Sisters of Rahab + Ruth, Kampala, Uganda
SPT has been providing small grants of £250 to the Sisters of Rahab + Ruth, in order to enable women to start small businesses and leave sex-work. After facing brutal living conditions including frequent rape and abuse, these women have hope again for their future.
As the ‘sisters’ have varying levels of education with some unable to read and write, SPT and a group of local Guild members have organised and facilitated lessons for the women: reading, writing, English and business skills. These lessons have proved effective in teaching them key skills, as well as building cohesion as a group and encouraging supportive friendships between the women and the Guild members running the sessions.
There are still many challenges that face this group of women. Many have numerous children due to years of sex-work, and are living on the streets of Kampala with their young children. For those that do have somewhere to live, it’s typically overcrowded with many sleeping on the floor in one room.
Current grant request:
So far SPT have been able to give 20 women a grant of £250 that has helped them to set up a small business and leave sex work. There are now over sixty women that are coming regularly for lessons. We want to be able to help more, but we have limited resources.
One of the beneficiaries so far:
Shadia, a Sister of Rahab + Ruth, and her two children were homeless before SPT gave her the small grant to start her cold drinks business. They are now all able to sleep securely in the small room she runs her new business from.
Our long-term goal:
Our long-term vision for the Sisters of Rahab + Ruth, is to help them establish a communal house of prayer and hospitality, where they can live together with their children. The vision is for about 20 women to form the ‘stable core’ of the community who are ready to make a commitment to each other and to a life of prayer. There would also be a welcoming space of refuge and hospitality for people in need, plus a communally run business so that the group are able to make an income to cover living costs such as shared meals.
The Story of Maria and the Start of the ‘Sisters’:
Maria moved to Kampala alone when she was 10 years old. She initially became a maid, but was mistreated by her employer. She then met an older woman who explained to her that there was another way she could earn money – through sex work.
Six years ago, Maria met a local pastor and began attending his church. She discovered a relationship with Jesus that has changed her life, and she immediately began to tell the other women on the street about her new-found faith. She was able to earn the trust of many sex-workers she met, and they accepted her invitations to start attending church and the English lessons set up by SPT. This group of women has grown substantially, and there are now over sixty that come regularly for lessons. No longer wanting to be defined by the work they turned to out of desperation, these women are now known as the ‘Sisters of Rahab + Ruth’.
After receiving a grant from SPT of £250, Maria has been able to start a fruit and veg stall, giving her an alternative income to sex-work. Maria rents a small home consisting of two rooms. Currently she has 9 women and 6 children living with her who she’s supporting (pictured right).
