History
Since violence erupted in Uganda in 1986, pushing citizens to leave their homes as clashes spread across the country millions of people, fleeing the violence pushed to the center of Uganda as a result. Since the war thousands of people were displaced inside Uganda and other neighboring countries. Uganda is the most popular destination for the refugees, since the crisis began. Many of the
refugees are traumatized, tired and sick. The most affected are women and children
With the situation in The republic of Congo not improving it is predicted that the stream of refugees will not stop, and Uganda is a country itself trying to stabilise now that the dust of civil war has settled. HIV/AIDS that started in early 1980s is taking a lot of lives, this has left many orphans, wars have also contributed to this. Poverty has also been identified as the main cause of abandoned and neglected children . A study around Mityana districts of Uganda revealed that poverty due to unemployment has given room to terrible vices like drug trafficking, robbery and prostitution among women. It is therefore incumbent upon us to change the lives of people through local programs designed to educate and improve peoples lives and job prospects and employability. Who we are and what we do:
Rural Women Initiative (RWI) is a charitable non-profit organization for young women and mothers aged 12-35 years in rural communities. Rural Women Initiative was established in February 14th 2013 by 4 young mothers with support of Kikandwa Environmental Association. We now directly take care of 9 children at KEA Green Hill Education Center Kikandwa, and are conducting health and education programs at the school for empowering and improvement of children. Vulnerable people take care of are those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS, orphans, widows, youth, disabled and the elderly. In exchange for food and skills. Attaining sustainable skills through development accessing basic needs, RWI also aims at preventing child abuse and violence, the spread of HIV/AIDS and empowering of community as indicated in RWI objectives. This enables individuals and communities to provide support towards childrens shelter, education, medication, clothing, food as well as other activities that include farming, poultry, diary, fruit tree project and a workshop. It is upon this background that directors at RWI through our programs deemed it necessary to come up with a project directed toward ending Violence against Girls and Mothers in order to help in the development and transformation of society through female empowerment. After a survey showing that more than 40% of mothers in Kikandwa community are below 23 years and each year the same cases are reported in rural communities of Uganda where girls continue to give birth at a very young age. And that 2/3 of the youth girls in the rural communities are illiterate and are too vulnerable to own assets, actively participate in development, decision making, and suffer from economic inequalities due to violence. More than 40% of mothers in Kikandwa community are below 23 years and each year the same cases are reported in rural communities of Uganda where girls continue to give birth at a very young age.. RWI works by advocating and campaigning for gender equality through socio-economic, psychological empowerment and education of mothers in order to improve their livelihoods in order to escape poverty and the vulnerability that it creates within the community. In 2014 RWI made a survey to collect data on traditional birth attendants, violence against girls in schools and girls rights to education; to find out how these issues impact the girls and the broader community. Another survey into health centers to get statics of health unit attendance, HIV/AIDs tests, and those who receive antenatal/postnatal care and other diseases. We have discovered that service delivery was still inadequate and needed a lot of intervention to reverse the situation. We share knowledge on Reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, positive and negative behaviors, counseling, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted disease with women groups, CBO and NGOs such as Kikandwa Environmental Association
The district located in central Uganda with its major town known as Mityana town- 74km from Kampala along Kampala-Mubende road. The district is divided into 2 counties (Mityana and Busujju) and a total of 8 sub-counties. RWI has its own mission, Vision and objectives with a five year strategic work plan and constitution. Our mission is to advocate for gender equality appreciating rural womens signifigance in their community by empowering them economically through education and health iniciatives. Women can be the most important catalysts for change in their children’s lives. By empowering women—through education, skills training, improved healthcare, or providing skills and resources to set up a small business—we can improve children’s health, education and future opportunities as well as impact the welbeing of the entire community both economically and physically. Our Objectives
The overall need of the community is to empower girls, and through them the wider community by ensuring women and children to enjoy their right to an education and participation in a violence-free environment using shared overall strategic approaches towards the achievement of some common objectives
To increase understand of the legal and policy framework that specifically addresses violence against women and girls in schools in Kikandwa .Sub county in Mityana District. To reduce Violence against girls by family members, teachers and peers in the district. To increase girls’ enrolment and keep the girls in school to satisfactory levels. To form girl clubs to demonstrate confidence challenging the culture of violence in and around schools, report incidents and create peer support networks. Eradicating poverty in homesteads as women are recognised to be strong pillars in development and improving communities. Empowering the girls through provision of quality and practical education. Imparting practical skills to enable women compete favorably in the job market. Empower single and young mothers to be self-reliant. To serve as an alternative educational opportunity. Accommodate girls who drop out of school due to poverty. To serve as an extension program to formal education. To serve as a gateway to skill improvement. Promoting the notion of self-reliance. To serve as a research center to continue to understand and serve the needs of the community. Strengthening womens capacity in leadership, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. Improve our capacity to achieve and deliver our targeted objectives. To be a leading driver and advocate in the struggle for equality through advocacy, training and capacity building in Uganda. RWI works in rural communities that are affected by socio-economic constraints which forces parents to send female children into early marriage. We build and strengthen their capacity and capabilities to address
Antenatal and postnatal access
HIV/AIDs
Food security and on farm conservation technologies,
Girl child education,
Entrepreneurship skills in order to empower and rebuild their economic skills i improving their lives commercially and domestically. Rural women initiative aims to address the start of family between 12-30 years through, economic development, education and gender equality programs. In order to improve maternal health, general health, reduce HIV/Aids and other diseases. Due to the high fertility rate in adolescence many of these women can never work their way out of poverty and so are destined to a life of vulnerability without agency to improve their and their childrens lives. It has become clear that unless capacities are strengthened and streamlined into development, many will remain vulnerable to catastrophes of the environment, health, poverty and violence. Rural Women Initiative proposes to fight violence against girls in schools and homes in Mityana district which a key factor is preventing girls from attending school and completing their education according to the survey made. Through education and empowerment programs. In order that we may continue to provide expand our programs and reach the most vulnerable people. we rely on the donations of you the public for the which the entire community is very grateful.
