First Quarter 2025 Updates

Margaret & Emma Organization Quarterly Newsletter

January – March 2025

A Message from Our Executive Director

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Community Partners,

Welcome to our quarterly newsletter! We are delighted to share with you the achievements and inspiring stories from the first quarter of 2025. As we continue our journey to empower vulnerable rural women and strengthen communities across the Kigezi sub-region, your support keeps us moving forward every day.

In this edition, we highlight groundbreaking skills development projects, the dynamic progress of our women’s groups, new strategic partnerships, and our ongoing efforts to ensure transparency, community engagement, and policy advocacy. We hope you find these stories as uplifting and motivating as we do.

Warm regards, FORTUNATE NATUKUNDA

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE QUARTER

Transformative Skills Development Initiatives

This quarter has seen significant strides in our skills development programs. We launched robust training sessions designed to instill marketable skills and strengthen local economies:

• Baking Trainings in Rubanda; our baking classes are in full swing, equipping women with the practical knowledge needed to start small businesses. Aiming to train 50 individuals by the next quarter, these sessions are already nurturing entrepreneurial spirits and shining a light on innovative community-based solutions.

• Tailoring Trainings at Our Headquarters: with 15 participants currently developing their tailoring skills, the training sessions are providing a gateway to financial independence. These skills serve as a creative outlet while forming the foundation for future business ventures.

• Knitting Classes and the Crafts Shop: though small in numbers with five eager students, our knitting classes have already begun to spark creativity. Complementing our training, the crafts shop managing its own success under the stewardship of trained women is serving as a live model of sustainable change.

  
  

Each of these initiatives directly supports our mission to empower women by providing tangible skills that bring economic and social benefits to their households and communities.

Women Groups: A Beacon of Community Empowerment

Our dynamic women groups remain at the heart of our community impact. This quarter, we witnessed inspiring efforts in several of our local initiatives:

• Igabiro Women's Development Group (Mwanjari): With 30 members, this group has reactivated its savings and credit project, further strengthening financial literacy. Their new ventures include training in liquid soap making and an innovative rainwater harvesting project. Each member is working toward acquiring a 200-liter water tank by year’s end, a goal that promises both immediate and long-term benefits for their households.

• Kikungiri PWDs Development Group: This group, which includes 20 members and 10 families living in a community shelter, is taking concrete steps to formalize their association by registering as a Community-Based Organization (CBO). Once established, they will re-launch their crafts and bakery operations, ensuring sustained income and stability among members.

• St. Leticia Women's Development Group:With 30 dedicated participants, including 10 women running tailoring businesses, this group has embarked on a savings initiative to fund the construction of a multi-purpose shelter. Set to open its doors in June, the facility will double as a workspace and crafts shop, a true community hub in the making.

• Skilling Ikumba & Nyamiyaga Nyaruhanga Women's Development Groups:Demonstrating our commitment to inclusivity, Skilling Ikumba now includes five male youth among its 30 members. In parallel, Nyamiyaga Nyaruhanga’s 30-member team, which includes 10 elderly women, has also begun baking training, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of community progress.

  
  

These groups exemplify our dedication to fostering social inclusion, financial independence, and resilience at every level of our communities.

Strengthening Our Network: Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy

We believe that collaboration is key to sustainable change. This quarter, our strategic alliances have expanded, allowing us to deepen our impact:

• National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRD-U):By aligning with NCHRD-U, we strengthen our commitment to human rights advocacy, ensuring that the rights and dignity of every woman we serve are defended and upheld.

• Movement for Community-Led Development (MCLD):Our active engagement with MCLD has empowered us with new skills in grant writing and donor acquisition. This partnership is critical in scaling our initiatives and ensuring long-term operational sustainability.

• Collaboration with Uganda National NGO Forum and LOSCO:Through our involvement in the Strengthening Citizens’ Engagement and Public Accountability (SCEPA) project, we have helped create vibrant platforms for community dialogue. These sessions in Kabale district have fostered transparent governance and improved public accountability, reinforcing the role of every citizen in our shared journey.

• Policy and Regulatory Advocacy:Active participation in the Regulatory Impact Assessment on the NGO ACT 2016, facilitated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the NGO Bureau, has positioned us as strong advocates for legal reforms. This process ensures that our operational environment supports our mission while safeguarding the interests of vulnerable communities.

  
  

Monitoring, Feedback, and Our Commitment to Excellence

In the spirit of continuous improvement, we have welcomed constructive feedback from our external evaluations:

• Positive Recognition: The District NGO Monitoring Committee’s recent visit affirmed our progress and highlighted the strengths of our programs. Their approval is not only gratifying but also spurs us to aim even higher.

• Enhancing Data Protection:A monitoring visit by the Public Data Protection Office has led to valuable recommendations for improving our privacy policies. We are taking these suggestions to heart, ensuring that our beneficiaries’ information remains secure and that our operations always meet the highest standards.

We see these evaluations as opportunities to refine our processes, enhance our service delivery, and build even greater trust with our communities and partners.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, we have exciting plans for the upcoming quarter. We will expand our skills development programs, introduce additional training sessions, and continue forging robust partnerships that amplify our voice in advocacy. Each initiative is a stepping stone toward our long-term goal: an empowered society of women who live productive, healthy lives free from absolute poverty.

Get Involved and Stay Connected

We are grateful for the ongoing support of our donors, partners, and community members. As we continue our work, we invite you to join us in our mission. Here’s how you can help:

• Stay Informed: Follow us on our social media platforms for regular updates.

• Volunteer: Contribute your time and expertise to our initiatives.

• Support: Consider making a donation to help us expand our programs and reach more women in need.

  
  

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey toward a brighter, more inclusive future.

With gratitude, The Margaret & Emma Organization Team

If you have any feedback or would like more information about our quarterly activities, please do not hesitate to contact us. Together, we are transforming lives and building resilient communities.