Page 18 - Social Protection Newsletter

nSr SuCCeSS STorIeS

sage has played a big role in

empowering older women

Hundreds of elderly persons in Kasese received early their Christmas through the National Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment
programme.
lorence Bonabana (77), a Having enrolled on to the SAGE discrimination, older women, more than
resident of Butiti parish in programme, Bonabana was able to men, are likely to end up in poverty or
Butiti Town Council, Kyenjojo renovate her house, buy goats for farming lower incomes to help them maintain an
district could not withhold at household level and materials from adequate standard of living in old age.
Fher joy when a team from the which she started making mats for sale. Women are more exposed to various risks
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social “I sold the mats at a nearby market that are as a result of discrimination, denial
Development paid her home a visit. and, before long, I bought goats which of rights such as education, ownership of
Bonabana was enrolled on the SAGE produced and became a reliable income property, the adverse effects bite even
programme in 2012, after retiring as a generating project for me. Even if I died harder when they are advanced in age,
casual labourer at a tea factory in Kabarole, today, I will die a happy person because leaving them in gross vulnerability. The
where she had worked for 20 years. I have property which my grandchildren trend of events has even escalated with
A mother of four and widowed at 40, can inherit. I have been able to pay their the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. By
Bonabana was forced to remain home school fees and renovate my house,” Said covering the risk of old age vulnerability,
alone. Her children had become adults Bonabana. SAGE provides an important income
and relocated to other places. Such are stories of several older support for the elderly with positive
“I was worried that I would die quickly, women across the country who have effects spread across their families and
I was living a miserable life and my mud been empowered through the SAGE households.
and wattle house almost collapsed on programme. Because of a lifetime With support from Foreign,
me,” she said. of economic disadvantage and Commonwealth, Development Office

18 Social Protection ne WS letter