Bernadette Nyabenda: Advancing Livelihoods Through Agriculture and Savings.
Nzayisenga Faida, a member of the Tafuta Savings and Business Group in Nyakagando A, has transformed her life through economic development training provided by Shared Action Africa. Once burdened by the high cost of purchasing vegetables, she now grows her own at home—ensuring both food security for her family and savings on household expenses.
The training sessions conducted by Shared Action Africa equipped her with essential knowledge in climate-smart agriculture, harvesting, and post-harvest handling, including proper storage techniques that reduce losses and improve food safety.
“I am Nzayisenga Faida from Nyakagando A, a member of the Tafuta Savings and Business Group. I have no regrets about getting involved in the agricultural initiatives organized by Shared Action Africa,” she shares. “Before the training, I used to buy vegetables at high prices from the market to feed my children. However, after attending the sessions, I learned how to grow vegetables using a keyhole garden. This has not only helped me feed my family but also save up to UGX 500,000.”
Faida notes that Shared Action Africa has played a significant role in empowering women within her savings and business group. “We were taught better farming methods, including how to establish and maintain backyard gardens throughout the year. These gardens now provide us with a steady and reliable source of vegetables. Since adopting these techniques, we no longer struggle to access nutritious food.”
In addition to farming skills, Faida and her fellow group members were trained in proper harvesting and post-harvest handling techniques. This includes best practices to safeguard produce from pests and diseases during storage. They also learned how to properly store seeds using sacks with polyethylene linings, which help prevent spoilage, and the importance of thoroughly drying harvests before storage.
“Shared Action Africa taught us how to protect our harvests and seeds,” Faida adds. “Their training has helped us minimize waste, maintain food quality, and improve the overall sustainability of our farming.”
Through these interventions, Shared Action Africa continues to uplift refugee women by building their capacity in agriculture and financial independence, ultimately improving household resilience and community development.