Angelina Akoth, a woman in Uganda, has lived a life marked by a series of personal tragedies. Her first husband passed away, and her second husband left her due to their inability to have children. Following the death of her parents, Angelina refused to marry the third man who proposed to her, ultimately leading her to live on the streets.
After the death of her brother, whose wife abandoned their children, Angelina began caring for her brother's children. Later, her sister also passed away, leaving more children in her care, all of whom lived with her on the streets. To compound this trauma, Angelina is also HIV positive and relies on antiretroviral medication to sustain her health.
Out of desperation, Angelina began stealing mangos and bananas from the nearby convent. This is where Angelina caught the attention of Sr. Veronica Takola Biribawa, MCESM. After an incident of theft, Sr. Veronica followed Angelina back to her village and learned of her story. Sr. Veronica invited Angelina to participate in her program aimed at empowering women to start businesses.
After noticing young mothers, children, and some older women stealing produce from her convent, women like Angelina, Sr. Veronica felt inspired to investigate. Driven by curiosity and concern, Sr. Veronica used the knowledge and skills she gained from HESA to uncover a dire situation marked by widespread domestic violence and a lack of support from government programs. Seeking guidance, Sr. Veronica consulted the sisters in her convent, who advised her to pray. However, unable to rest, she decided to take action.
Read Rays of Hope
Learn more about Catholic Sisters transforming poor, rural communities across Africa in our FREE Rays of Hope ebook.
Read It Now »
Sr. Veronica Takola Biribawa, MCESM, HESA Alum, sharing her story.
Sr. Veronica developed a training program called the Masese III Empowerment Initiative (MEI), aimed at empowering women to start businesses. The initiative has grown to serve over 500 participants, including Angelina, initially focusing on women but later expanding to include men to address and reduce domestic violence. Participants are organized into groups of ten, and the program offers one-on-one support for small businesses, including microloans. The program has led to a noticeable decrease in domestic violence. To ensure sustainability, she invited the local police to engage with the program.
Angelina has expressed deep gratitude to God for Sr. Veronica's intervention. Sr. Veronica was compassionate, identified her plight and invited her to join the training program. Through the program, Angelina gained valuable skills and started a business of making and selling brichet (charcoal), enabling her to support herself and her extended family which significantly improved her life. Before joining the program, she was malnourished, but as her business flourished, her health improved, and her weight increased from 40 to 70 kilos. With her life back on track, Angelina expressed a desire to reconnect with her spiritual roots and partake in holy communion once again. Her story is a testament to the impact of community support and empowerment on individual lives.
Sr. Veronica's future project design.
Following her participation in the HESA program, Sr. Veronica received another scholarship with the support of her congregation to earn a Master’s in Social Work and Administration. Her internship allowed her to collaborate with government officials, leading to the registration of her project as a Community Based Organization (CGO). Recently appointed as a community superior, she is now working on a new project to develop a house for elderly sisters in Jinja, Uganda, with plans already underway. Her efforts demonstrate a commitment to community empowerment and sustainable development.
Angelina and Sr. Veronica were featured storytellers at ASEC’s 2025 Executive Secretaries Workshop held in Uganda in January 2025. After sharing their stories, Angleina conducted a live demonstration of the process of making brichet (charcoal) using all available natural ingredients, which captivated and left the audience in awe.
