Educate and Empower Girls and Women of Acholi

RIVER FUND HIV/AIDS FAMILY SUPPORT WOMEN ASSOCIATION.KITGUM

Women and Girls

1)     Introduction

River Fund HIV/AIDS Family Support Women’s Association is an organization working to provide psychosocial and other support and care to women and girls and their families infected and affected by HIVAIDS and other needy people.

The association was established in 2007 by a group of thirty women and is registered as a community based organization (CBO) with Kitgum District Local Government.

 2)     Administration

The Association is administered through an Executive Committee composed of nine (9) members assisted by a Program Coordinator who is a volunteer and member of the Association.

The newly elected committee is composed of;

1. Hellen          Chairperson
2. Hida             Vice Chairperson
3. Maliam         Treasurer
4. Grace           Secretary
5. Clara             Assistant Secretary
6. Karmela        Member
7. Florence               “
8. Florence               “
9. Beatrice                “

 Margaret                 Program Coordinator

A general meeting is held quarterly for all members to update them and plan for new activities. Members also act as volunteers in the implementation of activities since the group at the moment does not have capacity to pay full time staff.

3)     Planned activities for 1^st quarter, January to March 2018

• Identification of new beneficiaries
• Payment of school fees
• Provision of scholastic and sanitary materials
• Supply of food and non-food items
• Capacity building training for mentors
• Life skills training for girls

4)     Activities carried out:

Girls Education

School Visits.

No new beneficiaries have been added pending receipt of additional funding. However, members of the Executive Committee visited the following schools hosting girls under sponsorship

• St. Bakhita Secondary School with 5 girls
• Msgr Vignato Secondary School – 4 girls
• Kitgum Comprehensive College -2 girls

The purpose of these visits were to check that the students had reported back, check their performance for the last term and find out any challenges they may be facing.

Payments of schools fees

Fees were paid for 9 girls (5 at St. Bakhita,. 4 Vignato). Fees for the 2 girls at Kitgum Comprehensive College were settled by the parents.

Distribution of sanitary towels:

Sanitary Pads were distributed to all the 9 girls each receiving 4 packets.  This support is to enable girls keep hygiene and reduced on absences from classes.

Emerging issues:

1)     At Vignato Secondary School the girls reported that they were not attending lessons in Biology, Chemistry and Physics due to absence of those teachers (this was 2 weeks after opening of term)

2)     Unclear terms and conditions for the school based mentors.

Future plans and recommendations

• Termly mentoring to the girls by members of the association.
• Drafting a mentoring guidelines to ensure standards
• Review of criteria for selection of girls to be sponsored.
• Enroll more girls once additional funds are received
• Hold a meeting with parents whose children are studying at Msgr Vignato

Lamola HIV/AIDS Group

Needs assessment.

A field visit was made to this group by a member of the executive to meet and discuss with them their plans for the new planting season and types of seeds and quantities they require.

Challenges faced in the implementation of activities.

1. Delay by the bank to change to the new signatories which also hindered speedy implementation of activities 
2. Delayed hand over to new executive which created an information gap

Conclusion and recommendation.

This has been a learning period for the new office bearers. They have also shown zeal and commitment and should be commended for all the efforts put in to implement activities. To further improve on effectiveness and efficiency it may be necessary to organize capacity building training for the executive as well as other members of the association.