OPARA SUB-COUNTY, A REFORMED COMMUNITY

A photo taken during a community sensitization dialogue (new project)

WKG began its activities in Opara Sub-County in 2021; the community was not so receptive; women would hardly engage in meetings due to the way that they were perceived by the men. Women’s views hardly mattered then; the sub-county had many youth gangs of petty thieves and many youths were unemployed.

During the previous project (Sustainable Livelihood training for Youth in Northern Uganda), community sensitization dialogues were conducted; members were informed about the project and how youth were to be identified and selected to acquire skills in Horticulture and tailoring. The local leaders and men actively engaged in the activity but women were left out.

The community was sensitized on the importance of having opinions from both genders during discussions and gradually the mindset of the men changed. The women councilors joined the advocacy and few women began attending meetings (5 females out of 40 participants). WKG ensured that gatherings were scheduled in the early afternoons when women have completed many of their duties at home.

With the new project in 2023, (Sustainable Livelihood and Healing Transformation of the Youth), community sensitization dialogues have been held in 13 villages; that is Aneni B, Guda, Odeco, Lolai, Pajinya, OLoyo kampala, Ibinonga, Nyam-orogo, Opok, Pukumu, Pambari, Pugola and Aneni A in Opara Sub-County, Amuru district. The intension for this was to reach out to the communities and inform them of the new intervention and also find out whether there were any emerging issues that needed our attention.  Of the 456 participants, 45% were female and they cited these as the major issues:

·         Gender Based Violence

·         Early marriages amongst the youth

·         High illiteracy levels amongst the children and youth

·         Drunkenness

·         High prevalence of malaria.

·         Hunger even when a lot of food is grown

·         Weather changes that affect crop production.

The participants pledged to active involvement in the project activities for the good of their communities and especially for their youth.

WKG pledged to address the above issues in the proceeding community dialogues.

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Photos of participants during community dialogues. (new project)