Violence and abuse affect not just the women involved but also their children, families and communities. The social and economic costs of violence have ripple effects throughout society. Women may suffer isolation, inability to work, loss of wages, lack of participation in regular activities and limited ability to care for themselves and their children.

Sylvia Mbabazi, a single mother of seven children lives in Lugala. Three years ago, 92hands repaired a broken wall of the house they were living in. Having been widowed earlier, she was single-handedly looking after her family and despite the many challenges she faced, she persevered through it all. She ensured that her children were properly fed and clothed and had a good education. They survived form the money she made by washing people’s clothes in her neighborhood. She owned the house they were living in, a single room on a small plot of land. Unfortunately, this house’s one wall was badly cracked. There was no plumbing and no electricity. The house was badly beaten by weather hence part of it fell in after it could not withstand a rainy season.

During a community outreach program, we came across a family of eight living in a house with no walls, literally. For Jessica, a single mother of seven children, this was home. Their house was washed away by heavy rains and she could not afford to build another house. It was a makeshift structure, which they mostly used to sleep. They tied tarpaulin around the poles that they put up and it became the walls. It was a desperate situation but they endured because they had no other option but stay on their piece of land. Leaving was not an option.

Christmas is a season of love, with everyone looking forward to sharing time with their families and friends, exchange gifts, share a meal and enjoy good conversations. It is usually a time to spread good cheer to all people, especially the ones we care about. A time we look forward toad we create many memories that we carry in our hearts all year round. There is no time like Christmas.

When you meet Christine, you may not first notice that she has a disability. She is a shy, kind and sweet-hearted girl. Although she keeps to herself most of the time, she lights up when talked to.This was the girl we met last year in July 2017. She was playing with her friends and during the attempt to dodge a ball is when we noticed that one of her legs was shorter. She was born with this condition and this has not deterred her from living out her childhood. She was doing the best she could to move about but with much difficulty. Her mother could not afford to buy her clutches, let alone a wheelchair to ease her movement. She had not started going to school