Alice Lolem, 37, had been suffering in silence. Member of Mt. Moroto Women Mineral Association, also a stone crasher from Nakidoka Village in Nacogorom Parish in Loputuk Sub County, she had been using her bare hands to carry a pick axe to crush stones.
“I would cry every day after crashing stones because of the unbearable pain,” Lolem narrates.
“My hands would get wounds, and I would have to take days off to recover. But I had no choice, I had to provide for my family,” Alice adds.
But all that changed recently when the group Lolem belongs to were given a stone crashing machine and safety gears from Riamiriam Civil Society Network – Karamoja, with support from the United Nations Development Program/KOICA.
According to UNDP report, women like Alice are a back born of Karamoja`s economy, contributing up to 70% of the region`s agricultural labour force.
The BRICK project aims to address this gap by providing economic empowerment opportunities to women and other vulnerable groups in Karamoja. The project has already reached over 1,000 women, providing them with training, equipment, and other support to help them start and grow their own businesses.
The overall project purpose is to promote sustainable development through capacity strengthening of communities and local stakeholders to manage social, political, economic, and environmental risks.
This is key to ensure that the impact goes beyond the duration of the project and that the interventions will be leveraged to scale and act as a best practice for homegrown and sustainable approaches to the human development nexus.
“We are thrilled to support the women groups like those of Mt. Moroto Mineral Association,” said Richard Omoding, Executive Director of Riamiriam Civil Society Network – Karamoja.
“This equipment will not only improve their working conditions but also increase their productivity and income.”
Gudina Gemechis W, a UNDP official, noted, “We are proud to support community initiatives because this aligns with our mission to promote sustainable development and reduce poverty. We believe that empowering women is key to achieving these goals.”
Moroto Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Jane Frances Amongin Okili, said, “We appreciate the support of our partners in promoting development in Karamoja. The BRICK project is a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration and partnership.”
For Alice, the new equipment is a game-changer. “I am so happy!” she exclaimed. “I no longer have to suffer in silence. This equipment will make my work easier, and I can now provide for my family without putting my health at risk.”
As Alice’s story demonstrates, the BRICK project is making a real difference in the lives of women in Karamoja. By providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed, we can help them build a brighter future for themselves and their families.
