J1128N Marianne Foundation Empowerment Project
Uganda, Africa
The Situation
Uganda faces critical challenges in maternal health and youth employment, especially in the Ibanda District. The maternal mortality rate is high at 343 per 100,000 live births, with an estimated 416,000 women annually lacking skilled birth assistance. Despite economic growth, job creation isn’t keeping up with rapid population growth, particularly for young girls, who comprise a large part of the workforce.
In the Ibanda District of southwestern Uganda, with a population of 277,000 people living over an estimated area of 967 km2, many girls lack access to quality education and vocational training, resulting in limited job opportunities and poor remuneration. While literacy rates have improved, a significant gap remains for girls, further hindering their prospects.
Addressing these issues requires improving healthcare access, enhancing educational opportunities, and creating targeted employment and vocational programs to empower young girls and foster economic development.
The Objectives
The Marianne Foundation Empowerment project has 4 approaches to women’s empowerment:
1. Building capacity for women
· Train participants in agriculture and link to relevant services like agriculture training centers, and marketing groups.
2. Developing entrepreneurship skills
· Village savings and loaning associations; training for women on how to manage their savings and lending activities.
· Train women in entrepreneurship and business skills
· Ibanda Marianne Women Craft Making Cooperative Society.
3. Youth skills development
· Train girls in two marketable skills - tailoring and hairdressing.
4. Women and Adolescents Health Education Program
· Adolescent Health, Menstrual Hygiene and Menstrual Health Education Program
· Distribution of reusable pads made at the Skills Centre.
J1128N