PADER – The Covid-19 pandemic lockdown for two years affected girl children of the cooperators in Pader, Kitgum, Agago, and Lamwo districts as they got pregnant and could not continue with classes when schools reopened in 2021.
It is on that note that Global Educational Network Uganda, a community-based organisation [CBO] in the area, thought of empowering child mothers with vocational training skills in the districts of Kitgum, Pader, Agago, and Lamwo.
Irene Atoo, regional programme manager told the Cooperator that, the cooperatives they work within the areas of livelihood reached out to them seeking a helping hand to help out their children in the areas of practical skills.
“The cooperators we work with cried out to us to help their underage girls who could not further their education since many had given birth with the boys who could not sustain families,” she said.
Atoo said due to limited funding, out of the 200, applicants, only 50, were selected for the training in hairdressing and tailoring so that they are able to cater for the basic needs of their children.
“In some instances, you find the girl is 14, while the boy is only16 or 17 years, they are both children who cannot take care of a fellow child. We believe with the attained skills, they will be able to sustain themselves.”
She said that at the on-sent, they had in mind that start-up kits would be availed to them, but it has not worked since they have not been able to get any funding.
The beneficiaries are from Parabongo, Kitgum Matidi, Akwanga, and Lukole cooperative societies.
Chairperson Lukole Grain Farmers Area Cooperative Enterprise, Charles Utim, said child mothers grew in numbers among the cooperators during the pandemic lockdown in the country.
“Many cooperators had no way out, they kept on looking at their children who had turned out to be mothers and they could not help them much,’’ he said.
“This is just a drop in the ocean, we are still reaching out to well-wishers who can help us since our boys to need practical skills to make ends meet,” he added.
Global Educational Network Uganda, links cooperators to potential buyers of sorghum, maize, and soy-bean and links them to banks for financial support.
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