Gaba is a South Sudanese refugee, wife, and mother of nine.

She is a member of Unity Seed Effect Savings and Loan Group in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement. This group meets at their local church, Bible Hope International.

After just a few months of saving with her group, Gaba shared,  

“I want to first give thanks to God for bringing Seed Effect to this area. When we left South Sudan because of the war, we lost many people. It caused a lot of painful thoughts. Now after joining Seed Effect, these painful thoughts are going away because of the encouragement and the Bible study. The word of God is comforting us.

“I also want to appreciate Seed Effect because they came with the saving methodology. We used to struggle a lot when we did not have money. We did not know where to go to borrow, but now because of Seed Effect we can borrow money from the group to solve some of our issues. Like when our kids are sick, we can now afford medication.

“We appreciate Seed Effect Uganda staff. They visit us often and encourage us. When there are conflicts, they help us with conflict resolution. Before we take loans, they guide us on how we can use the money so we are very happy with that.

“Because Seed Effect has brought us together, we have been unified. We feel like we have filled the gap that was created when we left South Sudan. Since we came to Seed Effect, our lives have been transformed.”

Charity Gaba with her husband, Edward and four of their children. Photo by Wavemaker.

After completing her first savings cycle and receiving the share-out (the amount saved plus the interest earned), Gaba reflected on what she had learned. She said that she and many of her fellow members were originally scared of the idea of saving because when they had tried to save together in the past, they always ended up with the wrong amounts and the share-out was incorrect. But their experience with Seed Effect has been different. Upon their first share-out the members exclaimed,

“Wow, we didn’t know it was so sweet to share money in this manner!” 

Gaba went on to say, “I was very happy when we reached the day of sharing our money. As a group, some of us had set a goal together.  By the end of the cycle we wanted to buy a grinding mill to grind corn and make paste. When we shared the money we were able to buy the mill! It cost 7 million shillings.”

Patrick Kenyi, the Seed Effect Field Officer that oversees Gaba’s group added, “You see how determined they were. They were able to succeed and now she is very happy. She was able to buy something that she could not imagine that she could ever afford as a refugee. In her whole life, she has never held close to 7 million, but now she and her community have a grinding mill. That is the joy of sharing out with Seed Effect.”

Patrick Kenyi with “Unity” Seed Effect Group. Photo by Wavemaker.

Gaba continued, “I realized that within here – in this zone – there is only one grinding mill, so I knew  there was a gap. People would have to go very far to grind, so I knew that I needed to buy one here. People will bring their maize after receiving the food ration and they will grind.” 

“After buying, we called the community together, the leaders, the church elders… we had prayers at home… may God bless this machine so that it will benefit the whole community.. It’s important for me to help and serve God through that business by helping my neighbors and the community within Rhino Camp.”

“We are not from the same communities or tribes in South Sudan, but that does not matter. Because God created us.”

Gaba continued to share how much she has learned from the different tribes in her group, and specifically about the four key relationships outlined in their Seed Effect Bible Study.

Gaba said, “God said he created man in his own image. It does not say he created Kuku in his own image and then created another tribe in a different image. So God created us and saved us as whole to be part of his kingdom, so if God can save me when I am a sinner, why not help the community also? So I experience the love of God…  where God picked me from and where God has brought me is not by my own making. I got this money from being in this group. If it was not for the group, I would not make it. So as we saved together and I was able to buy the grinding mill it’s important to help my fellow members and the community as a whole because they helped me to achieve this goal. The group was inclusive, and the community contributed towards the achievement of buying the grinding mill. I want its purpose to be reflective of its start.”

“Unity” Seed Effect Group. Photo by Wavemaker.

“I learn a lot from the different tribes. There is a lot of Unity and love amongst the group and for one another. The character of our group resembles our name. The reason why there is unity is because of the Word of God. Before saving, every week we have Bible Study. When we are going through the four key relationships, we become more united since God built us to have relationships.”

“Because of that word alone, that we need to have a relationship with each other, it encourages us to be more united with each other.”