My name is Hamidah Nambajiiwe and I come from Mitiyana road. I am 25 years old, Muslim and have two children. I also have a younger sister who lives with me. She is still in school.
I am a trainer here at the Kawempe project and have been working with AMREF for 3 years.
I came to Kampala when I was 18 years old. My parents died and I did not have enough money to stay in school. I have a large family but they could not help me or give me money and to look after myself, I started working on the streets.
I would work at night and then go to school in the day and I did this for 2 years. Then my neighbour told me about AMREF. She said that I should come here for counselling and testing. I came and I had medical treatment and tested for HIV. I also saw that AMREF had courses in tailoring.
I had made crafts and stitched tablecloths in school so I knew I would be good at tailoring. I took the course which lasted for a year and I bought a sewing machine with support from AMREF. I worked for 2 years as a tailor on my own working with local materials but was encouraged to come back to AMREF for a course in design and finishing. My teacher then asked me to become a trainer in tailoring.
I now train 40 girls here and we make everything from school uniforms, dresses, shirts, traditional Ugandan suits and all types of creative fashions. I have also been able to open my own shop where I sell African designed clothes. The money I earn here helps me pay the rent for my shop and I work there every evening.
My experience here has allowed me to stop working on the street and to provide education for my children and my sister. I even talk to other girls I know who still work on the street and help them to leave and come here.
