From age eleven, I have carried a vivid vision of a large, beautiful house filled with young people from various backgrounds.
This house, a sanctuary for victims of abandonment, neglect or abuse, is where they discover their talents and transform their lives. In this vision, their hope is renewed. They become musicians, artists and inventors, driven by the desire to become the best version of themselves and contribute to their communities.
The vision of creating a nurturing environment where young people can learn new skills and realize their full potential has been a guiding force in my life.
It is absurd that we always wait for the best opportunity, to commence work.
Despite my intention to manifest this dream at a point after I amassed sufficient resources, life’s unpredictability brought part of this dream to fruition under unexpected circumstances.
In 2023, during a period of profound personal loss and financial hardship, I found myself at a crossroads. Not only had I lost everything but also plunged into deep debt and despair. I was on a slippery cliff, each passing day, to the extent I felt death was close by. I was certain that, no rescue was headed my way, at any cost.
One night, overwhelmed by the weight of my situation, in the dead of the night, I pondered; “if I died now, what legacy would I leave behind?”
My mind wandered to the different philosophies we have of the afterlife. I was instantly convinced that if I passed, I would live a sad eternity, with the guilt of not fulfilling my purpose yet I had the instruction from so many years prior.
It was in that moment of introspection when I realized the urgency of my dream. I understood that I could no longer wait for the “perfect time” or resources to implement my assignment. The time to act was “now”.
I am not the one to be driven by “what legacy have you left?”, rather, “Have I fulfilled the purpose for which I am here?”
For a person that has had a vision for over 15 years, it would be wretched indeed, to depart this earth without touching even one life!
With this newfound burden on my heart, I founded “I Am Great and Capable” (IGAC), a movement dedicated to empowering teenage mothers, out-of-school girls and underprivileged young women in Kamuli district, Uganda.
Despite personal struggles, I was certain of one thing; I always drew strength from creativity and innovation.
If I could find strength and purpose through creative activities like crochet, among others, I could help other renew theirs too!
I was then drawn to the burning issue at hand within my community; the mushrooming statistics of teenage pregnancies!
I started off by gathering the only crochet materials I was left with, reached out to a few young girls in my community and taught them how to crochet, an art that not only provided them with a skill but also instilled a sense of accomplishment and hope.
Many of these girls had never dared to dream. But with every stitch, they started envisioning brighter future for themselves. I love how a couple of them dream of setting up big shops, making exhibitions and training other members of the community to crochet/venture in other business; dreams that were once unimaginable.
A few months into our sessions, a couple of volunteers picked interest in supporting the work of IGAC whenever feasible. These formed our current team of volunteers.
IGAC is more than just a crochet community. It is a holistic program that includes self-improvement sessions, spiritual nourishment, life skills training and group sharing. Through these sessions, the girls build confidence, learn to value themselves and gain skills they need to create a better future.
Our mission is clear: to transform the lives of girls and young women by providing them with the skills and support they need to thrive. We believe that every girl has potential to be their best self to make a significant impact on her community.
We look forward to empowering and equipping over 500 teen moms, out of school girls and young women in the next five years.
As we continue to grow, we are confident that through investing in IGAC, we are not just supporting a program, we are investing in the future of these young people and the positive impact they will bring to their communities.
Join us in making this dream a reality. Your support can help us reach more girls, provide more resources and ultimately, change more lives.
Together, we can create a ripple effect of empowerment and transformation.
For more information on how you can get involved or to make a donation, please visit our website or contact us directly. https://prudenceuyungrwoth.org/
Thank you for believing in the power of dreams and potential of every girl.
