My name is Aciro Sarah, known by my friends as Nesther. I am a 25 year old youth with epilepsy from Awach sub county, Gulu District
I dropped out of school in Primary six. My education was cut short due to stigma and lack of financial support from my family. For years, I stayed at home doing garden work and cooking, completely dependents on my parents for my personal needs. I lived in isolation, facing discrimination from community members.
At 17, I thought marriage would be my escape from hopelessness. Sadly, things only got worse. After giving birth, my husband divorced me. Returning to my parents’ home, I was met with insults, nicknames like “mad” and was treated as a failure and a burden. The pain pushed me to the edge and one day I almost took my own life until my mother intervened and saved me.
In 2023, my life took a new turn. One day, while working in the garden, I returned home to find a message from our area Local Council chairperson asking me to report to the sub county headquarters the next day. I did not have transport so my mother accompanied me. When we arrived, I net many other youth with disabilities like me. For the first time I felt less alone.
The AnyimMaber project team enrolled me in their program after a medical assessment. I was admitted to Gulu Comprehensive Vocational School for a tailoring and garment cutting course. My mother, determined to see me succeed, sold her farm produce to buy my training materials.
I trained for three months and then found an internship at Mama Rebecca’s tailoring shop, 3km from home. Walking daily was not easy but I was committed. Later, I lobbied for a training contract with USAID under the DREAMS project. Without enough machines, I partnered with Mama Rebecca and together we trained 12 youth for three months. Although I was underpaid (Ugx 800,000), the experience gave me the confidence to start my own workshop.
Today I run my own tailoring shop in Latwong Parish, Awach Sub County. I have trained 8 youth with disabilities under the AnyimMaber project and 9 youth without disabilities. I own 4 tailoring machines (1 provided by the project, 1 hired and 2 purchased from my savings). I save Ugx 25,000 weekly in my VSLA and farm 2 acres of maize and 2 acres of beans for extra income.
My life has changed completely, my family respects me, my community values me and I contribute daily Ugx 5,000 daily to household needs. As a single mother, I pay my daughter’s school fees and am planning to build a permanent shop and upgrade my skills in fashion and design.
I am deeply grateful to NUWODU and Sightsavers for changing my life. Before, I had no hope, now I have a business, skills, respect and independence. I pray the project continues to reach other youth with disabilities still trapped in poverty and discrimination.