Support 225 adolescent mothers to thrive in Uganda

I have just returned from Uganda where I was privileged to attend our second annual conference in Kasese near the DRC, congo border. It was really good to hear some really great feedback from our stakeholders, local leaders and health workers but what really touched my heart was the being able to meet and personally thank several of the young women who are helping us in schools as Act4Africa peer educators. Brenda, Edith and Sharon are in the photograph below and you can hear Sharon describe what she is doing in the attached vidoe link. Sharon was born HIV positive and is a shining example of the benefits that education can make. She is ambitious and woud like to become a nurse eventually if she can complete all her schooling. Act4Africa has already committed to help her on that journey but it would be so good to be able to help more Sharons like this.

Thank you so much for your support.

Links:

• interview with Sharon

Act4Africa measures the impact of everything we do in the field and we thought you would like to see how with your support we are making a measurable difference to the lives of disadvantaged young women in Uganda. This year over a period of just 6 months our field team in Kasese have achieved the following results:

Outcome: Gender Equality – Boys and Girls, Men and women, practice and promote gender equality and sexual rights.

 Indicator: 1.0   Percentage increase of women and girls who hold a leadership position in any community group

10-14 years Pre-Training 45%;  Post-Training 71%

 The results show an increase of 26% for the youth. It would seem that increased confidence resulting from the training is reflected in the youth.

 Trainee “In schools, the problem of gender inequality in this institution is the issue of misinformation which puts males at the head of teaching sciences and females teaching simple subjects like English. We realised that this misinformation has no source other than the inferiority complex of women qualifying in simple subjects compared to men.”

 Indicator: 2.0  Percentage increase in women and girls who freely express confidence to refuse sexual advances

10-14 years Pre-Training 69%; Post-Training 78%

15-54 years Pre-Training 70%; Post-Training 94%-

A 24% increase was achieved for the older age group and a 9% increase for the younger group.

 Training Workshop Feedback; "Gender means working together as men and women in harmony”               

 Indicator: 3.0    Percentage increase of boys and men who show increased respect for girls and women's sexual rights

 Pre-Training 62.5%; Post-Training 78%

 A 12% increase was achieved. 

 Indicator: 4.0      Percentage increase of women and girls showing ability to negotiate safe sex

 Pre-Training 67.5%; Post-Training 85.5%

An 18% increase was achieved.

 Key Informant Interview “I had my first boyfriend in 2010 and we always met without a condom, but after the Act4Africa training, I was able to tell my boyfriend openly that i will no longer continue with the relationship”

Results provided by Act4Africa Team Leaders, Kasese, Uganda based on structured questionnaires and interviews with key informants.