Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ In Kanungu district, western Uganda, where the ravages of HIV and poverty have left countless children orphaned, an extraordinary group of grandmothers is reshaping the future, one family at a time. Through the Nyaka Grandmothers Program, over 20,000 grandmothers have been empowered to care for and nurture more than 80,000 orphaned and vulnerable children, creating a community-driven transformation that spans generations.
What began as a modest initiative two decades ago has blossomed into a life-changing program for thousands. Twesigye Jackson Kaguri, the founder of Nyaka, started by visiting homes in the community where the first Nyaka Primary School was established, asking women to house children during school days.
The results were transformative. Children could access education more easily, and their attendance and participation in school significantly improved. Recognizing the success of this model, Kaguri and his team sought ways to support the grandmothers who were providing this vital care.
“What do we do for the women who are housing these children, who are not paid, who are volunteering?” Kaguri recalls asking. The program then evolved to include resources and benefits for these selfless women, now celebrated as Nyaka Grandmothers.
One such grandmother is 60-year-old Kyarikunda Georgina. Widowed in 2005 and with her only child married and living in another town, Kyarikunda found purpose in caring for children in need. Today, she is a guardian to eight children and has become a role model in her community.
“Supporting children isn’t about being wealthy. There are those with a lot of money who don’t help, yet others learn from my example and come forward to assist children,” she explains. Her commitment has inspired many other women to take on similar responsibilities, fostering a spirit of compassion and resilience in the community.
Research indicates that over 80 million African children lack access to healthy shelter, but for the children under these grandmothers’ care, life is different.
Fifteen-year-old Amanya Jordan, one of Kyarikunda’s wards, reflects on the transformative nature of this care. For him, a home isn’t defined by the traditional structure of parents and children but by love and safety. “I feel good living with my grandmother because she provides what we need. When I grow up, I want to be a doctor,” he says.
Similarly, young Asiimwe Prima, now in primary five, shares her gratitude and dreams. “I thank my grandmother because everything we have asked for, she has provided. When I grow up, I want to be a teacher.”
The program doesn’t just focus on caregiving; it’s a holistic approach to rebuilding families. It emphasizes education, economic empowerment, and fostering resilience. The grandmothers often meet to share business ideas and provide mutual support, creating a robust network of care and collaboration.
Many of these women have lost their own children to HIV, yet they find strength and purpose in raising the next generation. Recruitment for the program is based on values such as care, resilience, and a commitment to being role models in their communities.
Denesi Niwarinda, Coordinator of the Nyaka Grandmothers Program, explains, “We want our grandmothers to set an example in society. They should inspire those growing up under their care. We do not encourage habits like smoking or excessive drinking.”
While expanding the initiative to other districts, these grandmothers are rebuilding their own lives and those of the children they care for. They have transcended the traditional role of caregivers to become true heroes, empowering themselves while nurturing the future of Uganda.
