasn’t for Vision Fund, she would never have completed her ordinary level in secondary school. She believes her grandmother will continue to pay her fees  for the advanced level and she believes in getting good results when the O’level results (grade 12) are released. Seeing Rose sit together with her grandchildren shows how any amount of money if well used can bring a smile to faces. “ if it wasn’t for Vision Fund, I would be dying in poverty together with my grandchildren” said Rose  with a sigh of relief.