Educate and Empower Girls and Women of Acholi

Secondary Education Support for Vulnerable Girls (Funded by Global Giving)
www.riverfund.org

Report compiled by Aloyo Innocent Jessie, Project Leader: River Fund HIV/AIDs Family Support Women Association, Kitgum.

Background.
The River Fund HIV/AIDs Family Support Association is a Community Based Organization (CBO) founded in 2007 by committed and motivated women to contribute towards improving the quality of life of persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, through educating and empowering the women and girls on HIV/AIDs Long Term Survival Skills and sponsorship and mentorship of girls in schools, economic empowerment and livelihood food security enhancement for a sustainable development for self-reliance through seeds provision, training in kitchen gardening and support to malnourished children through provision of trainings in provision of nutritious meals, and provision of basic items like soap, sugar, cooking oil, salt.
The organisation envisions a just and caring society where people yearn to help one another and realize that every human being is connected to one another for a change in the world with values such as: Sharing, Love, Non-Discrimination, Humility, Peace, Non Violence, Justice, Inclusiveness, Service, Dedication, Honesty, Transparency, and Compassion.

Activities carried out this quarter.
1. Meeting with parents of supported students
2. Mentorship of the students by mentors and the project leader
3. Provision of sanitary towels to the beneficiaries.

Achievements.
• Of the 21 students being supported, 11 are now sitting for Uganda certificate of education (UCE).

• 21 girls supported in Career guidance by the academic masters in which subjects they must concentrate on to achieve their desired careers.

• 21 girls supported with Sanitary towels; 3 packets each for term III.

• Conducted a meeting with parents of the beneficiaries. The meeting streamlined on what the sponsorship covers and what parents of the students should do in-order to enable the girls concentrate on their education.

Challenges.
• Transport to and from the project sites is yet another of the challenges being faced. River Fund does not have a reliable means of transport and hence relies majorly on hiring motorcycles to facilitate field activities.
• Overwhelming demand since there are many girls with similar vulnerabilities that need support.
• Lack of support from some parents who have decided to sit back and not support their daughters with the believe that the River Fund should provide everything required for their daughters’ education since the Association is now supporting their school fees. This made some of the girls to from time to time despite their fees having been paid to return home for things like soap, books and other grabs.

Lessons learnt.
• Close involvement of the teachers is key in project success as they help in the beneficiaries’ career guidance and mentoring.
• Closely involve and work with the parents and or guardians of the girls.
• Close monitoring and follow up at school by project leader is key in fostering mentorship of the girls

Conclusion.
Term III begun well with all the supported students returning to school within the first week of new school term. The project leader made monitoring and mentorship meetings with the students and mentors in their respective school.
We are so thankful to global Giving and the River Fund for this support. We could not have done this without all of your help!