The establishment of Project GRACE, one of Just Like My Child's six programs has benefitted self-motivated individuals living with HIV in Luweero. Project GRACE started in 2009 and provides small loans in the form of poultry and livestock to its participants who work together as well as encourage others to get tested for HIV at Bishop Asili, their local hospital.
Pictured above: Project GRACE farmers come together to exchange best practices in rearing their animals.
David Kinene and Anatolia Nakibule are two beneficiaries who have successfully completed their project this past month by passing on the gift of four pigs to two new beneficiaries.
David Kinene, a 42-year-old beneficiary of Project GRACE, feels that in a span of nine months, his life has significantly improved financially as a result of the two pigs donated by the project. His animals produced four offspring, which inspired him to increase his agricultural output. This not only fed his family and his livestock, but also generated income because he could sell the extra food. He also joined a village savings plan, which makes it easy for him to keep his animals' health in check by withdrawing money for medication. Kinene's advice to prospective beneficiaries is to have love for livestock-rearing and determination to expand in the livestock sector.
Construction of a house for her family is Anatolia Nakibule's future expected outcome of her successful GRACE project. The 57-year-old, who is a resident of Kigombe, already started generating income for school fees and health needs from the two pigs she was given in 2011. Having taken good care of her farm animals, they matured healthily and were sold. As a replacement for the ones sold, she bought two pigs and the rest of the money was used to pay for her two children's school fees, as well as health and domestic necessities. Project GRACE is a blessing she never thought would come her way, says Anatolia. She encourages the new members to have a zeal for hygiene because it is what farm animals need to be productive. Anatolia feels that passing on a gift of livestock to another participant means that she has achieved the project's objectives. She also hopes that the next person will benefit as much as she did.
Pictured below: Anatolia Nakibule participating in a JLMC training for GRACE participants on animal management and poverty.
