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The women of Kyababeezi, as throughout much of Africa, are the life-force behind many of the day-to-day functions. Determined, outspoken, politically-charged, and resilient, these women represent the finest qualities and stand as role models for the rest of the community.
In Kwagala Foundation's time, we have witnessed several women-led initiatives. Recognizing the importance of maintaining the social fabric of the community, Kwagala Foundation has been pleased to invest in these programs and to see the progress as these women reach their full potential.
Jewellery 
To buy the jewellery, head to our online shop page at Etsy by clicking here!
Several times per year, Kwagala Foundation receives a shipment of beaded jewellery from a co-operation of Ugandan women. These women, headed by Teddy Kwagala, hand-make the beads by tightly rolling long, triangular strips of magazine pages and then dipping strings of the beads in lacquer. Teddy then comes up with ideas for necklace designs and strings the beads herself.
Providing opportunities for these women to earn an income based on their own talent promotes a sustainable lifestyle, enabling them to provide for their families. Currently, many of these women, including Teddy, are supporting orphaned children whose immediate family members have passed away due to HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases. Opportunities for uneducated women are scarce in rural areas of the country and as such, Kwagala Foundation believes in providing opportunities for women to use their creativity for success in order to empower them and encourage continued efforts to be productive members of society.
Pictures of the most current shipments are placed on our blog.
Sewing Program 
Started after receiving a $1000 grant, Kwagala Foundation's sewing program is another component of the Melissa Group. With the financial provisions offered by the grant, Kwagala Foundation was able to purchase two sewing machines, as well as fabric and other sewing materials. In turn, the women formed themselves into groups, and began appointing positions for one another. The idea behind the sewing program is to teach the women a practical skill, while simultaneously giving back to their community. Their first major assignment is to sew the uniforms for the sponsored children of the community. This means that instead of depending on outside vendors centered in the big cities surrounding the village, Kyababeezi can offer a competitive local market. They are paid through contributions as part of the child sponsorship program, alloted for uniform costs. Missing nothing in their organization, the women also came together to decide who would be the two official seamstresses, and proposed eye exams to make sure they would be able to work efficiently and see clearly. With a generous donation of reading glasses, Kwagala Foundation equipped some of the women with much-needed glasses and the program is now underway!
HIV Transport Program
Qualifying women within Kwagala Foundation's database receive transportation costs for twice-annual visits to the government hospital in Kampala. These visits are where women are able to have their CD4 levels tested- an indicator of the intensity of an HIV infection. When CD4 levels drop to a certain level, as set by the National Ministry of Health in Uganda, patients begin ARV treatment - an aggressive yet effective treatment for HIV/AIDS. While Uganda offers free ARV treatment to qualifying citizens, transportation and doctors' visits are not free. As part of a testing incentive, Kwagala Foundation offers to offset these costs. So far, the women have found the program to be not only convenient and useful, but also very supportive. Appointments are booked on the same day for all the women so that they can all use the same transportation and serve as a support network for any other women who may be feeling upset by their results. The program is voluntary and, due to limited financial resources, is currently only open to women in Kyababeezi.
The Melissa Group also places a great level of importance on social-building projects. Such projects include coming together to sing and dance, which are both revered in Ugandan culture. It also involves a conversation period whereby the women gather to make practical crafts for the home and use this opportunity to speak openly about some of their challenges. If any women are missing from these sessions, it is assumed they are sick, and a team of women will go check up on the missing woman/women. This "buddy system" makes sure that no one goes unnoticed and that health concerns are addressed before they become too serious.
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