It’s early morning in Busaabala, a lively suburb of Kampala, Uganda. The sound of footsteps fills the streets as women make their way to the Busaabala Nursing Home, ready for another day of life-changing work. Some travel by taxi, others on foot, their chatter and laughter lighting up the morning. By 8 a.m., the team is seated, ready to begin assembling Clean Birth Kits that will help mothers in remote regions have safer deliveries.
For Sharon, Rosette, and Christu, this isn’t just a job—it’s a purpose. These women, part of an in-country kit production program led by Uganda Australia Christian Outreach (UACO) and supported by the Birthing Kit Foundation Australia (BKFA), are creating more than just Clean Birth Kits. They’re building brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
This program, funded by The Charitable Foundation, began in 2022 with a clear goal: to extend the impact of funds by employing local women and sourcing supplies locally whenever possible. It’s the first BKFA initiative to establish in-country kit production, and its success has already inspired plans to replicate it in other locations.
Inside the assembly room, the women work with focus and precision, and a healthy dose of conversation. By mid-morning, their hands have expertly packed hundreds of kits, each one containing essential items to help prevent infections during childbirth: a plastic sheet, soap, gloves, umbilical cord ties, and a scalpel blade. Much like Assembly Days in Australia, the group share stories as they work, covering their own birth experiences and the women who will eventually use their kits.
During a recent video chat with BKFA Programs Coordinator Mercy Oloo and Engagement and Marketing Coordinator Kate Dyer, Sharon, Rosette, and Christu spoke candidly about their experiences. With translation help from Jackie, a project leader, they described their pride in the work they do and the profound impact it has on their lives.
Reinvesting her salary, Sharon started a shop selling girl’s shoes. “[This job] helped me for my children. I can take them to school.”
For Rosette, the income from assembling kits has fueled her entrepreneurial spirit. “I used the money to start poultry farming,” she explained. “I began with 10 chickens, and now I have 50.” Christu, too, has turned her earnings into a thriving grocery business, selling fresh produce like tomatoes, green peppers, and onions.
UACO’s in-country production team at work
Rosette’s chickens
Christu’s grocery store
What makes this work especially meaningful is that these women are not just packers—they are mothers who intimately understand the importance of the kits they create. Rosette knows firsthand. When she was pregnant with her first child, she packed Clean Birth Kits while awaiting her delivery. Later, during her own childbirth at a local clinic, the midwife and her assistants used one of the kits she had assembled.
As the women talked, they expressed a hope for the kits to evolve. Their suggestions include cotton wool and a soft towel for the baby.
To date, this small but mighty team has produced over 50,000 kits. Their work is not only saving lives but also fostering a sense of community and empowerment. The success of the Uganda program underscores the potential of local, community-driven initiatives. By creating jobs, fostering independence, and addressing urgent healthcare needs, this collaboration between BKFA and UACO is a powerful example of how compassion and opportunity can transform lives. For these women, the work is more than just a paycheck—it’s a way to give back, to uplift, and to create hope for the future.