Projects
Gender inequality in education is an important problem in sub-Sahara Africa. Around 1 per 4 girls does not go to school at primary school-age. Due to drop out of school this number rises to 1 per 3 girls at secondary school-age when girls get their periods. Unsafe situations due to lack of toilets for girls at schools, lack of affordable sanitary pads, and cultural prejudices lead to regular monthly missing of lessons and eventually drop out of school, in particular in rural area’s and poorer families.
School drop out on its turn is related to a higher risk of unintentional teenage pregnancy due to rape, forced marriage and/or lack of prospects for girls. The risk for death and lifelong disease and disability as a result of unsafe abortion, complications during pregnancy and childbirth, is high for these girls. Moreover, the risk of death, disease and disability , and poverty is high for their children as well.
Prevention of lack of education and unintentional teenage pregnancy is a priority for sub-Saharan African countries. It is the only way to break the cycle of physical and psychological damage, and poverty of women and their children.
Project Uganda 'Prevent teenage pregnancies, keep girls in school'
In coöperation with serviceclubs Zonta aan de Leede and Zonta Kampala we combat causes of school drop out and unintentional teenage pregnancy in Uganda. Zonta aan de Leede raises funds, Zonta Kampala selects the schools and candidates for midwife/nurse training and monitors the project, POWER is the driving force, coördinates, raises funds and takes care of accountability.
Part 1 (2016-2017)
Zonta aan de Leede funded € 5000, and 'Wilde Ganzen' added € 2500 to enable the building of a toiletblock with 4 stances (one for disabled girls) and washing facilities for girls, at Kihihi primary school, a school in Kanungu district. 500 girls got sanitary napkins and other sanitary supplies. Also general-, sexual- and reproductive health lessons, and self-defence. In addition Zonta aan de Leede funded € 2000 trainingcosts for 2 midwives/nurses whose families could not afford the costs, to build on the necessary capacity for mother- and child health professionals in the country.
Part 2 (2018-2019)
Zonta aan de Leede funded € 5500, and 'Wilde Ganzen' added € 5500 (extra financing due to a special action) to enable the building of toiletblocks at two more schools in Kanungu district, Kibimbiri- and Bushere primary school. 300 girls got sanitary napkins, and interactive lessons as mentioned before. In addition Zonta aan de Leede funded € 2000 for two girls to complete their nurse/midwife training.
Part 3 (2020-2021)
Extension of the project could not take place during the COVID 19 crisis.
Instead we decided to enable safe re-entry into schools for pupils and teachers in Kihihi subdistrict. Zonta aan de Leede and POWER raised € 3110, and 'Wilde Ganzen' addede the same amount. Zonta Kampala provided water tanks to schools and trained underprivileged women to make soap, hand sanitisers, mouth-masks and sanitary towels. They in turn would train the schoolgirls, and boys when schools would re-open. Then girls and boys would be trained as well in hygiene, health in general, and sexual and reproductive health. This was expected to happen end of February 2021. Pupils however are started school in shifts and before the intended age-group was allowed to re-enter the number of deaths in Uganda rose alarmingly, and the country went into lock-down. As it was not clear when schools would be allowed to re-open by the end of 2021 it was decided to spend the remaining money € 2627 to another goal. 10 schoolgirls from Kabale district 13-18 years old who got pregnant during lock-down got information on healthy food for themselves and their future babies and were stimulated to attend pregnancy checks. Their communities were stimulated to support them in re-entering into school after the lock-down. 20 child mothers got training in different aspects of trading, and got the necessary tools to start a specific kind of business. This was done in cooperation with the organization 'Kabale Orphans and Vulnarable Children).
Part 4 (2022-2023)
Before the corona-outbreak we planned toilet buildings at more schools in need in the Kanungu district, sanitary napkin production and lessons for their pupils. Zonta aan de Leede will try to fund at least two buildings as this measure proved highly effective, as well as tools for production of sanitary napkins and lessons as mentioned before. We are in contact with 'Wilde Ganzen' again about their co-financing this.
