I first got to know about ASSET Uganda from the guilt president of Busitema University 2013-2014

I was struggling with tuition and sometimes would pay at the very last minutes. When I told her about my situation, she didn’t hesitate to help me when opportunity presented itself. On one afternoon she came to my room and told me to try applying to ASSET Uganda an organization that helps girls by paying for them tuition  fees and when I searched online, I found they were recruiting and so started on the process of online application that’s when it all began.

I didn’t really get through at first, I remember miss Alex calling me to inform me that I didn’t make it through because the tuition was very high since I was in the Engineering college and they had never paid anyone in engineering before, I was devastated and she could hear from my voice, however she told me she would try her level best to see if they can fix me on special arrangement. A week passed by and I took the initiative to call her that’s when she told me that they can only pay for my tuition, whereas accommodation and functional fees would be on my mum and when I heard that I was very glad and so was my mother. I immediately told her it was ok and without going through any form of interviews like my other colleagues went through I found myself on a partial scholarship, which was a very big blessing for me, one that I can’t repay.

With tuition fully catered for by asset, I became stable in my academics and for the two and half years my grades was far much better than the previous years. The asset family has always been a family that is loving and caring, the interactions and career guidance that was organized at Hotel Africana was the start for me to dream big and always value myself despites the odds. One just needs a trigger to see life in a different perspective to be able to change and dream.

I studied from Busitema University Main campus and pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in water resources engineering.

Immediately after campus I was fortunate enough to get a job as a research assistant with Kitgum district local government in 2016 and when the contract expired, I struggled to get another job for about 6 month however in the 6 month I went back to do a short course in GIS (Geographical Information System) with CentMax engineering company before I got a job in Ministry of Water and Environment as an Engineer. This opened for me windows of opportunity to start my own company with other two founder called RIOMPA (Hydrological services Uganda) dealing in surface and groundwater assessments.

by Olive Kabatwairwe

The 24^th March 2014 is a memorable day in my life. The day brought great hope into my life. All along I had looked at myself as someone who probably had bad luck especially in education. Reflecting backwards, I kept applying for bursaries, scholarships but none came through.

Chris and Heather the proprietors of this female leadership development focused organization (Asset Uganda) valued me and strengthened me as an ASSET. I have since known that I add value to everything surrounding me. Yes, some of my opportunities have been sabotaged many times by different personalities but, I tell you, they were not destined for me I eventually got the one meant for me, and since then, the doors to my destiny opened, I have moved places, gone to the world, spoken to the people, inspired and turned stones at all levels, and yes, the best is yet to come.

I got to know about ASSET through a friend who forwarded me their link after having shared with him my long-term search for avenues to further my education. I had prayed to at-least get another academic paper before making 30 years of age. Indeed, ASSET gave me this great opportunity after competing alongside over 20 young women and I emerged the best. They provided tuition fees for my one year post graduate diploma at the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and I managed to cater for other costs alongside meeting school needs for my three siblings. My one-year course and time at UMI was a life changing moment, I met knew people and I was exposed to the practical life both professionally and socially.

My choice of course “Public Policy and Governance” (DPPG) was influenced by the work governance and social accountability I was involved in at the time, where the local people were at the centre space of my interest, I needed to get more theoretical skills on how the governance and policy systems of Uganda work in relation/comparison to elsewhere in the world, which I achieved. DPPG was a new strategic course at the institute, the knowledge and skills acquired molded me into a professional public policy analyst I am today. It further inspired me to pursue my Master in Management Studies, Public Policy and Governance (MMS/PPG). I look forward to starting my PhD course in the years to come.

ASSET Uganda always spoke to my soul, to the woman in me. I learned to value myself even when no one did. With the financial support, I managed to further my education and I am proud, the seed ASSET planted into me have sprouted into more. With the courage from ASSET sessions we would receive during the meet and greet moments, and with the small additional salary, I enrolled for my Masters degree. The funds I had were less, but with my additional paper, I felt empowered to find another employment opportunity and somehow, I got a link to a job at the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) in November 2016. I managed to compete with three other applicants and I emerged the best. This enabled me meet my daily needs and pay my Master’s education.

I have since then completed a house for my parents and supported my family and siblings in school and other basic needs. I am pleased with my speed and I owe it to Asset Uganda, who saw an asset in me and cultivated it. I make sure that every holiday I go back home to Tooro for at-least two weeks to assist in domestic work and to salvage the situation there.

One needs to determine where you wish to be and how you are heading there. I discovered that running away from home problems was not a solution but keeping around and teaching every one the right thing to do was the best alternative. As a youth, you ought to remain calm if you want to achieve your dreams, goals and purpose in life. You ought to define them, draw them and keep focused on them and always commit to excellence.

By Sophie Nabukenya

Enrolling for higher education is one of the greatest accomplishments in Uganda. However, for many youngsters and their families this remains a dream rather than a reality as many parents cannot afford amidst poverty and competing needs. Sadly those who manage to enroll often times dropout even before completing a semester due to failure to pay tuition fees, I am not an exemption.

Growing up in a single headed and poverty infested household, I witnessed my mother work tooth and nail to ensure that my four siblings and I had a better life.  However the proceeds my mother’s clothes business were only enough to feed the family. I nearly dropped out of school at the age of 12 after completion of my primary Leaving exams, had it not been well-wishers I couldn’t complete secondary education. I worked so hard during my senior six holiday vacation to secure money for my admission at the university. However, despite the fact that I was admitted, still could afford to pay for my University education and neither did my mother. I then resorted to telling everyone I came across how badly I need to study and among the many I told, I got one who knew about the ASSET higher education program. He advised to go and apply online, something I did without hesitation.

Fortunately, after a rigorous selection process, I was among the few that were awarded the ASSET scholarship. The scholarship turned my life around, without this financial aid, I would have missed out on the most influential years of my life.  My experience at Makerere University opened many doors and gave me the opportunity to meet incredible people from different backgrounds and cultures. During the period I was at the University, I was elected as the school president at the school of women and gender studies, in my third year I was retained in the coordination department as a research assistant. This was all because of the ASSET leadership trainings, where we were encouraged to take up leadership positions. After my graduation with a Bachelors of Arts in Social Sciences at Makerere University, I felt strongly that I needed to use my education to empower more girls and young women in my community who didn’t get the opportunity that I got. Because I believe it costs nothing for a candle to light another, I gathered a group of school dropout, young mothers and expectant teenage girls, started teaching them beading as well as sharing and listening to their stories . During these sessions that were held once in a week, we crafted not only products, but also our lives, emotions and futures to betterment. Today, over 90 girls have benefited from this initiative.  

 About 4 months after my graduation, on my way to the university one morning I saw a scholarship advert pinned up, I applied for it despite my limited experience since they needed someone who had worked for at least two years.

My experience of giving back to the community helped me stand out among thousands of applicants, I was one of the two Ugandans who were awarded a scholarship to study a postgraduate diploma in Iceland and I was the youngest scholar the scholarship has ever taken in among their 24 beneficiary countries.

 During my stay in Iceland at the University of Iceland, I was selected to represent my fellow students together with two other fellows to meet the president of Iceland to deliberate on key issues affecting young people in Africa in General and Uganda in particular.  Since then, the rest is history.

I have been invited to different forums locally, nationally, regionally and internationally to participate and speak about issues related affecting young people. These include;

• The 2^nd Pan African Youth Forum at the African Union, Headquarters in Ethiopia in February 2019.
• The NASSER Leadership fellowship by Egypt government in June 2019.
• Global Girls Summit  in Belgium in October 2018
• Global Girls Summit  in Ghana in November 2018
• Young Influencers Meetup in  UK In July 2018
• Family Planning 2020 Conference in UK in 2017

I have also featured on various local and international print and electronic media platform such as, BBC World Service,  The  UK Telegraph ,  CNN, FP2020, Marie Claire Magazine, and UNICEF Voices of Youth, local Media Houses in Belgium, Iceland and Finland to mention but a few. (https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/jonge-afrikaanse-vrouwen-schudden-hun-politici-wakker~b530c791/),(https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/women-activists-africa/), http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/because-i-am-a-girl/better-sex-education-uganda/ ,( http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p057ppld).