I thought I would start the blog with some information about the primary organization I will be working with. I hope to make additional connections while I am there but Resilient Womens Organization is who I will be with on a daily basis.
More than 34% of girls are married before their 18th birthday every year in Uganda, 1 in 10 are married before turning 15 years old. There are warning signs that the rate of child marriage in the county is rising due to school closures, food insecurity, and economic uncertainty triggered by
The founders of Resilient Womens Organization (Hope and Clare) grew up around poverty in the early 1990s when HIV/AIDS and children dropping out of school was the norm. Priority in receiving an education was given to boys over girls. They witnessed all their female peers dropping out of school as early as 10 years old and having babies after their first period. Poverty is a big driver of domestic violence and sexual violence since it limits girls and women from having equal access to resources and services, especially employment, education, and sexual and reproductive health rights.
RWO works to socially and economically empower adolescent girls and young women. Their mission is to end child marriage, reduce teen pregnancies, and eradicate gender based violence.
* The ignorance about SRHR amongst is a key factor in the increasing rates of violence against women and girls, teen pregnancies and child marriage.
* To maintain ones sexual and reproductive health, people need access to accurate information and safe, effective, affordable and acceptable contraception methods.Skill and Vocational Training
* Because of poverty and patriarchic beliefs, parents and society dont believe in investing in girls education and livelihoods.
* The Skills and Vocational training is to socially and economically empower adolescent girls and young women giving them the power to seek employment.
* These skills are the key factor to avoid girls ending up as victims of child marriage and teen pregnancy.Back to School Programs
often cant afford to pay the school fees. Other families dont believe in educating a girl. * A girl who dropped out of school will eventually end up a victim of child marrriage or teen pregnancy because she has to find a way to survive. * With the help of donors girls are placed back into schoolShelter
1. Homeless child mothers: When parents cant or dont provide basic needs, girls take the desperate decision to run away with a man who offers to help. Unfortunately, these men often impregnate and abandons these girls
2. Rejected by family: Parents often reject their daughters once they learn about their teen pregnancies
4. Girls escaping from child marriage: Families often push young girls to get married because of economic and cultural reasons. Girls will run away from home so they do not have to get married
