FEATURED STORY
"Next week I will come again."
In his village, Francis was once known for all the wrong reasons. Trapped in alcohol abuse, his family was struggling, his home had become a place of fear, and he had lost hope for his future. Then one day, Francis showed up to an Otem Collective Parent Support Group—and something began to change.
This is what family strengthening can look like
Jimmy is a husband and father in Northern Uganda who participated in Otem Collective’s Parent Support Groups. Like many families in his village, Jimmy and his wife have worked hard to provide for their children and build a more secure future for their family.
Wild with Saving
On the morning of their weekly savings group meeting, many of the parents we work with in Northern Uganda put on their nicest clothes. Not because they’re going to church or attending a celebration, but because they’re going to what they now call their “community bank.”
What I Saw in Uganda
Two years ago, Otem Collective’s family strengthening programs in Northern Uganda were still just an idea. This was Kristen’s first opportunity to return to the villages since the programs launched—and to see the impact in person.
What Happens When Someone Walks Alongside a Family
Families don’t just need resources; they need consistent support. Through family coaching, Otem Collective walks alongside families as they put what they’ve learned into practice at home.
From $14 in Seeds to a Year's Worth of Income
When we visited Lillian in her village, she didn’t start by talking about maize. She showed us her chickens. What began with a small investment in maize seeds has grown into a new source of income for her family.
Lucy's Home Feels Lighter Now
For Lucy, the biggest change wasn’t something you could measure in money or savings. It was the way her family began relating to one another—and the peace that started to take root in their home.
"I used to shout all the time. Now I listen."
When we sat with Milla, she described her home before joining a Parent Support Group in a single sentence: “I used to shout all the time.” With ten children, her days were filled with noise, conflict, and stress.
A 'Game Changer' in Northern Uganda
Lillian had been watching. She noticed that something had changed in her neighbors—the way they spoke to their children, how they listened patiently instead of raising their voices.
The Most Violent Woman
In a village in Kole District, a mother who had once been known as “the most violent woman” was finding her life changed in ways she never imagined. Before joining a Parent Support Group, her home was filled with fear, and her children would run from her whenever she came home.