Empower a Girl: For Self-Reliance

Time has come for us to understand that: the choices and opportunities of the young people define both the present and future of our world. For any effort to be put in place, by either the governments, Non Government organizations and individuals, to achieve gender equity and eliminate poverty, including the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, during and after this COVID-19; that effort should rely on the young people’s meaningful engagement in the policies and programs that impact their lives and their communities. These were some of the debate that were generated in the meeting of Kole Intellectual Forum on the 16^th August 2020; after the organization had been informed by the situation of youth and children presently at home by the organizational field officers (Data Collectors) during this COVID-19’s threats.

 The organization was informed that:

The global pandemic has an unprecedented impact on education systems of the younger people with far-reaching social consequences in Uganda; a case of Angic Local Council I, Bala Sub-County, Kole District.

In this area, the findings indicated that:

• With the closure of schools all over the world because of COVID-19: girls and young women possess huge untapped potential; surprisingly, despite the potential of girls and young women, they are often overlooked in the planning and implementation of many development programmes, and are often excluded from participating in decision-making processes in their families and communities
• During this COVID-19 worst than before, babies born to adolescent mothers face greater risks than those with older mothers
• A number of  young people are facing economic insecurity

 To alleviate the situation facing the youth at present; Kole Intellectual Forum, in that meeting stated above, resolved to call for an action from their team and other development partners to join hands in addressing some of these problems being faced by the youth.

To begin with, putting in mind to undertaken all measures needed to prevent spread of COVID-19; the team resolved to start implementing its two previously developed programs:

1. For Girls, Empowering others to operate in Greatness

  https://www.globalgiving.org/dy/v2/pe/progress-report/edit-progress-report.html?project.projId=31562&progressReport.id=15260

       2. For Boys,  COVID-19, Project, Hand Over & Parents Meeting

https://www.globalgiving.org/dy/v2/pe/progress-report/edit-progress-report.html?project.projId=31562&progressReport.id=151896