If I Can Do It, So Can You: Mary’s Story of Resilience and Success
Meet Tumuhimbise Mary, a 42-year-old mom from Luzira, Uganda, who turned her life around with determination.
Before joining the Street Business School training program, Mary struggled to make ends meet with a small tomato stall. She had five kids to look after and send to school.
Mary learned about the training program from her community leader, but some of her friends doubted its worth. “My friends kept saying it’s a waste of time, no money,” Mary shared. Despite the discouragement, Mary gave it a shot and signed up for the program.
The training opened Mary’s eyes. She discovered that every business, no matter how small, deserves respect if it brings in money. Moving on from her tomato stall, Mary started saving money and received a helpful gift from a family friend.
With that, she opened a shop selling home groceries. The training also gave her a confidence boost. “I never had any self-esteem and couldn’t talk to customers about my business; I constantly thought to myself, ‘Can I make it?’ since I never went to school,” Mary admitted.
One big lesson for Mary was starting small. She put that advice into action, and her shop grew. Now, it’s not just a shop—it’s a wholesale business selling sugar, beans, wheat, rice, posho, baking flour, kids’ toys, home groceries, and baby clothes.
Mary’s hard work pays off, allowing her to pay for all her kids’ education. Her eldest has graduated from university, the second is in university, the third and fourth are in senior three and four, and the youngest is in primary seven.
“My life changed; my kids used to be kicked out of school because we couldn’t pay fees. But now, they’re all in school,” Mary happily shared.
Financially, Mary’s business makes a profit of $52.84 a month. She’s part of two savings groups, saving money throughout the year. But it’s not all smooth sailing—sometimes, business slows down. Most of Mary’s income goes to school fees and feeding her family.
Mary is grateful for the Street Business School Training program and the SBS coaches who instilled courage in them. “The Street Business School coaches believed in me and gave me the motivation I needed,” said Mary.
Mary advises other women not to lose hope because great things lie ahead. “Women should stop relying on men alone because they too can be providers. If I can do it, they too can do it,” Mary advised.
Looking ahead, Mary dreams of making her shop even bigger and stocking more items. Her story is a reminder that with courage and determination, anyone can turn their life around.
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