Young women are regarded as drivers of change in their countries and communities, Young women reinforce their participation and empowerment as core aspects of programming by integrating life skills development and civic education interventions fostering the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values enabling women to participate as active and informed citizens.
This year’s international women’s day theme is “INSPIRING CHANGE”, this day is celebrated every 8th of March, annually. DSW Uganda in partnership with Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) have contributed towards this theme through its Women and Girl Empowerment Project, which aims at contributing to poverty reduction by strengthening women’s and girls’ voices for economic self reliance.
Uganda will join the rest of the world to celebrate this day under the theme; “In partnership with men and boys for empowerment of women and girls in Uganda”. Our contribution towards this theme is tremendous and can be felt under our Men Engage project which is bridging the gap and stereotypes of gender by involving men to support women.
This year DSW Uganda will partner with Local Governments in Jinja, Kamuli, Tororo and Busia to commemorate women’s day, men will be mobilized to join in the event. Among the activities to be conducted include; Drama on women’s economic empowerment, Exhibitions of crafts, tie and dye garments and crop produce and Marching on women’s day (while holding banners on women’s economic self reliance). However, there are pre week activities that are ongoing;
On Wednesday 5th March, a radio talk show will be held at 90.2 Veros FM and 106.8 Rock Mambo FM here in Tororo. Development partners (NGOs), local politicians and district technical staff will be invited to participate in either show. The final talk shows are slated for Friday 7th March 2014. The talk show echoed on the theme for the 2014 women’s day, “In partnership with men and boys for Empowerment of Women and girls in Uganda”. The ongoing shows and dialogues that are being held in the communities emphasize the need to engage men and boys in addressing impediments posed in women’s economic empowerment, liberties and self reliance.
The women are also to engage in cleaning of the Tororo main hospital, Female ward. After the cleaning, another dialogue will be held to address issues of maternal health.
The WOGE truck will be used to Mobilizing WOGE and MEN ENGAGE direct beneficiaries, plus the entire communities to participate in the women’s day celebrations and engaging in community dialogues on the involvement of men in the empowerment of women and girls. It will also Reaching out to the schools to inform boys and girls about gender roles and stereotypes and how they impact on development of the local communities.
