Keep Ugandan Girls in School
Date Published:
Challenge
Up to 80% of girls in rural areas of Uganda entering primary school do not complete their primary education. Additionally, Uganda has the highest teen pregnancy rate in sub-Saharan Africa with over 30% of Ugandan girls having their first baby by the time they are 18. HIV infection rates are 9 times higher in girls than boys the same age and Uganda has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world, 25% of which are from unsafe abortions.
Solution
Development Alert's Girls Program helps keep girls in school which in turn affects the entire community through training students to act as peer leaders about reproductive health, distribution of sanitary pads to girls in school and construction of girls only private latrines at school. In addition, the program trains girls and youths in entrepreneurship allowing them to local make reusable sanitary towels within the community to ensure easy access and sustainability. Early data show that the programs have had a remarkable impact.
Long-Term Impact
With peer-educators, skills and easy access to sanitary towels, girls are better informed about reproductive health and more comfortable with discussing issues around menstruation, puberty and relationships with boys. With trained women teachers supporting trained student- educators many girls will receive support and be able to keep in school. With these support, steady increase in girls attending school will increase thus reduced dropout rates, and increment in primary school completion by girls in rural areas.
Up to 80% of girls in rural areas of Uganda entering primary school do not complete their primary education. Additionally, Uganda has the highest teen pregnancy rate in sub-Saharan Africa with over 30% of Ugandan girls having their first baby by the time they are 18. HIV infection rates are 9 times higher in girls than boys the same age and Uganda has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world, 25% of which are from unsafe abortions.
Solution
Development Alert's Girls Program helps keep girls in school which in turn affects the entire community through training students to act as peer leaders about reproductive health, distribution of sanitary pads to girls in school and construction of girls only private latrines at school. In addition, the program trains girls and youths in entrepreneurship allowing them to local make reusable sanitary towels within the community to ensure easy access and sustainability. Early data show that the programs have had a remarkable impact.
Long-Term Impact
With peer-educators, skills and easy access to sanitary towels, girls are better informed about reproductive health and more comfortable with discussing issues around menstruation, puberty and relationships with boys. With trained women teachers supporting trained student- educators many girls will receive support and be able to keep in school. With these support, steady increase in girls attending school will increase thus reduced dropout rates, and increment in primary school completion by girls in rural areas.
