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"I don't keep quiet anymore”, Restoring hope through Psychosocial support

In Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, forty-year-old Silivia manages a household of eleven people on her own. Beyond her four biological children, she provides a home for six nieces and nephews she took in after separating from their parents. For years, keeping this massive family afloat meant balancing a precarious mix of resilience and basic survival. But a recent shift in how aid is distributed changed everything. Following a re-evaluation of household vulnerabilities, Silivia’s family was categorized as self-sufficient enough and cut off from general food and cash assistance.

Her life realities on the ground, however, did not match the assessment. Left without any support from her absent husband, Silivia suddenly found herself entirely responsible for the mounting school fees, dwindling food reserves, and the rising costs of daily necessities. The sheer weight of trying to feed and clothe ten children on her own began to take a heavy physical and emotional toll on her. She found herself retreating inward, unable to see a way out of the compounding financial pressures. “I used to cry and isolate myself. I was always moody and sad. I felt like I had failed my children and family,” Silivia recalls.

The turning point came quietly through a local aid worker operating in Zone 3 of the settlement. During routine community outreach, Silivia learned about a local psychosocial support group organized for women facing similar hardships.

“At first, I was hesitant to join, but after attending the group formation and introductory sessions, I decided I wouldn’t miss any sessions. The group provides a safe space where I meet other women who share similar struggles. Together, we learn practical skills to cope with stress and solve everyday problems", she says.

Even though she has only completed two sessions of the structured group psychosocial support sessions, the shift in Silivia's daily life is tangible. “I am happier now. I am learning that it’s okay to talk about my problems and to ask for help. The sessions have taught me how to recognize signs of stress in myself and others,” she explains. The pressure hasn't vanished, but she is making calmer, more deliberate decisions for her household rather than reacting out of panic.

More importantly, the experience has shifted how she interacts with her community. The woman who once isolated herself in despair now actively looks for other mothers showing signs of severe distress. She refuses to stay quiet when she spots a neighbour struggling.

I don’t keep quiet anymore. When I see another mother struggling, I tell her, ‘Come, let’s talk. You are not alone,

Silivia

While her journey to fully stabilizing her large family remains an ongoing struggle, she no longer carries the burden in silence. Instead, she is actively using her experience to become a source of encouragement for other women in her community.