At Invisible Children, we believe in the equal and inherent value of all human life. This makes campaigns such as “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” particularly important.
“16 Days” is a global campaign running from November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day.
Invisible Children remains fiercely committed to stopping injustice everywhere, which makes the rights of vulnerable groups, such as women, a priority in our daily program activities. As a result of this campaign, we couldn’t help but think about the role our programs in Uganda are playing, and will continue to play, in empowering and protecting women.
For example, at Saint Mary’s College Lacor, the Schools for Schools program supported the construction of a security fence around the schools’ perimeter as well as a new girls’ dormitory. Both projects are necessary for ensuring the safety of the girls on campus.
Sam Nyeko, a teacher at SML, explained that the security fence was an important measure in keeping “unwanted suitors” from the community off of the campus. The dormitory is also an important step in encouraging girls to attend the school all together. That way girls do not have to travel far distances each day from their homes to school. They have more resources to support them while on campus and are encouraged to stay committed to their studies with fewer distractions.
The S4S program has supported the construction of a number of girls’ dormitories and latrines as well as projects, such as classrooms and libraries, that support girls along with the entire school population. Additionally, the Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP) has plans to implement a number of girl-centered mentorship sessions in the upcoming year as part of our commitment to Uganda’s next generation of leaders.
Our partner schools are not the only programs that consider women’s empowerment in their daily operations.
All of the ladies at Mend were directly affected by the LRA conflict, either by forced abduction or displacement to Internally Displaced Persons camps. During the conflict, many women were raped and forced to become “wives” of LRA fighters. While the anguish of the past can be hard to move beyond, the support that Mend provides is having a significant impact on empowering the women, improving their livelihoods and enhancing their confidence in the process.
“In addition to earning income as seamstresses, women engaged with the Mend program receive training and education in professional and personal skills, including how to maintain healthy relationships with themselves and others,” Annah Mason, Mend’s Social Enterprise Manager. “This empowers the ladies as leaders in their communities and increases their likelihood of speaking against gender-based violence or leaving an unsafe partnership.”
These women are living examples that overcoming adversity is in fact possible and that prioritizing women’s rights in essential for strong communities.
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