Faith is back in her home village.  She and her sister Scovia had been staying at Daniel's home in Kampala, waiting for Faith to be evaluated for additional surgeries.  However, when Daniel took Faith for evaluation in late December, doctors recommended that Faith wait two months before more surgeries so that her neck and eyelid could fully heal.  When Faith returns to the hospital in March, she will have another surgery on her neck (to release the remainder of the scarred tissue), her mouth, and her left eye.

Watch Faith & Scovia's video here

Because of your support, Daniel has been able to continue purchasing antibiotic and other medications to help in Faith's recovery.  He also purchased a bus ticket for Faith and Scovia to return home, and purchased soap, salt, and rice for her so she has some basics when she first gets back.

Daniel explained to us that Faith had been renting a small piece of land to cultivate crops, including g-nuts and maize.  She had been selling the little she grew to help support herself and her five children.  In between harvesting seasons, she worked on others' farms as a way to earn some money.  Daniel and the RISE team talked at length about how best to support Faith in the coming months.  We wanted our support to be consistent with previous programming (building into the long-term empowerment of survivors) while also taking into consideration Faith's recent surgery and need for healing.  

Daniel talked with Faith about ways we could support her in earning more money, so that she would not face food insecurity for herself or her children.  Faith told us that with $150, she could rent one acre of land, hire someone to clear the land, purchase seedlings, and start growing beans, maize, cassava stems and g-nuts. In Daniel's words, "She is very sure if God wishes, when the year gets done she could be having some good harvests and good money from that garden."  

Typically, RISE does not give money directly to survivors.  (We have provided many microloans for survivors to expand their businesses, but we expect them to pay the money back.)  We have avoided doing this because it can breed dependence rather than empowerment.  However, given Faith is recovering from surgeries and has more surgeries planned in March, and given that she agreed to share her story so openly with all of us, we have decided that providing her with the $150 (without expectation of repayment) is a very reasonable thing to do, especially given it will set her up for future growth.

We will continue to keep you updated!  Daniel told us that Faith does not have a smart phone and therefore cannot take photos or video.  However, Daniel has been talking with Faith's uncle, whom he thinks may be able to find someone with a smart phone so that updates can be shared. 

Here is the latest update from Daniel: Faith reached so well and I talked her yesterday even now am from talking to her.  Her uncle plus all friends on her village, actually they are so happy for the new Faith they are seeing.  They have appreciated you.  They don't know what to say but they have promised me to get a video of them appreciating the good work being done.  They just can't believe it.  They have sent me to tell you how grateful they are towards you all. Hoping to see you one day in person to give their thanks to you and all the people you connect with to help others.