Sensitization of parents Conflict affected Girls in Bwesumbu and Buhuria in Kasese

conflict affected girls and windows at Kyatoka

On  1^st August 2017 RIC-NET team, local CBOs,  community Development officer and LC111 Chair person Visited  Kyatoka, Kasangali, and Bwesumbu Peas high school all in Bwesumbu and kithoma in Buhuhira sub counties to meet 12 conflict affected  girls (orphans) and 34 windows of the November 2016 armed attack  in to the Rwenzururu kingdom palace in Kasese.
At Kyatoka (sub county head quarters), majority of the affected families attended. The Executive director RICNET Mr. John Silco explained to them what all about the project and the expected beneficiaries.

meeting conflict affected girls and windows at Kyatoka Bwesumbu S/C Kasese.

Women especially widows who had attended the meeting requested to be supported as they were affected. John told them that the project was not for the widows but quickly advised them to form associations for them to be helped pledging his total support once an association is formed and he did mention his support to be in form of vocational skills training. A resolution was made to meet again on 22^ndaugust 2017. And the objective of the meeting will be identifying the skills these groups need to train in.

meeting at Kasangali

In Kasangali and kithoma, it was the same discussion of meetings on the date mentioned above but different time as 10:00 am for Kasangali and Kyatoka groups and 2:00pm for kithoma - Buhuhira group. During the kithoma meeting more two girls were identified as directly affected adding the number to seven. However, two girls and sisters were removed from the list of those to be trained as they were in school though chased for fees and they were advised to go back to school and complete school.

Mr. John promised to meet their mother and lay strategies of supporting them. these girls were Nyakato Rose and Asiimwe mackline and were replaced by Biira Nadia and Zuena Flavia who both lost their fathers in the last years attacks on the Rwenzururu palace meaning that the number of girls to train in saloon remains five as earlier identified.

Recommendations:

•   Support need to be more than material or training but also psycho-social support, sanitation, entrepreneurship skills training sensitization on diseases be integrated in the support.
•  A serious back ground check be made on families to really know those that need more support than others.
•   Families have to be encouraged to support their children in school as the support may not be continuous.
• There is need to design other projects to address the challenges other groups that are not part of the current project.