Teddy: From rescue and recovery to a path of independence

Teddy and Rev. Phil Bauman, UCC Medfield
Phil's visit to the Empowerment Progam
October 2016

Meet 20 year old Teddy, she’s one of "our girls"," as we fondly refer to all the girls in the Empowerment Program. Teddy is a hairdresser at the 10,000 Lights Women Business Center Salon (10KWBC).  In addition to the business skills workshop that all the girls attended, Teddy was also trained to cut men’s hair. 

She is currently learning new styling techniques and professional business skills from the hairstyling professionals who were brought in to mentor the girls and grow the customer base. 

Teddy grew up in one of Kampala’s shantytown areas called Kisenyi.  "My mother was a cook and both she and my father worked hard to take care of our family." She explains, with her eyes downcast, that when her father "got another wife," life changed.  In her words, "Things became bad, and when he died I was six years old, things became even worse. My siblings and I started to collect scrap metal on weekends and sell fresh beans in the streets to earn some little money to take care of our family." With a weary and distant look and regret in her eyes she tells me more. "Life was tough. I had started selling drugs and was even starting to take them so that I could feel better about life." Teddy points to the scars on her right foot and explains how she got burnt while helping her mother with her cooking business to earn some money for the family. "I was young and did not really know what to do or how to take care of myself, but we needed the money as a family for school fees, rent and other basic needs at home."Teddy also tells me that most of her friends, even though very young, had become prostitutes in order to make money, and it was very tempting for her, too.  Fortunately, it was then that a small NGO came to her rescue; this would later be her link to Destiny Women.

 "I joined (the) Destiny Girls home and we used to start every day with prayer and they taught us things to help with character development.  We also made paper beads and we had a full-time mentor called Vicky.  Our Destiny Women mentor encouraged us and was always there for us when we needed her." Destiny Women, with support from Amilia’s Light, paid fees for Teddy to finish school.

Teddy and Michelle
Uganda Trip 2013

Teddy is one of the girls who was sponsored by our founder’s family in 2010. She first met Michelle in 2013, when the idea for Amilia’s Light was just forming. In my next blog I will introduce you to Baby Michelle, Teddy’s daughter, and share more about how Teddy’s life has changed because of her participation in the Empowerment Program

Hi! I'm Rachel Tumwine.

 I am privileged to work with both Destiny's Women and Amilia’s Light as a Liaison.  My role is to help bridge the distance between you, our generous supporters and the world of our girls, who each yearn for and deserve a chance to make the most of their lives.  I enjoy seeing the girls grow to be more responsible and how they now look forward to their futures through the lenses of the hope you give through your generous donations to Amilia’s Light.