ARUA CITY TEENAGE MOTHERS, WIDOW RECEIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWEREMENT

The nine beneficiaries comprising of one widow and eight teenagers mothers during their graduation ceremony in Dadamu, Ayivu East Division, Arua City (All Photos by Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The Community Empowerment for Inclusive Growth (CEIG) Foundation Uganda, with funding from Irene M. Stehlin (IMS) through the Feminist Humanitarian Network (FHN) and coordination by CEPADWN, has empowered one widow and eight teenage mothers in Ayivu East, Arua City.

This empowerment was achieved through practical vocational skills training under its UGX 40 million, nine-month project titled “Enhancing Safe and Just Environment for Women and Girls through Participation and Sustainable Livelihoods.”

Founded in April 2022, CEIG Foundation Uganda is a voluntary, community-based organization operating within Arua City, primarily in the Ayivu East division.

Its mission is to uplift and transform the lives of disadvantaged women and girls, persons with disabilities, and youth by promoting a just, dignified, and safe environment that supports rights and development throughout Uganda.

Bernard Acema, the programs officer at CEIG Foundation Uganda, expressed gratitude to the beneficiaries for completing the training and encouraged them to apply their newly acquired skills to improve their families and communities.

“We are so delighted that the girls have acquired the skills training and are ready to move out to the job market and create jobs for themselves, to support their families to become self-sustaining and have well dignified and empowered families and societies” he said.

The startup kits containing essential tools and materials issued to the beneficiaries during their graduation ceremony in Dadamu, Ayivu East Division

The project aimed to provide sustainable livelihoods for single mothers and widows. CEIG conducted a systematic identification of potential beneficiaries in collaboration with local leaders, during which twenty-four single mothers and widows applied.

Dorcas Asinduru, Arua City’s community development officer attached to former Dadamu Sub-County, praised the organization’s efforts for complementing government poverty alleviation measures and urged continued empowerment efforts at the grassroots level.

“We thank the organization for targeting the community members my appeal to them is to target more community members because these are not the only community members who needs similar support in the community, if more such community members are empowered then the poverty level at the community level will reduce” she said.

Beneficiaries received guidance on financial literacy, customer care, and bookkeeping, alongside vocational training. Josephine Amaniyo, a teenage mother from Sudan Zone and one of the beneficiaries, expressed her appreciation, highlighting how the skills she gained would transform her livelihood.

“It will make me to pay my babies school fees and cater for her basic needs like soap, smearing oil, medication, I want to thank Almighty God for bringing CEIG Foundation Uganda into my life, I pray that God provides them with resources to support and empower more teenage mothers like me who are suffering in the communities” she said.

A widow who is one of the beneficiaries receiving her start-up kit after completing the three-month skills training

During the three-month vocational skills training, eight teenage mothers and one widow were trained in their chosen trades: seven in tailoring, one in hairdressing, and one in catering. Experienced local artisans provided hands-on training to prepare them for business startup. To facilitate business establishment, each participant received basic startup kits containing essential tools and materials.

With these resources and skills, the single mothers and widow are equipped to run their own businesses, generate income, and achieve economic self-reliance.