Economic Strengthening for Sustainable Livelihood: Gulam shares her story

Gulam Shabirah is a 20-year-old young mother to baby August Portrait Kakooza 2 years old.  She grew up with her father in Soroti Eastern region with 3 siblings. In 2014 while in senior three, her father could not support her senior four level education due to economic challenges.  Gulam, had a dream of becoming a fashion designer. To achieve this, she moved to her maternal Aunt in Namasuba, Kampala for further education.  She was able to complete her senior four level in 2015. However, for two years, Gulam couldn’t raise capital to pursue her dream profession - Fashion Designer. Through supporting her Aunt with casual work and hawking vegetables in the nearby town, she saved funds to enroll for a certificate level course in tailoring & fashion design at The Uganda Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).  Due to peer influence, Gulam got pregnant before completing her dream program. This was due to limited Life skills for better decision-making, knowledge in sexual and reproductive health rights with no sexual abstinence. She dropped out during her first year. 
Through the community structure linkages and referral systems, Gulam was referred to Mildmay Uganda Hospital (MugH) for care and support. Under the PND-Suubi project, she was enrolled for mandatory antenatal care services and other health care packages. 

After delivery, Gulam was supported through the apprenticeship program, enrolled for tailoring sessions and other services at MUgH to perfect her tailoring skills and support her fellow peers. On completion, she got attached to G-Clothing Company in Kampala for further mentorship.  To date, Gulam has established herself as a fashion designer receiving different contracts from her customers. Her monthly income is worth 200,000/=.  She joined suubi saving group and by end of December 2022, she had saved 450,000/=. ”Am very grateful to Mildmay Uganda Hospital for saved my life and that of my baby.  They helped me achieve my fashion & design dream! Through my savings, I want to grow my business and even get contracts from Mildmay to make hospital uniforms. Words cannot express my gratitude, but GODs grace should see this project grow to save and support other girls,” she narrates.

The life of Gulam is a testimony to over 37,000 young girls in Ndejje Division, Makindye Ssabagabo, and the catchment area for the PND - Suubi initiative implemented by the hospital. Through the initiative, Mildmay Uganda Hospital strives to save lives of young girls that have been exposed to teenage pregnancies.   The innovation empowers girls with appropriate and affordable low-cost entrepreneurship avenues to increase their resources for sustainable livelihood and supports their skills enhancement.