Juliet – From School Dropout To Thriving Baker
By Martha Namugga | 19 February 2026
Juliet’s journey began in a place of despair. After dropping out of Senior Four due to lack of school fees, she found herself isolated at home with no friends, no networks, and no purpose. The young woman who once dreamed of education now felt like a complete failure, mentally tortured by having to depend on her family for everything.
“I felt like my life was just nothing, ” she recalls, “and that I couldn’t achieve anything.” The burden of dependence weighed heavily on her. She would wait anxiously for her mother to return from work just to get basic necessities, and the fear of people trying to exploit her when she asked for help became a daily reality. In her own words, she felt like a “loser” who couldn’t do anything worthwhile.
Everything changed when Juliet joined the SEED project in early 2025. The comprehensive training program introduced her to baking, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and bookkeeping. But more than technical skills, SEED gave her something she had lost belief in herself. “It was transformative,” Juliet explains. “I learned that I can start a business, however small. The training showed me how to keep records and how to bake good snacks. “
The training wasn’t without challenges. Power outages during baking sessions meant using a “mingling stick” to mix by hand, and water shortages tested their resilience. But the difficulties only strengthened Juliet’s determination. She also completed a mentorship course, learning how to guide and support others facing similar struggles.
She saves regularly, planning for the future with a confidence that was unimaginable just months ago. “SEED didn’t just teach me to bake, “ Juliet reflects, “it taught me that I have value and that I can create my own future.” Juliet’s advice to other young women is simple but powerful: “Don’t wait for someone to save you. When opportunities come, grab them with both hands. Whatever skill you learn, no matter how small it seems, can change your entire life.”
Today, Juliet runs “J-C-E Snacks” a growing business that has transformed not just her finances but her entire outlook on life. She now earns and saves money independently, contributing to her household instead of depending on it. Her weekly income has given her economic freedom she never thought possible. The transformation goes beyond money. “I used to feel like a loser,” she says,“but now I feel like a big boss, ambitious, and able to stand on my own.” .Juliet has become a mentor herself, actively guiding other young women in her community who face the challenges she once knew so well. Her participation in the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) has taught her the discipline of saving and the power of collective support.
