Empowering women and promoting gender equality is crucial in accelerating sustainable development and Transformation. Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also has a multiplier effect across all other development areas.
Agwang Martha Foundation helps vulnerable young women escape the terrible consequences of extreme poverty, women who have suffered from trauma and abuse. Lack of education, skills and any hope of work forces many young women into the clutches of gangs, underage marriage and even prostitution
Agwang Martha Foundation (formally called UYDT) Justification for supporting women: Despite the existence of strong, progressive and articulated global and continental policies, strategies and action plans on women, peace and security, women and girls continue to bear the brunt of conflicts in Africa. They remain victims of sexual violence and other forms of abuses and are still underrepresented in peace processes at local, national and continental level. The Agwang foundation women empowerment program seeks to bridge the gap between policy and realities on the ground by improving the services around women as well as creating concrete interventions in post-conflict situations addressing specific challenges faced by women and girls as they arise.
AM foundation acknowledges that women are key to sustainable development. It appreciates that Uganda can only develop fully when both women and men are educate and work together.
Unfortunately, women and girls in Uganda are often victims of structures in society that has kept them;
- Ignorant and in subservient roles
- Un-exposed to modern farm economies, while farming is their major livelihood
- Far from developing their leadership potential, while re-known for their hard work and multi-tasking abilities.
Most rural mothers;
- Don’t make informed decisions on nutrition, vaccination and family planning.
- They are insufficiently educated to get out of the poverty trap.
- They are not allowed to participate effectively in community development planning and policy formulation.
Therefore, most of the training and education interventions are geared towards;
- Creating a pool of value driven knowledgeable women who participate effectively in socio- economic development and political activities. Including speaking up for peaceful ways of dealing with tribal and other differences.
- Ensure that at least 80% of it’s senior staff are female.
MA Foundation Empowers women through:
- Artisan training
- Special projects
- Girl Education Movement (GEM)
Agwang Martha Foundation aims to change that through the offer of free training and start up tool kits for tailoring, hair dressing and saloon, catering and baking. Also life artisan skills like basket weaving, table cloth making, soap making, bid wallets
Achievements
- Since 2017, the foundation supports women entrepreneurship initiatives. Examples are;
The first group of women were trained on artisan skills; basket making, soap making, table cloth making and were supported with startup tools needed to start their business. Over 250 women benefited from this program.
- Over 150 women were supported in starting up income generating ventures like tree seedling raising which involved 100 women and village saving group of 50 women. Where women are actively involved and have productively benefited themselves individually and household.
