In the village of Bulluta, Mayuge District, lives Miriam Asemire, a 65 year old mother of eleven children. Living with a physical disability, Minamu has faced a lifetime of challenges from daily mobility struggles to social stigma and poverty. Raising such a large family on her own, with limited income opportunities, seemed nearly impossible.
“Many times, we would go without food,” she recalls. “I used to feel helpless because I couldn’t do heavy work like digging, yet my children depended on me.”
For years, Miram survived on small-scale gardening. But the income was never enough to meet her family’s basic needs. Her story took a new direction when IDIWA identified her as one of the beneficiaries under its economic empowerment program for women and girls with disabilities. Through this initiative, IDIWA provided her with three goats as a start-up package to boost her household income.
“When IDIWA gave me the goats, I felt so happy,”. “It was the first time I received something that could help me stand on my own.”
With care and patience, Miriam raised the goats which multiplied, and she made a wise decision to exchange them for a cow. This decision marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. The cow soon started producing milk, enough for her children’s consumption and some extra to sell in the village to earn a daily income.
“People used to look down on me because of my disability,” she says. “But now, they see that I can work hard and succeed like anyone else.”
Beyond her household, Miriam’s story has inspired other women with disabilities in Bulluta Village to join local savings groups and start small income-generating projects. She often encourages them by sharing her journey.
“Disability does not mean inability.” She said.
Through IDIWA’s support, Miriam has regained not just her livelihood but also dignity and hope. She dreams of expanding her farm by buying another cow and starting a small dairy business. Her goal is to ensure that all her children complete school and that she remains self-reliant.
Miriam’s journey demonstrates the real impact of inclusive economic empowerment. What began as a small gesture blossomed into a sustainable livelihood, proving that when women and girls with disabilities are given opportunity and support, they can transform their lives, their families, and their communities.