Tueyambe, the women's cooperative

Tueyambe is a cooperative created through the partnership between 18 neighbors, mostly women, attempting to find an effective way to make a living and help each other out of the misery that surrounds them. It is located in Nansana, one of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods around Kampala and also the hometown of several of the orphans in our home. 

The town consists of a few humble houses that are all a mud-brown in color and surrounded by a few tropical plants. The women of Nansana struggle to take care of a large number of dependent children, mostly without a husband to help.

Yet, Namata Florence, a woman of 48, sitting in the doorway of her house, looking tired and always surrounded by children, is always ready to welcome you with an unwavering smile.  Florence, was the one who thought of how they could organize a cooperative to help each other get ahead in a country where simply finding enough to eat is a daily challenge.

To finance their cooperative, the members each contribute Ushi 2000 (1 €) a week, and get together every Sunday and decide to give that money to the community member who needs it most. 

In 2004, Música Para Salvar Vidas helped the neighbors of Nansana get started by buying a few pigs and chickens and make a business. They have since increased the number of animals and the business has grown accordingly.

In January of 2010, we helped them assemble a small stand of vegetables and charcoal that contributes some money to the project. We have also helped them start a small bar to bring in more income, but are in need of funds to equip it with electricity, a refrigerator and a television.

With these small initiatives, the group is producing revenue for the members and succeeding.

We also want to continue helping this community through the children.  In addition to the four orphans that we have taken in, we hope to help send other children of the community to the state primary school, which costs about 6€ per month.   

Currently, a class at the Spanish School Escuela Libre Micael in Las Rozas de Madrid is helping 9 children of Nansana to get schooling.