“Before the life skill training for adolescent girls and female youths in Palorinya, I used to be sad, I couldn’t express myself to teachers and feared to talk about issues related to relationships, sexual rights and could shy away from information concerning reproductive health tips. I also couldn’t communicate with my peers especially when they would tease me in class and during play time.,” Irene notes.
“I also thought menstruation was an illness that brings public shame to my fellow adolescent girls.”. However, all this changed when learned about the different activities by Adolescent Girls’ Education in Crisis Initiative (AGENCI).
“The intervention has really changed my life. I can now freely express myself in class, school compound, at the playground and in the community too,” Mundua Irene a 17-year-old Ugandan who is a beneficiary of AGENCI’s Life Skills training program narrates.
The Adolescent Girls’ Education in Crisis Initiative (AGENCI) Project is funded by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Windle International Uganda (WIU) in partnership with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and Aga Khan Foundation in the refugee settlements and host communities of Obongi and Moyo districts in West Nile region.
The project focuses on improving equitable learning outcomes for adolescent girls and female youth informal or non-formal upper primary and secondary school education as well as skills training program.
The peer of Life Skill training program consists of Life skills sessions on healthy lifestyles, SRHR, mental health, financial literacy and negotiation skills to existing and newly established girls’ clubs and peer to-peer groups to increase the capacity of adolescent girls and female youth to make decisions about their own lives and educational opportunities.
Irene happily narrated how the AGENCI project has given her another chance to strive for her dreams because she is now standing up for herself and other girls in the fight against barriers that hinder girls and female youths from accessing basic needs in public service points.
She also sensitizes young girls and peers to remain focused and work hard to achieve their dream lifestyles free of cultural, social and economic barriers that sabotages access to safe, secure, gender-equitable, and quality education by adolescent girls and female youth in her community.
“As a change agent, I hope to educate others especially the refugee girls who are traumatized, victims of Sexual Gender Base Violence(SGBV), and those who are ignorant of their Sexual Reproductive Health Rights(SRHR)”
I would also want to remind the world that; “All Girls and Women are valuable human beings before God, law and all mankind and so they should be treated equally” said Irene.
“I want to thank God, Windle International Uganda and all the donors of AGENCI project which has supported me and other girls in the community to stay in school and be in position to achieve our dreams.”
”I urge WIU and other donors to provide more sanitary pads, scholastics materials and scholarship opportunities to encourage girls and female youth to go back to school, stay in school until completion of a certain level of education.”
