Because of VAD, I Can See Light at the End of the Tunnel
At 20 years old, Alex Opio from Aturai village has already lived through hardship. He dropped out of school three years ago after his father’s death, leaving his mother to care for seven children with limited resources. Without direction, Alex joined a group of idle youth and risked falling into alcoholism and trouble with the law.
Everything changed when VAD started a project in his village. Alex joined the Epepeunos Youth Farmers Group and learned the value of saving. With VAD’s support, their group savings scheme received a 2.4 million shillings boost.
Alex’s entrepreneurial journey began with a 100,000 shilling loan to start a chapati kiosk. After repaying that loan, he borrowed 250,000 shillings to grow green grams, making a harvest worth 600,000 shillings despite the drought. From these profits, he bought three goats and started a mobile money business.
Looking ahead, Alex plans to borrow 500,000 shillings to open a small retail shop to provide essential goods for his community. While his dream of becoming a teacher may have changed, his new mission is to educate his future children and help disadvantaged youth stay in school.
Inspired by his success, Alex has mobilized others to form Akulonyo Youth with a Vision, a new savings group now boasting 1.5 million shillings in savings.
“I am grateful to VAD for giving us purpose. They don’t just give a fish—they give a hook,” Alex says with conviction.
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