One Mother's Mission to Educate and Inspire in Uganda

As the sun filters through the canopy overhead, it casts a gentle glow on Eunice Angwech and her children as they huddle together with a schoolbook in hand.

In this setting, Eunice's determination to provide a better life through education is evident, highlighting the path she has paved with hard work and dedication.

Once her children settle into their studies, the 35-year-old mother of four steps into her field in Acanpii B village, Dokolo District of Northern Uganda, to harvest groundnuts.

She also cultivates cassava and maize, raises goats and chickens, and tends to her animals with the same meticulous care that has transformed her family's life.

Rural life in Dokolo District means most people rely on subsistence farming, and women play key roles in household and agricultural duties. Children often help with farming tasks as well, which makes it difficult for families to focus on providing quality education.

The added burden of school fees and associated costs further hinders many parents' ability to send their children to school, trapping families in poverty and making education a distant dream.

Overcoming Adversity

Eunice grew up on a farm in Otuke District, but her childhood was marred by conflict. When cattle thieves attacked their village, Eunice and her family fled to the city of Lira, leaving their home and way of life behind.

“I was very scared because they [were] shooting guns,” she recalled. Life in the city was cramped and difficult, far from the open fields she loved.

Now, back in the countryside, Eunice is focused on providing a better life for her children — one filled with knowledge and opportunity.

Through Heifer International’s Learn for Agribusiness project, which ran from 2018 to 2021, Eunice gained sustainable farming practices, essential supplies, financial literacy and business skills that helped her manage her farm more efficiently.

For example, she learned how to use high-quality seeds and prepare her land correctly for optimal crop growth. Heifer provided her with supplies, including 55 kilograms, 121 pounds, of groundnut seeds and 30 kilograms, 66 pounds, of soybean seeds. These seeds grow faster and are more resilient than traditional varieties. She also received a tarp to sort the nuts from the branches and leaves.

“When I do it once, I get low production. But now whenever I do it twice, production increases,” she explained, referring to the practice of weeding and plowing that she learned through the project.

Beyond farming techniques, Eunice gained invaluable knowledge in financial literacy and budgeting. This instruction enabled her and her family to plan their finances strategically and ensure their increased income was utilized wisely to benefit their future.

“Before, we didn't do that much; we just sold and then just go and use the money on what we wanted,” she said. “But now, after the training, we all agree, and whenever we have income, we’re able to plan together.”

Nurturing Future Leaders

Eunice's commitment and the guidance she received have paid off. Her agricultural income has soared to around 1 million Ugandan shillings, or approximately $270, a season, allowing her to invest in her children’s education. With her increased income, she has also bought a motorcycle, which provides more efficient transportation for her farming activities and access to markets.

Annet, 15, her eldest daughter, dreams of working in the medical field.

“I want to be a doctor because I know science very well,” Annet said confidently.

The family’s improved financial situation has also enriched their quality of life. Eunice is constructing a four-room house with a sheet metal roof and proper insulation. It’s a significant upgrade from their previous mud-walled home.

“Before, we would eat meat maybe two times … a year, but these days, we spend like one or two weeks, and then we eat meat,” Eunice noted.

Eunice’s story is also one of community support. She actively participates in the Heifer-established Dokolo Young Oilseed Farmers’ Cooperative, which offers better prices for her produce than local intermediaries.

Additionally, she embraces the principle of Passing on the Gift®, sharing her learnings, seeds and farming techniques with others in need.

“Whenever you have something and a friend doesn't have this good thing, you give that person what you have and train the person how to use it,” she said.

By transforming her own life and the lives of those around her, Eunice is opening new pathways to knowledge.

Not only is she actively imparting skills and wisdom within her community through her teachings, but she is also affirming that education is within reach for her children so they can aspire to lead lives of economic stability and new possibilities.