By Joy Njenga | Development and Partnership Coordinator Intern
This past week Shanti Uganda Society hosted its annual Teen Girl’s Workshop. With 40 girls in attendance from surrounding villages, it was surely an eventful week. The workshop began with lessons about good nutrition, then moved to talk about the different stages of puberty and what to expect. The week also included an opportunity for the girls to make reusable pads and bake cakes. As the workshop came to a close a question and answer period, hosted by a midwife, provided an opportunity for the girls, the Shanti staff, and the interns to reflect on the happenings of the week. Many of the questions asked and comments made, pointed out how important it is for the Teen Girl’s Workshops to take place. For many of the girls, it was the first time that they were being talked to about the topics discussed and articulated that they would like to have more information provided to them.
The importance of the Workshops is also seen when looking at the UNICEF 2015 Annual Report on Uganda. According to the Report, adolescent girls (15 – 19 years) are amongst one of the most vulnerable groups in Uganda. Approximately 1 in 4 teenage girls are pregnant or already have a child. Through one-on-one interviews with the teenage participants, it became evident that the aforementioned numbers are due in part to the lack of an open environment to discuss issues regarding health and sexual wellbeing – in both the school system and local communities. The Shanti Uganda Society continues to support the girls and families of the surrounding communities as the local perceptions on health and sexual education change. The Teen Girl’s Workshops aim to encourage this change by providing a safe and informative space for these young girls to continue the discussions.
Alongside high teenage pregnancy rates, 58% of Uganda’s adolescent girls have been either physically or sexually abused. Shanti Uganda works to combat and lower these numbers by devoting a section of the workshop to discussing what healthy relationships entail. Amongst other things, the girls are taught how not to succumb to peer-pressure regarding entering sexual relationships, how to protect themselves when they are ready to have sexual encounters and what the steps to take if they ever do experience undesired sexual interactions.
By providing the participants of the Teen Girl’s Workshop with theabove discussed information, we hope to empower the girls to make their own informed choices regarding their body and health. The workshops also work to equip the girls with tools needed to protect themselves against some of the challenges they face in adolescence.
With the help of your donations, Shanti Uganda would like to increase the frequency and size of the workshops to reach more girls within the surrounding communities. Your simple contribution of $25 covers the cost for one girl to attend the next Teen Girl’s Workshop. We thank you for your continued support!
Sources:
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