Our Story
Spes for Community was founded by Masika Meresi in 2022, years after Masika became a single mother of two boys.
Masika lost her job immediately after becoming a single mother, but she did not give up on her dream of empowering and advocating for women and adolescents through formal education. She believed that despite all the challenges, the solutions to our problems lie within us. She turned to God for strength and guidance.
Having lived in her community for over 30 years, Masika witnessed extreme poverty, gender inequality, unemployment among illiterate women, high rates of school dropouts, and high levels of teenage pregnancy. When her life hit rock bottom, she felt it was time to rewrite the narrative by turning her pain into something positive for her community.
As she reflected on the pain and struggles she was going through, her heart went out to other women facing similar situations. This is what inspired her to begin inviting teenage mothers and single mothers from her community into her home. Five teenage mothers and five single mothers attended the first meeting. Masika shared words of hope and prayed with them. They met once a week, and over time the women began opening up about their challenges, fears, and struggles. A major concern they shared was the need for a source of income so they could provide for their families as mothers and as women.
After losing her job, Masika had started weaving baskets to support her family, a skill she had learned from her mother at an early age. During the weekly prayer meetings, the women admired her handcraft work and asked if she could teach them how to weave. Masika agreed, but she lacked the funds to purchase weaving materials. She reached out to friends, well-wishers, and family members, who collectively raised $280 after a couple of months.
The initial group of ten women grew to fifty, and the numbers have continued to increase. Masika then decided to register the group as a Community-Based Organization (CBO) with the municipal council authorities in Kasese, Uganda – Africa, under the name “SPES FOR COMMUNITY.”
The word SPES means HOPE in Latin. Masika chose this name because she believes that hope is what keeps us moving forward amidst life’s hardships and challenges.
Masika actively visits community schools where she shares the Word of God, sensitizes students about menstrual hygiene, promotes adolescent talents, and provides life lessons on self-esteem. She believes young people must be empowered if the world is to become a better place. She has established health clubs in four schools, with a total of 200 students, aimed at strengthening their faith and nurturing their personal dreams.
