Bisangwa strives to uplift youths

Gone are the days when a graduate would walk into a job immediately after school. In Uganda today, many degree holders are flooding the streets of Kampala.

According to the National Planning Authority (NPA) statistics released in 2017, 700,000 people join the job market every year. However, only 90,000 of these get something to do.

Besides, many educated and qualified Ugandans find it hard to fit into the highly competitive jobs available, due to lack of professional etiquette.

Besides professionalism, family, faith, and social behaviour are other elements of life that are accorded less time. 

Therefore, Beatilda Bisangwa has become a social change in hundreds of people's lives, mostly youths and couples through dialogues that are held in her home in Kampala. She has been doing this since 2015.

Bisangwa 58, says many people get lost in the world because of what happens around them, adding that her talks are open to all people from different disciplines of life.

Each meeting is unique because of the different people that attend them including business magnates, spiritual leaders, counsellors, among others, who are invited to inspire and talk to the youth.

"Because I had seen this happening to many people, I chose to give an opportunity to people (youths) around my area of residence by opening my gates twice a month," she says with enthusiasm.

Bisangwa explains that the idea started with a house fellowship where she would give a chance to members of her house to share their life experiences.

"Through this, I discovered even the people I lived within my house had almost similar challenges as the people in the community," she recalls.

She first invited members of her church twice a month to discuss their life experiences and later find solutions through counselling, at no cost.

 

"Some of the people that congregate come from within Kampala and others from outside Kampala, so meeting twice a week was convenient," she explains.

According to Bisangwa, the meetings are held in form of discussions on social and economic spheres of life.

"Some of the people I meet are business-oriented, while others have relationship issues that need to be addressed," Bisangwa says.

Why business talks

Bisangwa further explains that while many people can invest in a business, many lack business knowledge to effectively run their enterprises.

"They need training in business management," she notes. "Through interaction, I discovered most of the youth I meet are potential investors, but they lack business and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge for success."

Bisangwa adds that the reason why many entrepreneurs fail is that many do not take the time to carefully study every aspect of a business before they commit to it.

Career guidance

"Other people I talk to are youth who are unhappy at their workplaces because of either their colleagues or their supervisors," Bisangwa notes. But through sharing experiences, many have learned to respond professionally to their work challenges so they are not taken advantage of.

Besides this, many youths have lost their jobs because many could not effectively meet the demands of their professions.

 "After school, graduates tend to be unprepared for job opportunities, therefore, during our meet-ups we discuss how best to prepare and pass job interviews," she says.

Because we understand how competitive the job market is, we also help the groups on how they could out-compete colleagues in a competitive work sphere.

Bisangwa testifies that the majority have given her reports of success during job interviews.

Building Relationships

Bisangwa further explains that many people find it hard to make friends and keep them like our parents used to.

"In life, social capital is paramount, however, few people have given it a thought until they need help. But for many reasons, such friends become hard to trace even after a short time," she explains. "So I also teach them to value friends because they are a source of capital in life," she says.

Restoring Relationships

During the meetings, issues on relationships also come up and Bisangwa says those issues are not handled well, they can result in domestic violence or family breakup.

 

"Today women are single because many organisations have concentrated on empowering women for less empowered men," she says explaining that such men are always not valued by highly empowered wives whom they cannot control.

Secondly, today people meet on social media while others find themselves in dancing halls, and the next thing they are living together without seeking guidance from an older, more experienced person.

Addressing such a problem, Bisangwa says she engages the couples on such issues before it gets out of hand and many have reconciled.

"But we have girls who have met their soul mates during the dialogue sessions, and the majority have committed to remaining pure until they are married, something that gives me joy," Bisangwa explains.

 "Inviting guests has added so much value to our discussions because the experts come from different schools of thought which gives the youth the advantage of learning from their mistakes to become better persons," she says.

"To have a spiritually-guided marriage, I always encourage the youth and married couples to base their relationships on Christ no matter how educated they are,"Bisangwa says, adding that she always reminds couples about Ephesians 5:22 (Women, submit to your men, as to the Lord). 

Financial skills

"The groups I meet also need financial literacy skills. Some of them get overexcited after when they get jobs after university, but sadly, only a few think of saving at that point," she says.

Bisangwa advises that such earnings could be invested in things that would be of value in the future. 

"In the past five years, the business knowledge has helped members learn how they can invest wisely even with the little they earn," she explains.

Marriage talks

On various occasions, successfully married couples have been invited to prepare men and women for marriage.

"This has helped many couples that have gone through my hands not to blunder in their marriages. Marriage talks have helped couples and those aspiring to marry to understand that marriage is the responsibility of both people.

"For example, in villages, women would play both roles of a man and a woman while their husbands are busy taking alcohol in trading centers. To make matters worse, during harvest times men always want to take the lion's share which is unfair."

Bisangwa says she loves the fact the testimonies of men confess to how peaceful their homes have become since they joined her meetings.

She further testifies that formerly ‘wild' husbands today long to be part of her monthly social meetings.

"I may not be a preacher of the gospel but I understand this is the purpose as to why God created me to see that families live in harmony," she says with joy.

The Bible study

"All things in heaven and on earth rotate around the Bible, therefore before we do anything during the meetings, we have to read a Bible scripture. During the Bible study, we discuss how God is at the centre of everything in life and how scripture can be applied in all situations."

Bisangwa's fact file

Bisangwa is the executive director of the Organisation of African first ladies against HIV/AIDS Uganda chapter. (OAFLA).

She is also an advocate for women's rights and a promoter of gender justice.

In 1995 Bisangwa trained in Beijing china on women empowerment.

In early 2000, the stories she read in the media triggered her into fighting against injustices against women.

Born to Bayingana Ruhango and Adhera Ruhango both from Rwanda.

She sat her PLE at Rwera primary school Ruhama district before joining immaculate heart secondary school, Rukungiri, for secondary.

In 1987 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from Makerere University.

What others say Beatilda Bisangwa

Birungi Rebecca (member)

I've learned a lot from Bisangwa (mum) because she has done a lot in my life. When I was getting to senior three, my family had financial constraints and she stepped in for me to where I am today.

I was not very friendly before, however, I have learned to interact with people. Today I am brave and social and this further helped me make new friends.

Dorah Mpairwe

Bisangwa is my role model in marriage. When people approach her with issues in marriage, her advice is always based on the wisdom of the Bible. I look up to her and how I wish I had more opportunities to interact with her.

Martha Julian

The dialogue made me a better person since I was surrounded by a good crop of people. Four years ago, I came when I was very shy, I couldn't speak, I would look down on myself a lot, but now, because of the confidence I have, I have been able to address a lot of issues because of the various leadership sessions we have had. It made me realize the leader that I am that I had never recognized in myself.  

Docus Mwebaza

I've been molded spiritually and holistically. It has been a spiritual journey of learning and unlearning because of the elders we were blessed with. Most of them are influential people in the country who have blessed so many lives. I've learned a lot about finances, family, and different spheres of influence today. I've found good friends in dialogue, and I've found a mother in aunt Beat.