Jackie’s Story

Jackie is one of four children who lives with her mother in Mbiko, Uganda. Her father died in Eastern Uganda when Jackie was very young. Unfortunately, after the death of the father, their family endured abuse and harassment from the father’s relatives. The family moved to Buikwe District in search of a better life and Isiko’s mother did her best, but is not educated and had little in the way of job prospects.  She worked by digging, washing clothes and performing other domestic tasks in order to earn a living. She was able to save enough to start a small business selling silver fish, but was robbed which left her business bankrupt. Unable to pay the rent their landlord threatened eviction so she left for another town to try to find work. The children were left in the hands of the eldest brother, Kowa (15 years old at the time), while she was gone for two months.  During her absence, they often went without food and the rent was still not being paid. In 2019, the Buikwe probation officer forwarded the case to PFP and we stepped in to offer support.  The rent back-pay was cleared and the children are being offered the opportunity to attend school.  The mother has been reunited with her children and they are now living together again.

Now a part of the PFP Juniors program, Jackie attends a highly ranked primary school and has big dreams to become a nurse someday. While PFP supports Jackie with education and medical expenses, she continues to live with her mom and siblings, who she loves very much.