Being a woman and serving in security
Uganda
My name is Scovia Anyango and I have been working as a security personal for the last past 5 years, I was compelled to join the security forces because my parents did not have enough money to keep me in school and continue with my education and I also did not want to stay home and do nothing. I could not find employment, I searched for a job for over 3 years. It was challenging.
My friends who already worked with the security organ advised me to join the field. I applied and I was offered the position. The job is very challenging and risky especially if you have to work in the night, where you have to keep awake the whole night. One thing I like about the job is that both women and men have the same opportunities in terms of pay depending on our ranks, deployment, time of work and promotions. It has also enabled me to make some savings and provide for myself and my son with support from my husband.
The challenge is when a woman becomes pregnant, she has to work the same time, same deployment, same shifts and only women who have served for 3 years and above are entitled to maternity leave pay.
With this job I have been able to save money and am planning to go back to school and do a certificate in tailoring and design since it has always been my dream and am also planning to start my own tailoring workshop with my own brand and trade mark. At the beginning I will produce for the local market, then go beyond. With this I also intend to create employment, especially for the fellow girls/women in my community so that they make money, go to school and can get better jobs. This will make their life better. I think with the right support - education, connection, access to information and training - I can make my dream come true.
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Inspiring story that also sheds light on the need for better working conditions for women. You are proof that we can do anything we set our minds to. Wishing you all the best from a fellow aspiring designer!
Wow..this is impressive. Well done and all the best in achieving your goals.
Your experience and your goals are impressive. Like I say, don't dream - put the goals and you'll succeed. But it's felt that you're the one who will be able to achieve what she wants. You're equal to men at your job but your energy and mind is a step forward from many people, because your mind is flexible, you dare to wish more and more.
“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Thank you for sharing your story Scovia. Your experience today is preparing you to excel in your future endeavors. Wish you the very best.
Good luck Scovia. I know it is so challenging to go back to school while working as a security guard. I had a student who worked with one of the security groups in Uganda but the mobility made it hard for him to complete his degree.