Meet Topista: How Your Support Turned a $13.60 Clothing Investment into School Fees for Her Four Children

My name is Topista, and for years, I felt stuck in a polygamous marriage that left me feeling invisible and powerless.

My husband, overwhelmed by the demands of supporting multiple wives and children, could not provide for us adequately. Often, I found myself struggling to feed my four children, let alone pay the fees to send them to school.

Everything changed when I got the opportunity to attend community development training with Global Village Connect.

A tiny seed of starting capital

Determined to change my family’s situation, I started doing casual labor, digging in neighbors’ gardens for very little pay. It was exhausting, backbreaking work, but after weeks of intense labor, I managed to save 50,000 Ugandan shillings (about $13.60).

That modest savings became the seed for my dream.

I traveled to a nearby city and used the capital to buy a small bundle of second hand clothes from a wholesale market. My first stock included children’s shirts, dresses, and trousers. I carried the clothes back to my village and started selling them door to door.

Persistence pays off

At first, business was incredibly slow. Many people in the village were hesitant to buy from me, but I didn’t give up. I carefully selected clothes that were clean, modern, and in excellent condition, and I priced them fairly.

Slowly, word spread about the quality of my merchandise, and customers started coming directly to my home. Within just a few weeks, I had successfully doubled my initial capital.

I reinvested my profits to buy more inventory. Today, my daily profit has reached 8,000 Ugandan shillings ($2.20), a highly stable and transformative income.

“The business has changed my life. For the first time in years, I can provide for my children without relying on my husband. They no longer go to bed hungry! Now, when I look at my children, I see a brighter future.”

— Topista

Building a lasting legacy

My business has completely transformed our lives. Not only do my children have a stable source of food, but I’ve managed to pay their school fees consistently. My eldest son, who once had to stay home because we couldn’t afford his uniform, is now back in the classroom and excelling in his studies.

My journey taught me that even the smallest, most difficult beginnings can lead to massive transformations. My children are my ultimate motivation, and I am determined to build a lasting legacy for them.