Education has changed more than my ability to read and write—it has changed how I care for my family.

— Lamon Scovia

Lamon Scovia, a mother from Okungedi Village, Amuru District, depends on subsistence farming to provide for her family, including school fees, clothing, healthcare, and other household needs.

Her journey took a transformative turn when she became sick and visited a government health facility. Health workers explained that her poor health was linked to an unbalanced diet. At first, this was difficult to address because her family largely depended on the beans, potatoes, and millet they grew themselves.

Through WGEF’s Adult Literacy Programme, Lamon gained practical knowledge that went beyond reading and writing. She learned about nutrition, healthy eating and practical ways families can improve their wellbeing using available resources.

She began changing the way her family ate and made better use of the foods they could access. Today, she says her children look healthier, she feels healthier, and she has gained greater confidence in public.

Lamon’s story shows that adult literacy is not simply about learning to read and write—it is about gaining knowledge, making informed decisions, and transforming everyday life.

When women learn, families thrive. When families thrive, communities become stronger.

“I was a child with a child, living in a crowded hut with 13 family members, completely unsure of how I would survive,” recalls Lakidi Salome. Uprooted by conflict in 1997 at just nine years old, Salome spent 18 years in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Northern Uganda. Like many survivors, long-term displacement and dependence on relief aid eroded her community’s traditional culture of economic self-reliance. When the camps dissolved, Salome returned home as a single mother of three with no land, no husband, and no clear pathway forward.

The turning point arrived when the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund (WGEF) stepped in. Salome joined a local women’s enterprise group, where she received hands-on training in financial literacy, business management, and micro-loan seed capital. Through structured mentorship and community solidarity, she launched an agricultural business that transformed her household’s trajectory.

Today, Salome is recognized as a leading business owner in Acet Town Council, Omoro District. Beyond securing financial independence, she has broken the cycle of poverty for her lineage, single-handedly funding school fees for her grandchildren and championing education within her community. “Through WGEF,” Salome says, “I didn’t just rebuild my livelihood. I changed the socio-economic story of my generation.”

For years, Ajok Grace faced the grueling realities of subsistence farming in Agonge, Amuru District. Relying solely on hand hoes and family labor, clearing land was backbreaking work that strictly capped her acreage, kept crop yields low, and left no surplus for market sale.

Everything shifted when Grace accessed an agricultural micro-loan through the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund (WGEF). With targeted credit, she transitioned from survival farming to enterprise agriculture, using her loan capital to hire labor to clear and prepare significantly larger plots of land.

The investment paid off immediately. Grace expanded her cultivation area, boosted her seasonal harvest, and generated a profitable market surplus for the first time in her life. Today, Grace is no longer just farming to eat; she is running a commercial enterprise that builds long-term economic security for her household.

Before WGEF, rudimentary tools kept my harvests small and my income stalled. The agricultural loan allowed me to scale my farm, increase my yields, and earn meaningful income. Thank you, WGEF, for empowering women farmers.

— Ajok Grace

During this time of global upheaval and social turmoil, we know there are important causes to support and a multitude of ways to give.

Below is a brief overview of our 2026 Annual Update.  Click here to view the full report.

So Far in 2026!

• Access to Justice Impact: 610 women in Northern Uganda received legal aid, protection, and advocacy, with an 88% case resolution rate.
• Menstrual Health is a Human Right! 49 schools in Northern Uganda improved girls’ access to menstrual products and education, helping reduce barriers to learning.
• Agriculture and Food Security: 367 women farmers increased crop yields by 45% and household income by 38% through climate-smart farming and financing.

A Monthly Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight

The Healthy Periods Initiative highlights the profound transformation taking place across 49 schools in Northern Uganda through the strategic distribution of high-quality disposable sanitary pads coupled with comprehensive Menstrual Health Management (MHM) and education. Due to global conflict, shortages, and inflation, our costs have greatly increased, putting this vital, meaningful and transformative program at risk. Please consider making a donation today!

Impact: Local Food Economies Work!

During one of the worst droughts in decades, 567 women smallholder farmers in Uganda still achieved a 45% average increase in seasonal crop yields and a 38% boost in household net income through access to climate-smart agricultural inputs, micro-financing, and direct market links. As the drought continues and is expected to worsen, WGEF remains vigilant in climate adaptation and smart food storage strategies to stave off increasing food insecurity. But we cannot do it without your support!

Support us in our mission that ALL women have the right to affordable and accessible feminine health practices! Our HPI facility is open and ready to quadruple production; however, due to inflation, supplies and fuel have limited our capabilities. Please give today!

2026 Summer Update: The Healthy Periods Initiative (HPI)

The transformation in our girls is undeniable. Attendance has skyrocketed, and their self-esteem is at an all-time high. This program didn’t just give them pads; it gave them back their right to learn.

— Mrs. Akello, Senior Woman Teacher, Gulu Primary School

Gulu Menstrual Health Hygiene Run 2026

An unprecedented coalition—329 local leaders, parents, teachers, young girls, and, significantly, men and boys—ran and walked together through the heart of Gulu, loudly debunking the deep-seated stigma surrounding periods and sending a powerful wave of validation across the region.