Lydia and Ikoba: Inspiring Change as a Team
Lydia, a poultry farmer focused on raising her chickens and providing for her family, didn’t necessarily set out to change her community - but sometimes, life has a way of leading you toward something bigger than you ever imagined. For Lydia, that moment came when she became a Farmer Support Agent (FSA). Suddenly, her chickens weren’t the only things relying on her for support anymore; she was helping people across her community take control of their farms, finances, and futures.
As an FSA, Lydia's days filled up quickly with training sessions for farmer groups in her region. She taught them how to manage group dynamics, handle money wisely, and run small businesses. And she didn’t stop there. She encouraged them to open accounts with Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited (OBUL) and walked alongside them as they applied for financing. Slowly but surely, the community started to change. People’s farms grew, their communities strengthened, and they saw opportunities they hadn’t thought possible before.
Lydia was the perfect person to be a Farmer Support Agent. The groups trusted her because she cared. She brought warmth and knowledge to every meeting, making complicated ideas simple and building friendships that went beyond the training sessions - and her efforts started to ripple outward.
Ikoba (far right) with Cabrin, a Project Officer, and group leaders at a VSLA stakeholder engagement and feedback meeting.
The savings group members began keeping better records, starting side businesses, and embracing tools like the DreamSave app to track their progress. It was as if Lydia had lit a small candle, and now everyone in the community could see their path forward.
But then, life threw Lydia a curveball: she got pregnant. As her pregnancy progressed, travel to the groups, long sessions in the heat, endless problem-solving - it all became a lot. A job that requires significant sacrifice and time to serve your community can be tiring on a regular day, but on a day in your third trimester of pregnancy, it becomes impossible.
This is when Lydia’s husband, Ikoba, stepped in.
Ikoba wasn’t just supportive; he believed in her work. As a head teacher and poultry farmer himself, he knew how much effort it took to build something meaningful. He was also personally part of a savings group, so he’d seen the difference a good FSA could make. When Lydia explained everything about her role - the responsibilities and the way it strengthened their family finances - he didn’t hesitate. He saw the potential and stepped in to help.
When Lydia’s third trimester coincided with a school holiday, Ikoba volunteered to attend an FSA training in Lydia’s place, and he was eager to learn everything his wife had been teaching for months. He asked questions, took notes, and threw himself into the process with the same enthusiasm Lydia had. By the end, he wasn’t just a stand-in; he was fully committed to supporting their community together.
With Ikoba stepping up, Lydia’s groups didn’t miss a beat. Members continued to thrive, improving their record-keeping and starting businesses that went beyond farming. The DreamSave app made tracking savings and loan repayments easier, and training on conflict resolution brought the VSLAs closer together. People started seeing not just Lydia, but the whole family, as an example of what could happen when you work as a team.
In many cases, husbands can feel uneasy when their wives step into leadership roles, especially ones that require travel, but Ikoba saw Lydia’s work for what it was: a chance to build something lasting for their family and their neighbors. Together, they became role models, proving that when families support each other, they can create change far greater than anything they could do alone.
Now, Lydia and Ikoba are raising their happy and healthy twin daughters while continuing to serve their community. They’ve shown that when families come together with purpose, they can spark lasting change. Their story is a reminder that transformation isn’t just about resources - it’s about heart, perseverance, and the courage to step forward together.
Ikoba meeting with a VSLA group.