A refugee mother of eight in Uganda is transforming her family’s future — one harvest at a time.
Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, Uganda
For Edisa Nyirere, a Congolese refugee living in the Kyaka II settlement in western Uganda, survival has never been a given. As the mother of eight children, the weight of providing for her family rested heavily on her shoulders. Her sewing machine was her livelihood — but the income it generated was rarely enough to cover the family’s most basic needs.
“The money wouldn’t be enough to buy basic needs for the family,” she recalls. “This gave me worries on how I would sustain my family.”
A Decision That Changed Everything
When ADRA began offering agricultural training in the settlement, Edisa made a choice that would reshape her family’s future. She signed up — and she showed up.
Through ADRA’s programme, Edisa learned how to grow a range of vegetables, including cabbages, onions, and tomatoes. She took what she learned and put it directly into practice, cultivating her own plot and building a new source of income for her household. But she didn’t stop there.
Driven by a desire to do more, Edisa developed her own idea: mushroom growing. By adding this new crop to her income streams, she was able to generate more revenue than she ever had from sewing alone.
A Family Transformed
The impact on Edisa’s family has been profound. Today, three of her children are enrolled in school — a milestone she once could only dream of. She is able to pay hospital bills, invest back into her tailoring business, and has even launched a new venture selling clothes alongside her sewing work.
What began as a coping strategy has grown into something far greater: a diversified household economy built on skill, determination, and the power of knowledge.
The Role of ADRA
Edisa is grateful for the support she received — not just the training, but the practical tools and equipment ADRA provided to help her and fellow farmers achieve better, higher-quality harvests.
“I thank ADRA for providing equipment for agriculture, which helps us to harvest high-quality crops,” she says.
Edisa’s story is a testament to what becomes possible when refugees are given access to practical skills, resources, and the chance to build something of their own. Her resilience, creativity, and drive are her own — but ADRA is proud to have played a part in opening that door.