By Yvonne Ayesigye | International Women’s Day 2026
At Belle Primary School in Palorinya Refugee Settlement, a group of 25 refugee women are proving that even the smallest opportunity can grow into something powerful.
The journey began with two basins of groundnut seeds provided by a Windle International Uganda agronomist. Determined to make the most of it, the women pooled their resources and rented two acres of land. Together they planted, weeded, and cared for the crop throughout the season.
Their hard work paid off. By harvest time, the two basins of seeds had produced ten bags of groundnuts.
For the women and their families, the harvest meant more nutritious meals and additional income from selling part of the produce. But the group chose to do something even more remarkable.
They donated four bags of their harvest to Belle Primary School.
The groundnuts were processed into paste and added to the learners’ daily fortified porridge, enriching the meal with much-needed protein. The result has been noticeable: children are eating better, staying energized through lessons, and showing improved concentration in class.
This International Women’s Day, under the theme “Give to Gain,” the women of Belle Primary remind us that community change often begins with simple acts of initiative and generosity.
With just a small start — and a shared commitment to support one another — these women turned a harvest into nourishment for an entire school community.
Their story is a powerful example of how when women give, communities gain.