Success Story: “Energy Saving, Income Growing - Samuel’s Family Transformation”

In Kochito Village, a young couple Lokuta Samuel and his wife, Nakong Hellen are building a brighter, more resilient future for their small family, which includes their two-year-old son. As members of the Kochito Lokona Savings Group, they received support from UCAA, including vegetable seeds and practical training on constructing energy-saving stoves.

Today, Samuel speaks with pride and excitement about how these interventions have transformed their home life. “UCAA has empowered us with a very good initiative,” Samuel says as he sits beside his energy-saving stove, calmly cooking beans. “This stove consumes very little firewood, stays hot for long, and keeps our food warm even after cooking. It has made our life easier and more economical.”

Beyond reducing fuel costs, Samuel proudly shows vegetables harvested from their kitchen garden of onions, green pepper, and other vegetables grown using seeds supplied by UCAA.

“You see these onions and green pepper? They are from our garden. We use them at home but also sell some to buy salt, posho, and cooking oil. It helps us complete our meals without struggling.” The combined impact of energy-saving technology and household vegetable production has significantly reduced their expenditure on charcoal and firewood, allowing the family to save money for other essential needs.

Samuel’s story is a powerful example of how simple, practical skills when paired with economic empowerment can strengthen households, improve nutrition, and create sustainable livelihoods for young families.