Girl Up Initiative Uganda

GIRL UP INITIATIVE UGANDA'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A VIBRANT MOVEMENT OF GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP, SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION, AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. THE US ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE UGANDAN ORGANIZATION.

THE ADOLESCENT GIRLS PROGRAM (AGP) EMPOWERS IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENT GIRLS TO BE LEADERS; REACH THEIR FULL EDUCATIONAL POTENTIALS AND MAKE HEALTHY AND INFORMED CHOICES. THE AGP PROVIDES GIRLS WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, TOOLS, MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT TO DEVELOP THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE AND VOICE TO THRIVE AS LEAADERS IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE" YEAR-LONG LIFE SKILLS, LEADERSHIP AND SEXUAL HEALTH TRAININGS; SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS; TEACHERS' TRAININGS' PARENTS' MEETINGS; ADVOCACY EVENTS AND COUNSELING AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT. IN 2021 SCHOOLS RE-OPENED FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT CLOSED AGAIN IN JUNE DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. HOWEVER, DURING THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE PROGRAM WAS ACTIVE IN 19 PARTNER SCHOOLS REACHING 1,230 GIRLS. THE BIG SISTERS NETWORK IS A CONTINUATION OF THE AGP FOR GRADUATING GIRLS. THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT AGP ALUMNI CONTINUE TO STAY INVOLVED AND ENGAGED AS GIRL LEADERS AND MENTORS TO BUILD THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE AND POSITIVELY TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. IT CONSISTS OF ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING, SKILLS BUILDING AND KNOLEDGE ACQUISITION THROUGH ENGAGEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL AS THE ANNUAL RESIDENTIAL BIG SISTER CAMP. THE 2021 BIG SISTER CAMP WAS HELD FROM OCTOBER 18-22 FOR 264 ADOLESCENT GIRLS FROM 14 SCHOOLS IN KAMPALA.

IN RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SUBEQUENT SCHOOL CLOSURES AND NATIONAL LOCKDOWN, IN 2020 GUIU DEVELOPED A COVID-19 RESPONSE PROGRAM TO BEST RESPOND TO THE ISSUES FACED BY OUR TARGET GROUP, PARTICULARLY AS WOMEN AND GIRLS WERE DISPORPORTIONATELY AFFECTED. IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED THIS CRITICAL WORK BY PROVIDING FAMILY RELIEF FOOD AND HYGIEND PACKAGES, PSYCHO-SOCIAL AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, EDUCATION DIALOGUE SESSIONS WITH ADOLESCENTS ON CRITICAL TOPICS THROUGH THE BRING VOICES TOGETHER (BVT) PROJECT, COVID-19 HEALTH AWARENESS VIA COMMUNITY HEALTH DRIVES, RADIO SHOWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS; PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FACE MASKS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SANITATION MATERIALS TO PARTNER SCHOOLS. IN 2021, AS PART OF THE COVID-19 RESPONSE PROGRAM, GUIU LAUNCED THE COMMUNITY CLASSROOMS PROJECT TO DELIVER SCHOOL CURRICULUM TOGETHER WITH HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS AND AGE APPROPRIATE SRHR INFORMATION FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS, FILLING A MAJOR EDUCATIONOAL GAP DURING THE PROLONGED SCHOOL CLOSURES.

THE BOY CHAMPIONS PROJECT (BCP) REACHES IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENT BOYS WITH CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION TO CHALLENGE DEEPLY-HELD GENDER NORMATIVE ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS AND IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AROUND SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED BASED ON EVIDENCE PROVING THAT IN ORDER TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, ADOLESCENT BOYS MUST BE MEANINGFULLY ENGAGED FROM A YOUNG AGE TO UNDERSTAND THE MASCULINITIES AND SUPPORTING THE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN THEIR LIVES. THE PROJECT HELD A TOTAL OF 28 SESSIONS WITH 263 ADOLESCENT BOYS FROM SEVEN SCHOOLS BEFORE SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED AGAIN DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES IN 2021 INCLUDED THE MAZURI DESIGHS HUB WHICH AIMS TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH A VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSE IN FASHION DESIGN AND TAILORING THAT IS COMBINED WITH ENTREPENEURIAL AND PERSONAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL VULNERABLE YOUNG WOMEN AGES 16-35 YEARS. 40 YOUNG WOMEN GRADUATED FROM THE MAZURI DESIGNS HUB IN 20210DURING A FASHION SHOW AND CELEBRATION.