By KT Reporter
Community members in Arua District have welcomed a new initiative, Women and Youth Empowerment through Advocacy, Vocational Skills, Inclusion, Networking and Growth (WEAVING Hope), a UGX 102 million project designed to train 360 participants in vocational skills such as weaving, knitting, and bead-making.
At least 70 percent of the beneficiaries are expected to start their own income-generating businesses upon completion.
The program, implemented by Mungufeni Foundation (MFF), a local NGO operating in the West Nile sub-region, aims to empower women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) through livelihood support, financial literacy, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education, as well as civic engagement initiatives.
Beneficiaries will be organized into 12 peer groups of 30 members each, with a gender composition of 70 percent female and 30 percent male. Youth aged 16 to 35, as well as adults between 36 and 48 years, are eligible to participate.
Mary Obitre, a resident of Ombavu Village in Anzuu Ward, said the project would help address unemployment and livelihood challenges in the area.
“I am very happy about this project because it will bring positive change to our community. It will promote development through poverty alleviation and enable people to use their skills to earn income,” Obitre said.
Officials at Mungufeni Foundation told Uganda Radio Network (URN) that a needs assessment conducted in selected sub-counties guided the project design.
The assessment identified key challenges, including unemployment, economic exclusion, rising GBV cases, low financial literacy levels, and limited knowledge of SRHR.
“These factors are negatively impacting the livelihoods and health of various population groups in the district and require urgent, coordinated intervention from all stakeholders,” MFF officials noted. Another resident, Mary Azikuru of Anaa Village, said her daughter, who dropped out of school, has applied for the skills training.
“I struggled to convince her to complete primary education before joining skills training, but it did not work out as planned. I am now happy that this project will support young people like her,” Azikuru explained.
However, MFF Executive Director Benard Feni said the organization envisions expanding skills development programs in collaboration with local governments and other stakeholders to reach more beneficiaries across different sectors.
The project has also received support from Arua District Local Government, which has provided community space for implementation in Anzuu and Nyio Parishes and offered guidance in selecting beneficiaries.
District chairperson Alfred Okuonzi acknowledged the challenges facing the district and emphasized the importance of partnerships.
He said accountability, transparency, meaningful civic engagement, and livelihood support are among the key areas requiring joint intervention.
The one-year WEAVING Hope Project is being implemented in three phases. The first phase, which began last year, focused on local fundraising to mobilize resources.
The second phase concentrates on vocational skills training, financial literacy, strengthening Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and GBV and SRHR education. The final phase will focus on advocacy and civic engagement.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
