Here is another inspiring story of one of our beneficiaries, Mary from the Bunyoro Region, Uganda. Mary is a young woman who has overcome life’s challenges with determination and courage. She remained committed to completing her course in Hairdressing and Salon Practice and has recently set up her own salon in Hoima City.
Orphaned at a young age, Mary faced not only the pain of losing her parents but also the stigma and discrimination that orphans often endure in her community. As a child left to care for herself, she struggled with a lack of basic necessities. Her mother, who was diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, received support from Little Hospice Hoima. After her mother’s passing, Mary was forced to drop out of school due to financial hardships. She spent a year at home under the care of her maternal grandmother, whose small income from selling cassava was barely enough to support Mary and her elder sister, Diana.
With no hope of returning to school, Mary found solace in the Road to Hope (RTH) Program, Palliative Care Association of Uganda’s (PCAU) child caregiver initiative. In 2016 Little Hospice Hoima referred Mary to PCAU. It was through PCAU’s involvement that Mary was able to be enrolled in Primary 5, giving her a chance to continue her education. This moment marked the beginning of a transformative journey that changed her life forever.
Through the RTH program we covered Mary’s school fees, provided scholastic materials, and ensured the family received basic needs. With the help of the program, Mary progressed in primary and secondary school. After finishing secondary school, the program facilitated her enrollment in a vocational institution where she pursued a course in hairdressing and gained skills in operating a ladies’ salon business. She knew that this skill would help transform her family’s struggles into opportunities. Determined to uplift her family, she was committed to completing her training.
Upon completing her course, PCAU continued its support of Mary’s entrepreneurship endeavors. PCAU ENABLED Mary to establish a salon by providing startup capital, essential equipment, and rent for three months. In 2024, Mary launched her hairdressing business in Hoima City. Today, the business operates daily, and although it’s still growing, Mary is able to save UGX 25,000 weekly through a savings group. Her savings are reinvested in her salon, which supports her working capital and provides at least UGX 2,000 towards a liter of milk for her ailing grandmother back home.
With the support of PCAU, she recently acquired a pedicure foot spa, allowing her to expand the services she offers and attract more customers to the area. Although Mary has made significant progress, she still faces financial challenges, including difficulty covering rent and meeting basic needs. She remains grateful for the program’s guidance and support as she continues to grow her business and support her grandmother back home.
Gratitude and Hope
Mary’s resilience and determination, coupled with the unwavering support of the Road to Hope program, have given her a brighter future. She remains hopeful and committed to growing her business, supporting her family, and contributing to the growth of her community.
What began as a total loss of hope transformed into something remarkable. Mary is now a proud salon owner, helping her clients look and feel their best. They arrive in her salon with unstyled hair and leave looking stylish and confident. Just as we supported Mary, we extend the same dedication to every child caregiver in our program. We are there to walk with them through every step of their journey. We empower them to become self-sufficient, provide for their families, and use their skills to uplift their communities.
Join us in helping more young adults like Mary access the education, training, and support they need to become self-sufficient.
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