Stitching Hope: Sisa's Journey of Resilience and Empowerment

Sisa Matewa, a 39-year-old mother of five, fled the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2018 and now lives in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Kyegegwa District, Uganda. Forced to leave behind their home and livelihoods, Sisa and her five children arrived at the Uganda DRC border of Bunagana with little more than the clothes on their backs and a glimmer of hope for a better future. Reflecting on her past, Sisa recounts the challenges she faced: "One day our home was invaded by armed people who wanted to kill my husband, after that we had to flee for safety. We had to keep hiding in bushes as we travelled from North Kivu until we arrived in Bunagana."

Like many refugees, she faced a new language barrier and the struggle to support her family. "In the settlement, I could speak in Lingala, but in offices, English is the official language of communication, and I did not know English," Sisa recalls. "I had to speak through an interpreter."

Undeterred by this obstacle, Sisa sought out opportunities for learning and growth. Her journey began with a simple step – enrolling in English for Adults classes offered by UN Women Uganda’s partner, Refugee Law Project. “My first class was to learn the alphabet and later how to introduce myself," she shares. "Now, I understand English very well, although my speech is not yet perfect."

With funding from the Government of Norway, UN Women is implementing the Leadership Empowerment, Access and Protection (LEAP) project that aims at promoting positive coping mechanisms and sustainable economic activities for refugee and host community women and girls. This entails providing literacy and second-chance education opportunities for refugee women and girls.

Enrolling for the English for Adults classes became a springboard for Sisa as she later learned about other training opportunities offered under the LEAP project. Sisa subsequently seized the opportunity to join a tailoring training program. Despite having no prior experience with sewing machines, Sisa embraced the challenge with gusto, determined to acquire new skills that could benefit her family.

"Learning tailoring has enabled me to save money," Sisa explains. "I have five children, and buying school uniforms for all of them is expensive. This opportunity has enabled me to make uniforms for my children and hence save the money I would have spent buying their uniforms."

Through perseverance and hard work, Sisa not only mastered the art of tailoring but also found a source of income and empowerment. She saved the money she would have spent on school uniforms and started a small business selling foodstuff in the local market. She belongs to a savings and credit group where she saves about USD 5 per week.

"My dream is that I can be able to empower other women and girls in the same way I have been empowered," Sisa expresses passionately. "As a refugee woman, it's important that you have an enterprise that can enable you to support yourself. Donor support can end anytime, but if you have an income-generating enterprise, you will not be affected so much."

Sisa's entrepreneurial spirit and determination to succeed are truly inspiring. Beyond her own personal achievements, she dreams of empowering other refugee women and girls in her community. She advocates for greater support and resources for skills training programs, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance and economic independence for refugee women.

From a refugee facing an uncertain future, Sisa has blossomed into an entrepreneur, a role model, and a beacon of hope for her community. Her journey is far from over, but one thing is certain; Sisa, the once-war-displaced woman, is now firmly in control of her destiny, stitching a brighter future, one stitch at a time.