WAKISO – As part of community intervention towards improving livelihood during the country’s covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the Rotary Club of Acacia Sunset has donated food relief and other household items to Wakisa Ministries- crisis pregnancy centre located in Wakiso District.
The supplies contained rice, flour, sugar, Posho, Pampers, soap and other toiletries.
The Club helped more than 25 teenage mothers centre which has been hit heavily by Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Speaking at the handover function, David Sempala- the President of Rotary Club of Acacia Sunset said that the donation from club members was a vital cover to the limited supply of food and other materials created by Covid crisis at the centre.
While it is true that everyone has struggled with the fallout of this global pandemic, it has had more serious consequences on some of the most vulnerable populations.
Unfortunately, teenage girls have been among the most adversely affected. As a humanitarian organisation we are committed to share the little we have to help you navigate through this pandemic’ President Sempala added.
The Director of Youth Services at Rotary Club of Acacia Sunset, Rotarian Racheal Kobugabe retaliated the commitment to continue supporting teenage girls at Wakisa Ministries center nurturing and promoting soft skills development to help girls define a right path to the future.
While expressing her appreciation, Betty Mutesi the Center Manager of Wakisa Crisis Pregnancy Center disclosed that the donation by Rotarians was a warm gesture to all the teenage pregnant girls and staff at the centre.
She, however, noted that one of their main challenges due to covid-19 pandemic feeding girls had become a big challenge with disruption of the food supply systems and escalating costs of running the centre.
The center located in Temangalo -wakiso was established to promote the dignity and self-esteem of young girls in Uganda with crisis pregnancy while addressing their emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Many of these girls are either raped or are lured into having early sex that result into pregnancy.
Many are either abandoned or chased away from home by guardians and find themselves without a home.
The center offers temporary shelter Counselling and care services, providing opportunities for Christian growth and discipleship and equipping them with life and vocational skills including baking, computer literacy, tailoring to equip them through life after pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy increases when girls are denied the right to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being.
Girls must be able to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures and have access to appropriate healthcare services and education.
Approximately 90% of births to girls aged 15-19 in developing countries occur within early marriage where there is often an imbalance of power, no access to contraception and pressure on girls to prove their fertility.
In addition, reduced access to information and contraception and increased sexual violence.
For the 2021-22 Rotary year, the Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta wants rotary members to focus their efforts on empowering girls and ensuring their access to education, resources, services, and opportunities so that future generations of women leaders will have the tools they need to succeed.
