Vac-Net Quarterly Update October 2014

Vac-Net Quarterly Update
October 2014
Our Mission is to reach underserved women in northern Uganda through socio-economic and education
programs, creating opportunities while strengthening families and communities. It seeks to offer women
leadership and empowerment abilities required to lead successful, dignified lives.
Support the self-determination, self-expression, and
poverty reduction of women in Gulu, Uganda.
Volunteer Action Network (Vac-Net) continues to provides microfinance and educational opportunities to
women recovering from brutal violence and poverty in northern Uganda. Our goal is poverty alleviation, increased human and food security and women's empowerment. Our "credit-plus" model focuses on three areas
in addition to economic development: literacy, leadership and health. We have had enormous success addressing the systemic inequalities that women face in post-conflict settings.
“Attending Literacy Training was as important as the best that any body can
need. It was even more impactful in my life
and my family that I leant good agricultural
practices and planted on large scale since
Camp life ended , At home now we have
enough food and I will sell some. I'm not
worried my children will go to school”
Bilentina Okot -Bungatira Gulu.
Literacy learning for women improves livelihood in families
Literacy, is a foundation of human resource development and is critical
to alleviating poverty and to enhancing the general quality of life of people. Vac-Net through the seed to change live project is supporting
women in Gulu to learn and teach their families and community, the
center currently trains 89 women. This project has improved women’s
participation in key decision making and participating in their community
planning processes at different levels, having women attending and contributing in community meetings is key in policy formulation, improving
women’s self esteem and communication skills has contributed to the
reduction of conflicts in families.
For information contact our office at Plot 22 Pece School Road P.OBOX 1341 Gulu, Tel: 0392914218, 0752328735
info@vac-net.org, www.vac-net.org
Economic Empowerment
Changing Lives through Small Enterprise Development
This quarter Vac-Net continued to provide business skill training, changing lives of women and families in Gulu, 83 household
in different sub counties have been trained in liquid soap making
and supported with small grants to start business this will improve and boost household income to selected families through
this project.
Pi Anyim Group Received a small grant to buy material used to make liquid soap
“All what we needed is a skill and a small push to enable us started again, we have received both and now we are supplying Gulu High School with liquid soap, our families registered im‐
proved hygiene which will reduce preventable diseases” Ongom Chairperson PI ANYIM GROUP —Bunga ra‐Gulu PI ANYIM soap making group being trained Community Advancing Prevention for HIV/ AIDS Project
The Community Advancing Prevention of HIV/AIDS is a project that is
being funded by Civil Society Fund, being implemented by VAC-NET in
the areas of Bardege and Bungatira sub-county in consortium with
PACE, LAPEWA in Layibi and CSOVP in Paicho and Unyama.
Conducted re-orientation session of VHTs and Civic leaders on right to
access to HIV services basic facts about HIV/AIDs, mode of prevention.
In total 138 participants attended the training, 80 males and 58 females
“We are grateful our leaders are helping and joining us in all community dialogues
whenever we invite them all come expecting no transport refund this is due to sensitization done on the importance of leadership in the fight against HIV. In Bungatira
we are celebrating any achievement done together with partners, our leaders and
VHTs soon our sub-county will be among the best performer in the district simply
because of this increase in coordination:”.
…………………. Ociti Tonny VHT Bungatira………………..
For information contact our office at Plot 22 Pece School Road P.OBOX 1341 Gulu, Tel: 0392914218, 0752328735
info@vac-net.org, www.vac-net.org
Health &Empowerment
Keep women and girls empowered with dignity
It is a fact, inequality, gender taboos, and socio-cultural factors,
that menstrual health can be overlooked. girls feel embarrassed
or ashamed during and because of menses. And often times,
during menstruation women and girls are kept away from cooking, sleeping in the house, community participation, and are not
able to attend school. Due to the lack of access and affordability
of sanitary products. The project aims to address inequality and
health challenges associated with menstrual health
The project provides information, access and opportunities
with regards to menstrual health. Vac-Net will purchase a manufacturing unit and will provide education about menstrual health
to women and girls which will inform, educate and provide resources to assist in improving women's health in Northern
Uganda.
52% of the World's Population Experiences This.
But the biggest percentage in developing nations,
we need to address this.
The project will lead to: Increased education regarding menstrual health, Increased health and hygiene, Increased dignity and self
-esteem, Increased livelihoods thru production, Decreased costs
associated with sanitary products, Increased school and work
attendance
Push me Once Pig Seed Project
Push Me Once project continued to provide a sustainable jump start to
many vulnerable families in Gulu. Through this Quarter Vac-Net has supporter more 6 Families by constructing more 6 Pen houses and 6 pig
seed pairs disbursed, on overage each family in Gulu has 7 members
giving us 42 indirect beneficiaries in a Quarter this IS a big milestone in
transforming our community in much more sustainable way pulling one
family out of poverty at a time.
Client Quote:“I will definitely become a doctor, it was only buying books, food
and sanitary towels which were my major challenges for attending
school, now that I have received my pigs, I will feed them well and in
3 month I will have what to sell. Thank you for supporting me I will
not disappoint you” Jennifer ---Beneficially Gulu
Our goal is to continue reaching out to the most vulnerable families with a
seed to pull them out of poverty. We plan to construct more pen houses
and distribute more pig seed which continuously give us the same multiplier effect of indirect benefices per quarter. We need your support to
achieve more. Vac-Net believes that women are natural leaders and when given opportunities and access can be a transformative force for peace, advocacy ,security and equality.
Advocacy& Lobbying:‐ 2014 Creating a voice for WOMEN Annual events
The Creating a voice for WOMEN annual event provides, a unique opportunity of helping women, to seize the opportunity presented in a post conflict environment. Through leadership development Music Dance, Drama and community
Dialogues women in northern Uganda are able to actively challenge their communities, becoming leaders and advocates
for women empowerment, peace building and reconciliation. On 4th and 5th October 279 women participated in events,
2 extra-ordinary women were awarded with WOMEN4 Peace Awards, and 100 key community leaders participated in
a community dialogue under the theme: Re-integration OR Re-insertion? Listening to local voices, the guest of honor
Hon: Betty Ocan Woman MP Gulu District appealed to all leaders to listen and involve grassroots masses in planning pro-
Vac-Net believes that women are natural leaders, when given opportunities and access can be a transformative force
for peace, advocacy ,security and equality.
“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human
beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your
greatness blossom.” —- Nelson Mandela
Thank you!
For information contact our office at Plot 22 Pece School Road P.OBOX 1341 Gulu, Tel: 0392914218, 0752328735
info@vac-net.org, www.vac-net.org