The session began with reflections on the previous week’s topic family planning. Many of the young mothers shared how access to contraception and reproductive health education has helped them make informed choices about their futures. 

A key highlight was the discussion on “Rediscovering Yourself as a Young Mother.” Motherhood at a young age often comes with societal pressures and personal struggles, leaving many teenage mothers feeling like they’ve lost their sense of self. 

“Before I had my baby, I was focused on school and my dreams. Now, I sometimes feel like just a mother and nothing else,” shared one participant. 

The facilitator encouraged the group to explore ways to pursue their passions, continue education, and maintain social connections while embracing their roles as caregivers. Strategies discussed included: 

– Time management – Setting aside moments for self-care and personal growth. 

– Community support – Leaning on peer groups, mentors, and family. 

– Goal-setting – Creating short-term and long-term plans for education and career. 

Beyond personal development, the session emphasized child health and well-being. With malaria remaining a leading cause of illness among children in many communities, the SAIC Project urged mothers to take their children for malaria vaccinations at nearby health facilities. 

“Your child’s health is your priority. Vaccination is a simple step that can save lives,” emphasized one of the health workers present. 

The discussion also touched on myths and fears around vaccinations, with facilitators providing factual information to dispel misconceptions. 

The SAIC Project doesn’t just stop at motherhood support it also advocates for comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education. Many teenage pregnancies result from lack of access to SRH information and services. The project aims to (not the overall objective): 

– Educate adolescents on safe sex, contraception, and bodily autonomy. 

– Reduce stigma around teenage pregnancy by fostering supportive communities. 

– Connect young mothers with healthcare services, including postnatal care and family planning. 

By addressing both immediate needs and long-term empowerment, the SAIC Project is helping teenage mothers reclaim their futures while raising healthy children. 

The post Empowering Teenage Mothers: SAIC Project Champions Family Planning and Self-Discovery  appeared first on Community Focus International.

Customized just for You

A Community Focus International and Plan International Uganda Initiative.

Community Focus International, in partnership with Plan International Uganda, is implementing the Safe and Inclusive Cities project, which aims to promote gender equality and prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in public transport systems. As part of this project, we recently organized an innovative activity that brought together male figures to sensitize them on SGBV, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), and SGBV in public transport systems.

The “Male Champions for Safe Cities” activity was designed to engage men as allies in the fight against SGBV and promote their role in creating safer and more inclusive public spaces. The event brought together over 8 male participants, including community leaders, transport operators, and local authorities.

Through interactive discussions, role-plays, and presentations, the male participants were sensitized on the following key issues:

• The impact of SGBV on individuals, families, and communities.
• The importance of SRH services and information for all.
• The role of men in preventing SGBV and supporting survivors.
• The need for safe and inclusive public transport systems.

The activity provided a platform for the male participants to share their experiences, challenges, and suggestions on how to address SGBV and promote gender equality in their communities.

The outcomes of the activity were remarkable, with many participants committing to become champions for change in their respective spheres of influence. Some of the key outcomes included:

• Increased awareness and understanding of SGBV and SRH issues among male participants.
• Improved attitudes and commitment to support survivors of SGBV.
• Identification of potential male champions to support the project’s activities and advocacy efforts.
• Strengthened partnerships with local authorities and transport operators to promote safe and inclusive public transport systems

As Community Focus International and Plan International Uganda, we believe that engaging men and boys is crucial in preventing SGBV and promoting gender equality. This activity demonstrated the potential for male figures to become powerful allies in creating safe and inclusive cities for all.

We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing our work with male champions to promote gender equality and prevent SGBV in public transport systems.

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On January 1st, 2021, CFI started a project to address the underlying causes of food insecurity and provide immediate assistance to 14 vulnerable persons with disabilities and the elderly in Northern Uganda.
Northern Uganda endured two decades of war, and the aftermath of this conflict is riddled with various kinds of disabilities, trauma, depression, and scars – mostly for individuals directly affected by the Lord Resistance Army conflict. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions, and related social and economic hardships escalated hunger problems for the already struggling persons with disability.

To compound the stark realities, the inflation of food prices has been drastic. Citing data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Trading Economics states: “Cost of food in Uganda increased up to 14.90% in July of 2022 over the same month in the previous year.”

For many families, we work with, going to bed hungry because there’s no food is an experience so many of our brothers and sisters with disability and the elderly experience regularly.

Upon this background, CFI started the Food Relief Program, where partner Organizations and individuals share items or funds to procure essential foodstuff and commodities, which are distributed to needy families identified through existing community structures, including mobilizers and local leaders across districts in northern Uganda.
The program focuses on increasing food distribution, fostering collaboration, and supporting sustainable solutions that include livelihood training to ensure the self-sustainability of the recipients ultimately.

This intervention complements ongoing programs that include the provision of assistive devices like wheelchairs and eyeglasses, supporting inclusive education, livelihoods, and health and nutrition programs in a bid to ensure comprehensive assistance for persons with disabilities and their families.

Since the inception of the program, CFI has continued to distribute food to over 50 families in northern Uganda every year with the support of volunteers. Volunteering, donating, or advocating together can ensure fewer people go hungry. Click on the link to donate or contact us to explore ways to be a part of this cause.

The post Inclusive Food Relief Program appeared first on Community Focus International.

Unfortunately, the government did not have any post-COVID economic and social recovery programs or incentives designed to directly benefit this vulnerable class, and almost a year after the full reopening of the economy, PWD and the elderly are drowning in hunger and are not only victims of poor social services but PWD and elderly unfriendly services like accessibility to public buildings.

However, Community Focus International (CFI) last week launched a massive charity act of distribution of old clothes and basic needs to PWD and the elderly starting in Otwal and Aleka sub-counties of Oyam district, items they have been collecting through a charity campaign dubbed “The Mercy Coalition Project” a project in partnership with Radio, Q FM, a lira based local radio station.

This project is intended to provide this class of people with basic needs and clothes to prepare them for more programs that will be directed at fighting poverty and mitigating the effects of the pandemic among the PWD and the elderly.

The well-attended event also involved other CFI activities like the identification of beneficiaries for the wheelchair project, where PWDs are provided with free wheelchairs, beneficiaries for the eyeglasses project, and scholastic materials.

The post A great coalition against the increasingly poorer from the low social class of PWDs and the senior citizens appeared first on Community Focus International.

Fear for HIV-positive results. Unfriendly attitudes in health facilities, Fear of loss of opportunities like education. Cultural myths related to sexual and reproductive health. These are some of the opinions from dialogues Community Focus International held with youth groups in Lira city. They are given as reasons that hinder young people from accessing appropriate sexual and reproductive health services.

Strategic and Impactful partnerships

In collaboration with GLOFORD, with support from PLAN International, Community Focus International is implementing the Safe and Inclusive Cities program in Lira City. The project goal is that children, adolescents and young people are safe and influence decision-making in resilient communities that respect their rights and offer equal opportunities for all regardless of gender.

The project targets vulnerable, high-risk behaviour adolescents and youths living in the wards of Baronger, Bazaar, Kakooge, Barogole and Teso Ward. The creation and functionalization of safe spaces in health facilities and communities for young people to access information, share and learn from individual experiences remains key to helping young people access sexual and reproductive health services.

CFI therefore collaborated with health facilities to conduct community outreaches to make the services more accessible to youths within the city. The outreaches involved health talks, HIV Counselling and Testing services and family planning services at the various wards of the health facilities. The facilities engaged were Ober, Adyel, Ongica and Ayago health centers. 

Making contributions

CFI reached 353 youths through the community health outreaches conducted and donated 6 (six) wheelchairs to the health facilities through the District Health Office. This happened over the last three months based on recommendations from a joint assessment of the youth-friendly spaces in the health centers in Lira City.

The interventions were all geared towards making the services provided by the health facilities more accessible from the premises well into the communities.

The post Increasing accessibility in Youth Friendly Spaces. appeared first on Community Focus International.

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