The support of leaders is a powerful tool in advocating for the changes we want to see. Because of this, ACFODE has over the years engaged local leaders (political, cultural, religious and community) in most of her activities to influence positive change. Consequently, a Youth Leaders’ Dialogue was held in Apac district on the 27th of March 2012 with the objective of providing a platform for leaders to engage with local government offices with issues to do with planning cycles, budgeting processes, and service delivery so that young people are given consideration during such processes.
The dialogue brought together a total of 30 participants and these included district local government officials and youth leaders from the project sub counties of Akokoro and Town Council.
During the dialogue, a paper on Planning, Budgeting and Service Delivery was presented by Mr. Pele Enon – Apac District Planner. The presentation entailed a detailed process followed in the planning cycle at district level. It also featured the available avenues which youth can take advantage of in order to have their issues incorporated in the district development plan.
Last year, ACFODE and the other implementing partners under this project carried out a baseline survey which revealed that youth hardly participate in planning processes and that the few that participate do not effectively engage hence, majority are not aware about the different available processes and programs that they can benefit from. It is therefore against this background that ACFODE organized this dialogue so that such avenues and the options of benefiting from them are clearly spelt out to participants.
Mr. Enon also emphasized the bottom up planning approach which starts from village to district level during his presentation noting that ‘the youth should utilize it to have their issues incorporated in the district plan.’
Another presentation on the NAADs Program was made by Mr. Opule Samuel. It highlighted the different components of the program and how different stakeholders can benefit from it. This was spot-on as it gave an opportunity for the official to get feedback from the youth leaders about the political interference involved in procedures for identifying beneficiaries, and how this has in most cases left out the youth.
One Councilor shared that “one time, when goats were being given out under this program, an order came from some high authorities and I was given goats yet I hadn’t applied for them. This I think this was unfair to some of the young people who were denied yet they had followed procedure.’
Because of such scenarios therefore, participants agreed to work together to sensitize the youth about available opportunities and to also work towards changing their attitudes towards development initiatives like NAADs because many were biased and because of this, they were missing out on many opportunities. They also agreed to inform young people at the grass root about not having ‘un-realistic’ expectations about such programs and also about the procedures involved if one is to participate and benefit. The government officials present also pledged to support youth leaders in pleas meant to empower young people.
Compiled by
Ofwono Salume
Project Officer – ACFODE
Email: ofsalume@yahoo.com
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
THE PLIGHT OF THE KARAMAJONG WOMEN
In a bid to celebrate the I6 days of activism the GBV Prevention network organized the Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere campaign of reducing gender based violence. As part of its activities it organized the What`s your way face book competition. It attracted many contestants from the region who were asked to write short essays of not more than 200 words. I participated in the competition and emerged the first runner up. As part of the prizes, winners were supposed to visit an organization of their choice in their country of origin to learn and share experiences on Gender Based violence.
I decided to visit Moroto to witness the FGM practices among the Karamajong. I was hosted by Concern worldwide Uganda and Karamoja Women Organizations Umbrella Group (KAWOU).
THE JOURNEY.
On March 20th 2012 I boarded a bus to Moroto. I was also still anxious that I had not yet seen any naked people along the way to confirm that we were going to Karamoja. As we crossed over the border from Soroti into Karamoja the difference was startling. There was no food. Everywhere I have been in Uganda, regardless of the poverty, food grows like weeds. Suddenly I felt like I had been transported to the Sahara desert. There was miles and miles of flat, dusty land broken by single small Rocky Mountains and very few villages. The isolation means Moroto stands out as you approach. It is how I can explain it and with no electricity but thousands of NGOs rather than homes and big shops or casinos. There were wooden built shops along the road and many bars made of mud and sticks resembling the “manyattas” the karamajong enclosed homes with neatly built sticks and shrubs.
VISIBLE VIOLENCE.
Then the violence begins, as the bus offloads some passengers along the way a young man carrying flour on a bicycle in his youth is trying to negotiate along the small road to pass. He finally knocks an elderly woman fit to be her mother as she had grey hair. The woman was along the way staring at the bus with other women chanting. The young man and the lady trip and fall in the ditch. As am staring the young man starts slapping the woman as the other people are looking. This was a real shock the old lady was being beaten as other people were looking on.
Finally around 9pm we arrive in Moroto town. I was startled because I had never seen thousands of NGOs in Uganda and small community organizations run from someone’s front room or a small shed-like office. Walking around town was like a who’s who of the development world with representation from every major ‘donor country’. All have big 4x4s and imposing offices with big compounds.
DAY ONE.
I arrive at Concern Worldwide Uganda. Am the first to arrive at their gate and find when they are still closed. After an hour Swaibu a programme officer arrives and opens the office, he welcomes me warmly and briefs me about the work they are doing on GBV, a project they are implementing with KAWOU. He informs me that the women are the bread winners and men just wake up to go and drink or raid cattle in the neighboring villages. The traditional method of survival being pastoralist thus cattle are the main source of conflict. He then directs me to KAWOU which is just a stone throw away from the concern worldwide compound.
KARAMOJA WOMEN ORGANISATION UMBRELLA GROUP (KAWUO)
I approach and knock at the entrance and there seems not to be any sign of an office operating in the building. One lady approaches me and welcomes me inside and I introduce myself to her. She hesitates and says she knows nothing regarding my visit to the organization minutes later a lady comes in and greets me. As am staring at the printed pictures on the wall another lady beaming with joy approaches and asks if am Andrew, which I reply yes, she reaches out her hand for a hand shake and tells me she was waiting for me.
I notice that there are only 4 chairs in the whole office with at least 3 tables. As we seat Helen Asekenye, Programme Officer KAWOU is not happy at all. She calls Josephine a case manager to attend the small interaction meeting with us. I start by introducing myself and the purpose for the visit. But as I begin highlighting my questions I realize they don’t have any statistics on any GBV victims let alone knowledge on GBV despite the fact that it is part of their main activities and areas of work. They tell me they coordinate over 2000 women groups in 7 districts in the Karamoja region. As part of their work they are supposed to follow up cases of Violence against women and children, encourage victims to come out, attend court sessions on GBV victims and encourage people to give evidence in the courts of law. But all these are just dreams as they are not functioning at all.
THE SITUATION OF KAWUO.
I ask Helen if they have a Board, she tells me that they have a board of 12 members where the Chairperson and the Executive Director are men. They only have one computer which is being used by the accountant and shared by everyone else in the office. I get to know that actually they have three computers (2 desktops and one laptop). The other computer is stationed in the ED`s office that is always locked and the laptop is also being used by the Executive Director who moves with it all the time with the organizational internet modem. I inquire why the ED is not in his office, they tell me that they don’t know. I discover that he can be away for almost 3months without any delegation notes to any one. They disclose to me that the women groups have also lost hope in them. They last had a meeting with the different women groups 6months back. She tells me that they never have staff meetings and the board meetings are also very rare as the members have lost hope in the organization. I ask what she is doing at the organization and she informs me that she is implementing a project with the IRC but doesn’t even know anything about the work plan, beneficiaries and budget.
I visited the Central Police station where I went to the Family protection Unit and discovered that GBV was visible as I found two women with bandages reporting about their problems and incidents. They told me that the forms of GBV included Rape which was very rampant, FGM, child marriage, trafficking of girls and women and domestic violence.
I decided to hike the mountains with him to find the much talked about woman who used to cut the young girls. We tracked her down as she came back from collecting firewood. She explained to us that she had stopped after realizing the dangers it had on the young girls. But she informed us that despite the fact that for her she stopped, other young girls are still being sneaked into Kenya so they are circumcised from their.
DAY TWO
This time I was going to go deep down into the Matheniko area. I observed that this area was flat and with no visible food crops being grown apart from sign posts from the NUSAF OPM projects. In this area like the others so many young girls were pregnant with the women. We reached the small village deep down in the matheniko sub county near the wild reserve where I met a small group of women weaving and making beads. They told me they sometimes went without food due to the fact that their gardens had dried up. Some women also get to eat the remains of the ajon the men drink to sleep in a bid not to feel hungry. I met a lady who told us that abrupt rapes in Karamoja have also led to marriages. Girls normally go for firewood and water far away from home and the young men stock and forcibly subject them to abrupt rape without prior courtship but because the boys’ parents have cows, the parents of the girls still go ahead and sanction the marriage. Also when bride wealth considerations of parents compel the girl to marry a man she is not in love with, she usually commits suicide and many Karamojong girls are known to have killed themselves to escape a forced marriage. Others run away from home and elope with men of their hearts.
One of the most startling things whilst I was there was the isolation of the region, logistically and culturally. The scarcity of resources and lack of income make most things twice the price of the rest of Uganda. The town runs on one huge generator which had run out of petrol when I visited (they wait two or three weeks for fuel to be transported from Kampala) so the hum of NGO generators provided background for the day’s work.
I thank the GBV team for offering this nice chance and creative exposure and for facilitating my trip. There is no way I can say am happy and grateful but continue with the work you are doing.
ACFODE (Action for Development) for showing me the way, identification and always giving me a space to learn more about the women’s movement. The time I have spent there is worth my career in fighting for the women’s rights.
Concern Worldwide Uganda and KAWUO for warmly welcoming and hosting me into Moroto district.
I encourage many other youth to join the fight against all forms of Gender Based Violence in Uganda.
PICTURES
Andrew Ssekirevu
ACFODE
Email: sekirevu@acfode.org
I decided to visit Moroto to witness the FGM practices among the Karamajong. I was hosted by Concern worldwide Uganda and Karamoja Women Organizations Umbrella Group (KAWOU).
THE JOURNEY.
On March 20th 2012 I boarded a bus to Moroto. I was also still anxious that I had not yet seen any naked people along the way to confirm that we were going to Karamoja. As we crossed over the border from Soroti into Karamoja the difference was startling. There was no food. Everywhere I have been in Uganda, regardless of the poverty, food grows like weeds. Suddenly I felt like I had been transported to the Sahara desert. There was miles and miles of flat, dusty land broken by single small Rocky Mountains and very few villages. The isolation means Moroto stands out as you approach. It is how I can explain it and with no electricity but thousands of NGOs rather than homes and big shops or casinos. There were wooden built shops along the road and many bars made of mud and sticks resembling the “manyattas” the karamajong enclosed homes with neatly built sticks and shrubs.
VISIBLE VIOLENCE.
Then the violence begins, as the bus offloads some passengers along the way a young man carrying flour on a bicycle in his youth is trying to negotiate along the small road to pass. He finally knocks an elderly woman fit to be her mother as she had grey hair. The woman was along the way staring at the bus with other women chanting. The young man and the lady trip and fall in the ditch. As am staring the young man starts slapping the woman as the other people are looking. This was a real shock the old lady was being beaten as other people were looking on.
Finally around 9pm we arrive in Moroto town. I was startled because I had never seen thousands of NGOs in Uganda and small community organizations run from someone’s front room or a small shed-like office. Walking around town was like a who’s who of the development world with representation from every major ‘donor country’. All have big 4x4s and imposing offices with big compounds.
DAY ONE.
I arrive at Concern Worldwide Uganda. Am the first to arrive at their gate and find when they are still closed. After an hour Swaibu a programme officer arrives and opens the office, he welcomes me warmly and briefs me about the work they are doing on GBV, a project they are implementing with KAWOU. He informs me that the women are the bread winners and men just wake up to go and drink or raid cattle in the neighboring villages. The traditional method of survival being pastoralist thus cattle are the main source of conflict. He then directs me to KAWOU which is just a stone throw away from the concern worldwide compound.
KARAMOJA WOMEN ORGANISATION UMBRELLA GROUP (KAWUO)
I approach and knock at the entrance and there seems not to be any sign of an office operating in the building. One lady approaches me and welcomes me inside and I introduce myself to her. She hesitates and says she knows nothing regarding my visit to the organization minutes later a lady comes in and greets me. As am staring at the printed pictures on the wall another lady beaming with joy approaches and asks if am Andrew, which I reply yes, she reaches out her hand for a hand shake and tells me she was waiting for me.
I notice that there are only 4 chairs in the whole office with at least 3 tables. As we seat Helen Asekenye, Programme Officer KAWOU is not happy at all. She calls Josephine a case manager to attend the small interaction meeting with us. I start by introducing myself and the purpose for the visit. But as I begin highlighting my questions I realize they don’t have any statistics on any GBV victims let alone knowledge on GBV despite the fact that it is part of their main activities and areas of work. They tell me they coordinate over 2000 women groups in 7 districts in the Karamoja region. As part of their work they are supposed to follow up cases of Violence against women and children, encourage victims to come out, attend court sessions on GBV victims and encourage people to give evidence in the courts of law. But all these are just dreams as they are not functioning at all.
THE SITUATION OF KAWUO.
I ask Helen if they have a Board, she tells me that they have a board of 12 members where the Chairperson and the Executive Director are men. They only have one computer which is being used by the accountant and shared by everyone else in the office. I get to know that actually they have three computers (2 desktops and one laptop). The other computer is stationed in the ED`s office that is always locked and the laptop is also being used by the Executive Director who moves with it all the time with the organizational internet modem. I inquire why the ED is not in his office, they tell me that they don’t know. I discover that he can be away for almost 3months without any delegation notes to any one. They disclose to me that the women groups have also lost hope in them. They last had a meeting with the different women groups 6months back. She tells me that they never have staff meetings and the board meetings are also very rare as the members have lost hope in the organization. I ask what she is doing at the organization and she informs me that she is implementing a project with the IRC but doesn’t even know anything about the work plan, beneficiaries and budget.
I visited the Central Police station where I went to the Family protection Unit and discovered that GBV was visible as I found two women with bandages reporting about their problems and incidents. They told me that the forms of GBV included Rape which was very rampant, FGM, child marriage, trafficking of girls and women and domestic violence.
I decided to hike the mountains with him to find the much talked about woman who used to cut the young girls. We tracked her down as she came back from collecting firewood. She explained to us that she had stopped after realizing the dangers it had on the young girls. But she informed us that despite the fact that for her she stopped, other young girls are still being sneaked into Kenya so they are circumcised from their.
DAY TWO
This time I was going to go deep down into the Matheniko area. I observed that this area was flat and with no visible food crops being grown apart from sign posts from the NUSAF OPM projects. In this area like the others so many young girls were pregnant with the women. We reached the small village deep down in the matheniko sub county near the wild reserve where I met a small group of women weaving and making beads. They told me they sometimes went without food due to the fact that their gardens had dried up. Some women also get to eat the remains of the ajon the men drink to sleep in a bid not to feel hungry. I met a lady who told us that abrupt rapes in Karamoja have also led to marriages. Girls normally go for firewood and water far away from home and the young men stock and forcibly subject them to abrupt rape without prior courtship but because the boys’ parents have cows, the parents of the girls still go ahead and sanction the marriage. Also when bride wealth considerations of parents compel the girl to marry a man she is not in love with, she usually commits suicide and many Karamojong girls are known to have killed themselves to escape a forced marriage. Others run away from home and elope with men of their hearts.
One of the most startling things whilst I was there was the isolation of the region, logistically and culturally. The scarcity of resources and lack of income make most things twice the price of the rest of Uganda. The town runs on one huge generator which had run out of petrol when I visited (they wait two or three weeks for fuel to be transported from Kampala) so the hum of NGO generators provided background for the day’s work.
I thank the GBV team for offering this nice chance and creative exposure and for facilitating my trip. There is no way I can say am happy and grateful but continue with the work you are doing.
ACFODE (Action for Development) for showing me the way, identification and always giving me a space to learn more about the women’s movement. The time I have spent there is worth my career in fighting for the women’s rights.
Concern Worldwide Uganda and KAWUO for warmly welcoming and hosting me into Moroto district.
I encourage many other youth to join the fight against all forms of Gender Based Violence in Uganda.
PICTURES
Andrew Ssekirevu
ACFODE
Email: sekirevu@acfode.org
Thursday, March 29, 2012
New Project: Building Citizen’s Resilience in the Promotion of Violence Free Families and Communities
With funding from the Open Society Institute, ACFODE is implementing a one year project on Building Citizen’s Resilience in the Promotion of Violence Free Families and Communities in Oyam and Apac districts.
The project seeks to educate and empower women and girls, as well as men and boys to adopt peaceful and non violent means for resolving conflicts in their lives.
Project objectives include;
Increasing awareness on Gender Based Violence (GBV) thereby reducing the high incidence of violence against women and girls.
Inculcating a culture of non violent relationships between men, women, boys and girls within the community.
Promoting community led advocacy for access to justice by women who experience GBV.
Recently, a community based/ driven approach that involved the selection and training of Community Agents of Change (CACs) was conducted in Oyam district in the sub counties of Loro and Kamdini. 60 CACs were selected on their ability to create awareness and gain the commitment of decision makers and community members for this noble cause. These included; religious and cultural leaders, members of the local council, members of youth, men and women groups as well as health workers. We believe that their support in this project will be a powerful tool to advocate for the changes this project wants to bring about.
After the selection, the CACs were trained on the concepts of human rights, gender based violence and conflict resolution whilst putting emphasize on their roles and responsibilities in the promotion of human rights and in prevention of GBV within the local community.
During the training, they expressed gratitude to ACFODE for involving them in the project because it availed them the opportunity of exercising their power in a positive way. They also realized that as key leaders in the community, they have a greater role to play in responding to and in preventing GBV and as such, made some commitments.
For instance one of the clan leaders in Kamdini Sub County agreed to meet with different clan leaders to discuss so they can deliberate on issues of GBV while bearing in mind that they have a big role to play in responding to and in preventingit. Religious leaders also committed to use their platform to condone GBV while preaching.
However during the trainings, a few shocking issues emerged and they include;
“The whole idea of human rights has broken many families. Women are neglecting their responsibilities because of human rights.” Remark made by one female participant.
“It is okay for men to sleep around with many women for as long as the ‘main’ woman doesn’t find out.” Remark made another female participant.
With such attitudes still in the community, and especially amongst women, I think we all realize and agree that there is still a lot we need to do to address GBV.
Good news is that in response to such comments, clarifications were made by the facilitators and by the end of the training, participants were made to understand and appreciate issues around gender and human rights.
Most participants commended ACFODE for the training. The LC 2 Chair person (Ocini Parish) for instance remarked that “we have had so many CSOs train on GBV but we have never tackled the issue in depth with the way ACFODE has done.” In regard to the trainings also, Community Based Services and the CFPU Departments applauded ACFODE for her efforts in bridging the gap between their departments and the local communities.
Compiled By:
Margaret Ssebunya
Programmes Assistant: Economic Policy Department
Action For Development
Email: smargaret@acfode.org
The project seeks to educate and empower women and girls, as well as men and boys to adopt peaceful and non violent means for resolving conflicts in their lives.
Project objectives include;
Increasing awareness on Gender Based Violence (GBV) thereby reducing the high incidence of violence against women and girls.
Inculcating a culture of non violent relationships between men, women, boys and girls within the community.
Promoting community led advocacy for access to justice by women who experience GBV.
Recently, a community based/ driven approach that involved the selection and training of Community Agents of Change (CACs) was conducted in Oyam district in the sub counties of Loro and Kamdini. 60 CACs were selected on their ability to create awareness and gain the commitment of decision makers and community members for this noble cause. These included; religious and cultural leaders, members of the local council, members of youth, men and women groups as well as health workers. We believe that their support in this project will be a powerful tool to advocate for the changes this project wants to bring about.
After the selection, the CACs were trained on the concepts of human rights, gender based violence and conflict resolution whilst putting emphasize on their roles and responsibilities in the promotion of human rights and in prevention of GBV within the local community.
During the training, they expressed gratitude to ACFODE for involving them in the project because it availed them the opportunity of exercising their power in a positive way. They also realized that as key leaders in the community, they have a greater role to play in responding to and in preventing GBV and as such, made some commitments.
For instance one of the clan leaders in Kamdini Sub County agreed to meet with different clan leaders to discuss so they can deliberate on issues of GBV while bearing in mind that they have a big role to play in responding to and in preventingit. Religious leaders also committed to use their platform to condone GBV while preaching.
However during the trainings, a few shocking issues emerged and they include;
“The whole idea of human rights has broken many families. Women are neglecting their responsibilities because of human rights.” Remark made by one female participant.
“It is okay for men to sleep around with many women for as long as the ‘main’ woman doesn’t find out.” Remark made another female participant.
With such attitudes still in the community, and especially amongst women, I think we all realize and agree that there is still a lot we need to do to address GBV.
Good news is that in response to such comments, clarifications were made by the facilitators and by the end of the training, participants were made to understand and appreciate issues around gender and human rights.
Most participants commended ACFODE for the training. The LC 2 Chair person (Ocini Parish) for instance remarked that “we have had so many CSOs train on GBV but we have never tackled the issue in depth with the way ACFODE has done.” In regard to the trainings also, Community Based Services and the CFPU Departments applauded ACFODE for her efforts in bridging the gap between their departments and the local communities.
Compiled By:
Margaret Ssebunya
Programmes Assistant: Economic Policy Department
Action For Development
Email: smargaret@acfode.org
ACFODE EMBARKS ON A YOUNG WOMEN MENTORING PROGRAM
Currently, there is a growing need on a national scale to target young people because of their ability to advance change. Available statistics reveal that 78.4 percent of the Uganda’s population is below 30 years of age. They are social actors of change and can serve as a pressure group to lobby governments in defining their priorities. It has been clearly stressed that “youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but are the partners of today.
Even then, it is impossible for any organization to effectively move forward without the plan for growth and sustainability. One of the ways Action For Development (ACFODE) has effectively done this is through its internship and volunteer program which has equipped beneficiaries with skills in research, public speaking, documentation/ information dissemination and different styles of leadership in preparation for the competitive economy. After the trainings, interns and volunteers are in a much better place to behave professionally since they are exposed to a dynamic environment of professionals while at ACFODE.
However, because of a great desire to have much more impactful results most especially with young women professionals, ACFODE has been inspired to start a program that specifically addresses their professional and life needs. The program involves listening to participants’ needs, giving them professional advice and providing them with an insight about how life can be managed appropriately.
This is because we believe that young people who have had mentoring relationships exhibit significantly better outcomes within the domains of life for instance in education and work (completion & employment), mental health (self esteem & life satisfaction), and problem behavior (conflict management, fighting, & risk taking).
The program therefore seeks to empower and build the career and life-management potential of young women so that they appreciate and utilize the resources and opportunities around them in order to improve their livelihoods.
During the sessions, participants are supported in the transition to professionalism and adulthood, are provided with support and guidance through planned relationships with positive adults, and are empowered with knowledge and skills in different aspects of life. Our first session took place on 29th February, 2012 and attracted 20 participants. While the session was merely introductory, there were a few key issues that were flippantly discussed. They included; how to - set your life goals, seize an opportunity, and share your dreams.
Although these sessions take place every last Wednesday of the month, we are having one today (29th of March 2012) at ACFODE House in Bukoto beginning 2PM. We therefore encourage all young women to come and be part of this very inspiring moment. One of the mentors for the day is Betty Byanyima.
Entrance is free and the day’s topic is “Goal Setting.” Since the place is lively, energetic, and safe, we challenge you to COME, LEARN, NETWORK, AND INTERACT. After all, it doesn’t kill to have a little clean fun!!!
NOTE: Future modules will among other issues be on – Emotional Intelligence, Public Speaking, Financial Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, Leadership, and Team Building.
Compiled by
Sandra Nassali & Belinda Kyomuhendo
Action For Development
Emails: snassali@acfode.org
bkyomuhendo@acfode.org
Even then, it is impossible for any organization to effectively move forward without the plan for growth and sustainability. One of the ways Action For Development (ACFODE) has effectively done this is through its internship and volunteer program which has equipped beneficiaries with skills in research, public speaking, documentation/ information dissemination and different styles of leadership in preparation for the competitive economy. After the trainings, interns and volunteers are in a much better place to behave professionally since they are exposed to a dynamic environment of professionals while at ACFODE.
However, because of a great desire to have much more impactful results most especially with young women professionals, ACFODE has been inspired to start a program that specifically addresses their professional and life needs. The program involves listening to participants’ needs, giving them professional advice and providing them with an insight about how life can be managed appropriately.
This is because we believe that young people who have had mentoring relationships exhibit significantly better outcomes within the domains of life for instance in education and work (completion & employment), mental health (self esteem & life satisfaction), and problem behavior (conflict management, fighting, & risk taking).
The program therefore seeks to empower and build the career and life-management potential of young women so that they appreciate and utilize the resources and opportunities around them in order to improve their livelihoods.
During the sessions, participants are supported in the transition to professionalism and adulthood, are provided with support and guidance through planned relationships with positive adults, and are empowered with knowledge and skills in different aspects of life. Our first session took place on 29th February, 2012 and attracted 20 participants. While the session was merely introductory, there were a few key issues that were flippantly discussed. They included; how to - set your life goals, seize an opportunity, and share your dreams.
Although these sessions take place every last Wednesday of the month, we are having one today (29th of March 2012) at ACFODE House in Bukoto beginning 2PM. We therefore encourage all young women to come and be part of this very inspiring moment. One of the mentors for the day is Betty Byanyima.
Entrance is free and the day’s topic is “Goal Setting.” Since the place is lively, energetic, and safe, we challenge you to COME, LEARN, NETWORK, AND INTERACT. After all, it doesn’t kill to have a little clean fun!!!
NOTE: Future modules will among other issues be on – Emotional Intelligence, Public Speaking, Financial Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, Leadership, and Team Building.
Compiled by
Sandra Nassali & Belinda Kyomuhendo
Action For Development
Emails: snassali@acfode.org
bkyomuhendo@acfode.org
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Mutolere Nursing School Wins ACFODE Inter Institution Debate Competitions
Amulen Winfred has a reason to boast. She and her teammate Bosco Niyizi both from Mutolere Nursing School came out on top during ACFODE’s Inter-institution debate competitions that were held at Acacia Hotel in Mbarara.
The competition, which started on Saturday the 24th of March 2012, began with 20 teams from five institutions of higher learning across Western Uganda. During the tournament, contestants were slowly whittled down through a long series of debates, culminating in Sunday’s final where Bishop Stuart University came in second after Mutolere Nursing School - which won the tournament.
‘This has been a once in a life time opportunity and I applaud ACFODE for it,’’ said Naturinda Evelyn, the winner of the Best Female Speaker Award.
In each debate, there was only one resolution at play, and the weekend’s topics ranged from ‘the woman seat in parliament should be abolished,’ to ‘this house believes that the woman is the best man for the job.’
Competitors learnt about their resolutions only 15 minutes before the debate rounds. Each team would then start with a seven-minute overview of their argument for, or against a certain proposition. The winning team from Mutorere Nursing School for instance successfully argued against a mock resolution that ‘this house should abolish quotas for women in parliament.’
Kenneth Opolot – the Senior Adjudicator and a former debate champion from CRY Uganda noted that: ‘This shows that debates don’t only rely on specialized knowledge, but are also an exercise that fosters logical thinking and persuasive speaking.”
Participating institutions included; Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Bishop Stuart University, Mutorere Nursing School from Kisoro, Kabale University, and Kabale National Teachers’ College.
At the end of the tournament, all participants were awarded with Certificates of Participation. Michael Kabushenga - winner of the Best Male Speaker Award had this to say about the debates: ‘I am glad that although ACFODE is a women focused civil society organization, it also considers bringing young men like me on board. I therefore pledge to fight for women’s rights because now I have a clear understanding about them. And because of this, I am going to work towards improving my attitude in as far as women and girls are concerned.’
Since 2010, ACFODE with generous support from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has carried out inter institution debate competitions all over the country as a strategy for deepening and sustaining the gender equality and good governance campaign.
Participants are engaged and mentored into different gender and good governance dynamics as they are challenged to acquire information and to share their findings in a persuasive way (British Parliamentary Debate format). They are also mentored into eloquent, articulate and fast thinking individuals.
Compiled By
Sandra Nassali
Public Relations & Communications Officer
Action For Development
Email: snassali@acfode.org
The competition, which started on Saturday the 24th of March 2012, began with 20 teams from five institutions of higher learning across Western Uganda. During the tournament, contestants were slowly whittled down through a long series of debates, culminating in Sunday’s final where Bishop Stuart University came in second after Mutolere Nursing School - which won the tournament.
‘This has been a once in a life time opportunity and I applaud ACFODE for it,’’ said Naturinda Evelyn, the winner of the Best Female Speaker Award.
In each debate, there was only one resolution at play, and the weekend’s topics ranged from ‘the woman seat in parliament should be abolished,’ to ‘this house believes that the woman is the best man for the job.’
Competitors learnt about their resolutions only 15 minutes before the debate rounds. Each team would then start with a seven-minute overview of their argument for, or against a certain proposition. The winning team from Mutorere Nursing School for instance successfully argued against a mock resolution that ‘this house should abolish quotas for women in parliament.’
Kenneth Opolot – the Senior Adjudicator and a former debate champion from CRY Uganda noted that: ‘This shows that debates don’t only rely on specialized knowledge, but are also an exercise that fosters logical thinking and persuasive speaking.”
Participating institutions included; Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Bishop Stuart University, Mutorere Nursing School from Kisoro, Kabale University, and Kabale National Teachers’ College.
At the end of the tournament, all participants were awarded with Certificates of Participation. Michael Kabushenga - winner of the Best Male Speaker Award had this to say about the debates: ‘I am glad that although ACFODE is a women focused civil society organization, it also considers bringing young men like me on board. I therefore pledge to fight for women’s rights because now I have a clear understanding about them. And because of this, I am going to work towards improving my attitude in as far as women and girls are concerned.’
Since 2010, ACFODE with generous support from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has carried out inter institution debate competitions all over the country as a strategy for deepening and sustaining the gender equality and good governance campaign.
Participants are engaged and mentored into different gender and good governance dynamics as they are challenged to acquire information and to share their findings in a persuasive way (British Parliamentary Debate format). They are also mentored into eloquent, articulate and fast thinking individuals.
Compiled By
Sandra Nassali
Public Relations & Communications Officer
Action For Development
Email: snassali@acfode.org
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