RUKUNGIRI– The Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), a women’s organisation that was established in 1995 to promote a fair society where women and men equally participate in benefit of decision making has pioneered a project to empower women through sustainable skills development.
The Women Empowerment and Leadership Project (WELP) is focused on creating avenues for Inter District Exchange and Learning visits so that women and youth can learn from each other in the works they do to sustain their livelihoods.
Under the strategy of community empowerment, FOWODE has over years built a critical mass of women who are vigilant on the promotion of good governance and gender equality.
According to Collins Nyangaro, the FOWODE Field Officer for Rukungiri District, it’s from this background of economic sustainability empowerment approach that a District Exchange and Learning Visits were initiated to help the groups learn from each other.
FOWODE is operating in 5 districts of Amuria, Kibuku, Gulu, Luweero and Rukungiri where it has has helped to train 128 women groups in skills development and knowledge sharing.
The training from FOWODE with support from UKAID has enabled the women groups to use the skills and establish business enterprises that have increased their household incomes and livelihoods to support their families.
The Inter District Exchange visits by groups from the 5 districts is aimed at creating a common understanding on local entrepreneurship realities for women from diverse communities for shared sustainable solutions, facilitate cross-training inspiration and more hands on support for women groups from different Districts.
The exchange visits are also aimed at providing a platform for inter-regional networking among the women groups.
In Rukungiri District, groups that earlier excelled in competition were on April 23rd 2022 visited by a group from Amuria district where practical skills were exhibited and learning session experimented.
These groups include Rwengaha Bakyara Tukwatanise in Buhunga Sub Counry which specialises in handcraft, Kyamakanda Youth Group in Buyanja Town Council which specialises in soap making, and Kisharara Youth Group in Buyanja Sub-county which specializes in sweater design and making.
At Rwengaha in Buhunga Sub County, the Chairperson Kyomugasho Rosette said that every member has learnt to make an item ranging from baskets to mats that they later sell as a group and the proceeds are ploughed back into their group savings which they later share.
Kyamakanda Youth group is in advanced stages of establishing a soap making factory which will not only create employment opportunities for the youth but also ensure that there is availability of soap in the area and the District at large.
In Kisharara, the group has already partnered with several schools where they are supplying sweaters, uniforms and the high turnout has enabled them open a savings account at the nearby Buyanja Sacco where the proceeds from the sweaters and other hand crafts like mats are kept on top of Ugx 2,000 monthly savings which they use to buy piglets and share amongst themselves.
Throughout the Inter District Exchange visits that started on 22nd April ending on 30th April 2022, each visiting group will have an opportunity to learn from the host groups a variety of skill techniques, new business management and marketing which can be used to improve their own enterprises.
The group leaders will also share reports on inter District exchange visits which will help in sustainability of learning and promotion of future engagements.
Amuria FOWODE Field Officer Simon Jackson Okiror said that the exchange visit was worth it because the members were initiated to new skills and techniques that they will use to improve their groups.
The visiting delegation from Amuria included 25 participants, 3 peer trainers and 3 Community Development Officers from participating Sub Counties and 2 Field Staff.
