Peace of mind for Betty

Betty grew up in relative comfort compared to her situation now. But the last 20 years have seen both a savage war and the spread of HIV/AIDS in northern Uganda, leaving Betty caring for five of her grandchildren. The SOS Family Strengthening Programme in Gulu is helping Betty to provide for the future of her grandchildren.

Betty was the daughter of a chief. During colonial times, she explains, many Europeans visited her home to hunt elephants which frequented the area. But you would never know that Betty had come from such a privileged background if you looked at her now. She is one of the many people who are part of the SOS Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) at SOS Children's Village Gulu. The SOS FSP supports children who come from vulnerable families. This means that children from these homes may be orphaned at any time. Given Betty's age and her frail condition, it is easy to see why SOS Children's Villages Gulu wants to support Betty and her family.

Betty moves to Gulu for safety

Betty explains that she married into a family in a neighbouring community and had her first child when Uganda became independent in 1962. Unfortunately for her, the community into which she married was also prone to war and insecurity. Fighting between the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government in northern Uganda left enormous destruction in the lives of the people there. They were constantly subjected to death and rape, and children were abducted to be used as LRA soldiers, wives or slaves. To escape this life, Betty moved to the relatively safe town of Gulu, where her daughter had a piece of land and five children of her own.

Survival also leaves trauma

Betty and her family survived the insecurity by living in their home in Gulu by day, but sleeping in the nearby bushes at night. It was a very difficult time for everyone in the area and caused the survivors great psychological trauma. Even today, now that there has been peace in Gulu over the last two years and the communities are returning to a normal life, people still suffer from the trauma of the past. Unfortunately for Betty, despite the peace, times became worse when her daughter died, leaving the five children in Betty's hands.

Helping Betty to educate her grandchildren

The oldest child, Oscar, who's 20, went to a technical school thanks to the SOS FSP in Gulu which paid for his course. He is now gainfully employed at a local grain mill and is able to support himself. Meanwhile the SOS Family Strengthening Programme has provided Betty with pigs, which she breeds and sells. The SOS FSP will continue to pay the school fees of the four other children until her business brings in more profit. Born the daughter of a chief who entertained the colonial bourgeoisie during their elephant safaris, Betty spends her twilight years worrying about how her grandchildren will survive when she has gone. But Betty can now have peace of mind because she knows that SOS Children's Villages will not abandon the children when she is no longer around. They are the primary beneficiaries of the FSP support and will remain part of the programme until they are able to look after themselves.