By Lutakome Benon (KYC.TV Uganda)
SDI is a movement that spans generations. Mamas who started savings groups decades ago, now organise alongside a new generation of federation members who film, blog and produce podcasts. Kalungi Joweria is one of many young people who have grown up in an SDI federation, where savings, organising and leadership are passed from one generation to the next.
Kalungi grew up in the informal settlement of Bukoto 1, Nakawa Division, Kampala. While still at school, she started a small cosmetics business, which she has continued to run alongside her other commitments.
“From the very beginning, confidence became my anchor,” she says.
Her confidence stood out and community leaders took notice. One leader from the Uganda SDI Federation encouraged her to join her first youth savings group, the Bukoto 1 Youth Saving Group in Bukoto 1 Parish, Nakawa Division.
The KYC.TV lens
Kalungi began building connections with local leaders and joining campaigns to upgrade informal settlements. As she became more involved in the SDI network, new opportunities followed. One of these was Know Your City.TV (KYC.TV).
ACTogether Uganda invited young people interested in media production, including filmmaking, to apply for a training programme. The opportunity reached Kalungi through her group’s chairperson.
In 2015, Kalungi, together with Mawejje Allan, Nsimo Joan and Muwanguzi Solomon, was selected to attend training in South Africa, led by James Tayler, SDI’s Youth and Media Manager at the SDI Secretariat. Together, they formed what became the KYC.TV Team Uganda.
Since then, Kalungi has used storytelling, videography and photography to document the work of the Federation. Guided by the KYC.TV slogan, “make media to make change”, she has trained savings groups across the Federation in documentation and storytelling, while taking on an active leadership role within KYC.TV.
The KYC.TV Team Uganda continues to nurture new storytellers. Today, its members are expanding into blogging and podcasting, creating new ways for the knowledge, experiences and organising of Federation members to reach audiences around the world.
To follow more of SDI Uganda’s work, find them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
