From Survival to Self-Reliance: How Smile For Humanity Helped Amina Start a New Life in Uganda
In a small rural community in eastern Uganda, Amina Nakato, a widowed mother of four, struggled to provide for her children after losing her small roadside vegetable stall during a period of economic hardship. With no savings and limited opportunities, the family often survived on one simple meal a day, and school expenses became impossible to manage.
Amina dreamed of restarting her business, but lacked the capital, training, and equipment to do so. Without steady income, her family’s future felt uncertain.
Smile For Humanity reached Amina through its women’s livelihood and empowerment program, providing small business training, start-up supplies, and seed funding to reopen her stall. She also joined a community savings group supported by the project, giving her access to financial guidance and peer support.
The change was remarkable.
Within months, Amina’s stall began attracting regular customers. Her income stabilized, allowing her to buy nutritious food, pay school fees, and save small amounts each week. Her children returned to class with confidence, and the family regained a sense of dignity and independence.
Today, Amina is expanding her business and mentoring other women in her village who face similar struggles. What began as livelihood support has grown into a pathway toward long-term resilience.
Your generosity makes stories like Amina’s possible. By supporting Smile For Humanity’s community development programs, you are empowering women in Uganda to lift their families out of poverty and build sustainable futures.
