The project will set up a training Center to provide quality and employable skilling in both traditional and non-traditional for child mothers and also identify and support others into formal education. The child mothers hail from 10 sub-counties around the slopes of Mt Elgon who do not have any opportunity to transition into secondary school or join a technical college because there is none in the vicinity. Then nearest secondary school is 40 kms away, moreover way down the steep mountain.
There is no secondary school or technical college in over 320 villages surrounding Mt Elgon and this has caused over 10,000 girls to drop out of school after Primary 7 and end as child mothers. The parents are often too poor to send the girls to boarding schools far way. The national prevalence of child marriage is at 40, but it could be higher in this location. Child marriage is sexual violence and it robs lives of these young girls of a bright future.
set up a training center to train over 1,500 girls, link 500 to formal education opportunities, the Directorate of Industrial training and also link with Skilling Uganda for technical and additional financial support for sustainability. The child mothers to get a certificate and which can enable them get employment or start their own enterprise. The trainees will be linked to Village Savings and credit for soft loans. Linkages will be made for scholarship opportunities and soft skills training
A 2017 World Bank report show that ending child marriage in Uganda could generate USD 514 million in earnings and productivity, when the project sets up a training center, it will enable 1,500 acquire employable skills and the other 500 to be in formal education and hence improve their livelihoods. Scholarship opportunities will also be identified and also lobby and advocacy for the government of Uganda to appreciate that all children are entitled to a quality education and to transition.
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
