Project coordinator in Uganda: 'I am a true believer of change'

Teddy Naluwu, Kampala project coordinator in Uganda and former CFCA sponsored child.

I hope to transform others’ lives through my work with CFCA.

My name is Teddy Naluwu, and I am 31 years old. I have been a part of the CFCA family for more than 20 years, first as a sponsored child and later as an employee.

I have been working for CFCA for the past seven years, and I currently serve as Kampala project coordinator for Uganda, Africa.

Personally, I am a true believer of change. I have seen myself transform from a humble “country girl” to project coordinator of a sizeable project.

Because of CFCA sponsorship and the education I received, I am able to help break through the lines of poverty within my family.

The CFCA-Kampala project believes that we can make the world a better place through our collective efforts.

Engaging with the families in CFCA project activities is an important aspect of my work that shapes my attitude and performance, and boosts my self-worth.

The sponsored children are glad and confident to share their experiences and aspirations with me, as we share similar backgrounds. They look up to me as an inspiration for their career advancement.

As project coordinator, I have earned the respect and trust of the parents/guardians, who call on me to advise their children about the right career paths.

There have been some challenges in serving a community where I have been raised, given our cultural norms and beliefs. Some parents view me as a young woman, similar to their own child, and so sometimes they are reluctant to respond to the project’s initiatives.

Nevertheless, since we are committed to serving the families, challenges are tackled openly.

We identify the families’ interests and the problems affecting them, discuss them within the Sponsored Self-help Group monthly meetings, implement solutions and measure progress toward achieving the desired outcomes.

This has proven the most practical approach that yields visible results — families growing, realizing their abilities and believing in themselves as they work to uplift their social and economic situations.