Parents of children with disabilities urged to embrace VSLAs to enhance livelihoods

OYAM, February 13, 2025 – Parents of children with disabilities [CWDs] can enhance their families’ livelihoods by forming, and joining community Village Savings and Loan Associations [VSLAs].

This advice was shared days ago by Ponsiano Coda, the Programme Manager of Community Focus International, during a recent visit to Iceme Subcounty in Oyam district. Coda was donating wheelchairs to CWDs to aid in their mobility when he made the remarks.

He explained that VSLAs provide members with an opportunity to socialise, save, and borrow money for productive ventures. This, in turn, enables members to generate profit that can be used to meet the basic needs of the CWDs and other family members.

Coda further emphasised that the livelihoods of CWDs in Iceme Subcounty can be easily improved if their parents came together to form VSLAs that attract seed capital from organisations like his. “We believe that forming VSLA groups would be beneficial to the people of Iceme Subcounty, as we provide seed capital annually. Members can borrow money, repay it to their SACCO, and use the funds to support their children,” he said.

On his part, Christopher Atworo, who heads the Department of Assistive Devices and Technologies at Community Focus International, urged parents of CWDs to join VSLAs, as this would allow them to borrow money to invest in small businesses, such as bicycle spare parts.

Meanwhile, Caroline Aceng, a resident of Ocala A village, Eastern Ward in Iceme Town Council, and a member of a local VSLA, encouraged others to join, sharing how the group has benefitted her and her family. “I joined the group last September and we save every Monday. It’s been a great help because when my child falls ill, I can borrow money from the group to cover treatment costs,” Aceng said.

Lucy Akello, a resident of Amoto Village, Omolo Parish in Iceme Subcounty, admitted the difficulties of managing a child with a disability without money and said she plans to join a VSLA soon after learning of their importance for the socio-economic development of communities.

At the event where the wheelchairs were distributed to the CWDs, Sharon Ejang, the Iceme Subcounty Community Development Officer, emphasised the importance of VSLAs for socio-economic transformation, particularly for those who care for CWDs.

Ejang said that parents of CWDs would save much more money by joining savings groups. “They would be able to save, borrow, and if their child falls ill, they can use the funds to take them to a hospital or nearby clinic,” she said.

Some parents and caregivers, as well as CWDs who have benefited from VSLAs, shared their positive experiences.

Prossy Alobo, a mother of a child with a disability, said she was able to take her child to the hospital in 2017 with money she borrowed from her VSLA group. “The group helped me by lending me Shs 300,000, which I used for medical care for my child,” Alobo said.

Desmond Odongo, a CWD living in Lira City, explained how a VSLA has helped him save money that would otherwise have been wasted. “I joined a VSLA three years ago because I didn’t want to waste the little money I receive. It has been very helpful,” Odongo said.

Currently, Community Focus International, a nongovernmental organisation, has supported seven VSLA groups from Lira and Oyam districts, providing grants ranging from Shs 500,000 to Shs 2 million.

https://thecooperator.news/mp-auma-offers-seed-capital-to-10-vslas-in-kwania-district/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news