My name is Sakaya Magret. I am 19 years old and a South Sudanese refugee living in Zone 5, Village 20 in Bidibidi refugee settlement. Life has not been easy for me. I have two children, and we live with my grandmother. She is old and cannot support us much. My husband went back to South Sudan, so I had to be the one to provide for the family.
Before Stromme Foundation and Kulika Uganda came into my life, I used to plait natural hair for women in the community. This was my only way of earning money. During the festive seasons, I would get many customers, and the income was better. But most of the year, business was very slow. Sometimes, I could barely make enough to buy food for my children. It was a very stressful time. I would think about the future and feel afraid because I did not know how I was going to raise my children or take care of my grandmother. Many nights, I went to bed worried about tomorrow.
One day, community leaders came to our area and told us about a program called CVET. They said Stromme Foundation and Kulika Uganda were looking for young people to join and learn skills that could help them start businesses or get jobs. I knew immediately that I wanted to join. I registered my name and was accepted into the program. The first part of the training was life skills, which lasted three months. I knew I had to focus more than anyone else because of my situation at home. Every day, I listened carefully to the trainers and participated fully. These life skills helped me think positively, plan for my future, and believe in myself.
After the life skills training, we were told to choose a trade that was in high demand in the market. There were many options, but I chose tailoring. I have always admired people who make clothes, and I believed this skill could help me earn a stable income. The tailoring training covered both theory and practical lessons. I worked very hard to understand every step the trainer showed us. I would sometimes practice extra after class because I wanted to perfect my work. I was determined to succeed. After three months of training, we did our assessment with DIT. I was confident in what I had learned, but I did not want to just sit and wait for the results like many others. I knew I needed to start using my skills immediately to earn money.
I decided to hire a sewing machine from a villager. The machine was not being used, so I paid 15,000 shillings per month to use it. This was not easy because it was money I could have used for food, but I saw it as an investment in my future. Slowly, I began getting customers. Some came for repairs, others for new clothes. I worked hard to please each one so they would tell others about me. Soon, I started making about 35,000 shillings profit per month. It may not sound like much to some people, but for me, it was a big change. With this money, I can now pay school fees for my two children. I can also buy basic needs for my family without depending on anyone. I feel proud that I can stand on my own and take care of my loved ones.
My next goal is to expand my business and move it to the trading center, where I can get more customers. I also dream of owning my own sewing machine, so I don’t have to pay rent for the one I use now. I have no regrets about choosing tailoring. It has given me a way to earn an income every day, not just during festive seasons. More importantly, it has given me hope and the confidence to plan for my future. I want to thank Stromme Foundation and Kulika Uganda for opening my eyes to see my potential. Without their training and encouragement, I would still be struggling with seasonal work and no clear plan for my life.
I also encourage my fellow youth, especially those I trained with, not to just sit and wait for opportunities to come to them. We all have skills now — we must find ways to use them to earn a living and change our lives. For anyone who wishes to support my dream, I welcome you. Having my own sewing machine will help me grow my business faster and inspire more young people in my community to believe that they too can succeed.
This is my story, a story of struggle, determination, and hope for a better future.