Oketch Veronica has not had an easy time in her 49 years, but that has not prevented her from helping others. She has five children and also supports seven orphans, all of whom live with her.

In 1994, Veronica was living in Kitgum in northern Uganda with her husband when the rebels broke into her house. They shot her husband, who ultimately survived, but lives in the village and is lame. They also killed many family members, but Veronica was saved by missionary workers who put her in a box-like container and secreted her to safety on a transport vehicle.

"I was so much happy and excited when I heard I will have a house in the village," Veronica says. "I will like things to change for me."

Veronica has been living in the Acholi Quarter, where she has had a very neat mud house with new velveteen furniture purchased with her bead money as a Christmas present to herself. She has never felt secure in the slum in Kampala, and is looking forward to more security in the village. Her new house will have two bedrooms and a store (a storage space), plus a sitting room.