AWOR Mentoring Connection Bears fruits



In 2014 we began a mentoring programme (Empowering Women through Mentoring programme EWoM)) were we sought to provide a platform for pairing/connecting young women and other women willing to nurture them in various skills/fields of choice, interest and experience; to strengthen them. World Pulse provided me a learning opportunity through the stories posted and I was also able to share my dream. The response was encouraging  that women (global) showed up to voluntarily offer their time to provide online mentoring to about 7 young women in Uganda. Today I share the connection of Jackie in Uganda and Jenn from USA. 



Despite various challenges the programme faced such as difficulty in constant follow up since the mentee-mentor most times had direct connection, unaffordable poor internet by mentees but the reports they shared from time to time were so helpful including the online meeting webinars we held have helped in shaping the mentoring programme. I remember Jenn at one point asking to drop out from the programme citing some challenges but I am glad she persisted.



In the cohort of 2014 girls our focus was to encourage and guide girls to set personal goals and understand that they have a future beyond marriage. This is the greatest challenge we have seen girls facing. They have no role models in their communities. The also look achieving some goals or looking up to someone as so far fetched to be achieved. sharing experience with a mentee, communicating is something we feel is valuable and will positively change a woman's life. 



Five years years later I am excited to share that today Jackie and Jenn ! RUDI is a registered community based organisation in Wakiso District in Uganda established and started by Jackline Walusimbi Nabayunga (Uganda) and Jenn Schilling (USA) and is working to create a healthy and self-sustaining community free from violence. this is done through empowering by providing skills and creating awareness in regard to health in the community.



This mentorship relationship has helped shape the vision of Jackie and gave birth to  Rise Up Development Initiative (RUDI) Helping young people, changing lives. RUDI  today empowers young people with knowledge and basic technical/vocational skills. They also create awareness on reproductive health rights and gender among citizens. provide entrepreneurial skills. RUDI is today improving the reproductive health of communities, and plan to develop a mobile application to keep the community updated and also remind clients of their visits. The mobile application will be in local language.



The two initiative projects: Clean Period Project Campaign is A Pad For Her and the Youth Rise Project, were they are extending Adolescent Youth Reproductive Health information to the young people as well as engaging them in livelihood programs through skilling are in line with providing dignity and respect to women, a cause AWOR reckons with.



This gives me more encouragement to mentor more women to focus on achieving their dreams and mentoring other womentoo.

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