Rita's story: dreaming of teaching

In the picturesque landscapes of the North division in Fort Portal City, Uganda, Rita Kansiime’s story unfolds—a tale of the transformative power of education.

Growing up amidst the rolling hills of Fort Portal, Rita’s dream was to become a teacher. Inspired by her favorite teacher, Mr. Ssenyonga, who instilled in her a passion for education and teaching. She knew that her path lay in passing on knowledge.

However, her journey was anything but easy. Limited financial resources threatened Rita’s dream from an early age. After completing her Ordinary level (O’ level) education in Fort Portal, her parents’ financial situation worsened. Rita’s parents are farmers who rear goats and cows.

Rita’s completion of O’level coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Uganda, the government imposed a strict lockdown, limiting transportation and work to only essential services and products. Rita’s parents, like many others, felt the burden of the lockdown’s impact. To sustain the family through these trying times, Rita’s parents sold most of their property, struggling to put food on the table. She shared: “My parents sold whatever they could just to maintain us at home.”

Providing school fees for Rita became a challenge for her parents. As the country struggled with economic uncertainty and widespread job losses, Rita’s educational dreams started to fade.

In the middle of this difficult time, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Uganda reached out a helping hand through the PRO-SEVU programme. PRO-SEVU which is an acronym for Promoting Second Chance Education and Empowerment for Vulnerable and Marginalized Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda, uplifted Rita and hundreds of young women like her across the Rwenzori sub-region. PRO-SEVU is funded by UN Women.

“Thanks to FAWE Uganda, I was able to proceed to Advanced (A’) level education at Kibiito Senior Secondary School, where I got 10 points enabling me to get admission to the university,” shared Rita.

FAWE Uganda’s intervention not only provided Rita with educational opportunities but also alleviated the financial burden on her family. She explained:

“They created VSLAs for our parents, which helped my father gather money for my tuition.”

FAWE Uganda helped establish Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in the villages of PRO-SEVU’s operations. Rita’s father joined the VSLA in his village and found a means to finance Rita’s university education by leveraging the collective savings of the community. The VSLA money became a seed sown into Rita’s university educational journey, nurturing her dreams of becoming a teacher.

After A’level, Rita secured admission to Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in chemistry and mathematics. Now her dream of being a teacher is within her reach.

Despite enduring years without formal education, Rita with support overcome these challenges. As she continues her journey towards achieving her dreams, she strongly believes that education is the key to success.

In Rita’s words, “Although the road may be challenging, always focus on your dreams. Whenever you get a second chance, use it.”