Hope Restored - World Renew

We recently conducted an evaluation after a three-year project on mitigation, care, and support of people living with HIV and AIDS in Koboko Archdeaconry. During a time of reflection, our CRWRC evaluation team noted that the HIV and AIDS support groups exhibit a strong sense of hope to live positively amid the effects that HIV and AIDS have on them. Their health status has not stopped them from living a fruitful life. “We were desperate and without hope. The situation was gloomy and difficult. CRWRC’s EmbraceAIDS program helped us open up to one another.” Now, these participants see the future through the lens of hope. EmbraceAIDS has given them synergy, creativity, and focus.

The Kuluba group has started a new project to help group members generate enough income to support themselves. They purchased a large tent and 200 chairs to rent out for events. The equipment is rented by people from the rural areas for large functions and festivities like birthdays, graduations, weddings, and other family gatherings that require a lot of space, shade, and seats. The group’s tent business was partially funded by a collaboration with the local government because of their good relationship and good reputation in the region. The project has been a source of hope for the whole group: This is the mission of the church– to reach out to the hurting world. The Kuluba Group also maintains a monthly savings fund. From this fund, the group members access loans on a circulating basis. Initially the project provided small seed loans that rotated quickly to help meet the needs of all the members. This gave the project a kick start and helped the members think creatively about how they would use the loan money. In addition, the members have started making bricks to construct an office as a point of contact and meeting place for them.

At an individual level, each Kuluba group member now has a source of income to build on such as growing and selling cassava. One member excitedly showed us around her threeacre cassava garden. She hopes to harvest it later this month when she can get a good sale price. These projects are restoring the hope among people living with AIDS that they can live productive, positive lives.

The group members are aware that there will be an end to the loan project, and they are preparing for it. The local volunteers who support the program are church teachers based in the group’s community. The church has a strong presence in the community that the members know they can depend on it for the long-term. CRWRC has come alongside the churches and volunteers to train and equip them for the future, so that this work can continue to be a source of hope for the Kuluba AIDS support group and many others.