The Geared For Success (GFS) Project has equipped 8 RLOs in West Nile Region with Capacity enhancement trainings and sessions on crucial areas like; formulation of gender-just policies, community and stakeholder engagement, communication and digital skills training, child protection and safe guarding, Capacity Assessment Training, among others.
This was revealed during the three-day visit by Nathalie Garon, the Deputy Director of Education Programming at the International Assistance Partnership and Programming Branch of Global Affairs Canada, together with Steve Ashby, Director of International Development at War Child Canada.
During this project monitoring visit, one of the major highlights was the capacity building of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs), whereby they have successfully formulated and refined policies, created physical spaces to support female staff, and female staff have taken up scholarship opportunities to enhance their ability to take on leadership positions within their organizations.
The GFS project provided six scholarships for RLO female staff members to pursue professional accounting and project management courses, strengthening their capabilities to manage their organizations effectively.
The GFS project aims at enhancing equitable and inclusive learning outcomes for refugees and host community children and youth, particularly girls and adolescent girls.
During her presentation, Dinah Nubuhoro, the GFS Project Officer highlighted how RELON’s advocacy efforts have boosted school retention and enrolment in project-targeted areas.
Nubuhoro noted that the project also targets out-of-school adolescent girls who have lost hope of re-enrolling and as a result of these initiatives, enrolment rose by 21% at Highland Secondary School, Yumbe district.
During the courtesy visit to the Yumbe district leadership and UNHCR, Asaba Innocent Birekeyaho the Yumbe district Chief Administrative Officer praised the robust partnership between the district and consortium members, noting that their participation in GFS project activities enhances a sense of ownership, given their role as key stakeholders, which has aided adolescent girls and youth in returning and staying in school.
Vicent Amaruma, the Commandant of Imvepi Settlement in Terego district commended the GFS project for their capacity-building efforts which have supported RLOs and improved their operations.
The team visited RLOs including YETA and YSAT, schools, including Yoyo Secondary School, and Awa Primary School, where they also distributed dignity kits.
TheGFS project initiatives seek to address gender gaps and inequalities, build women’s confidence and leadership, enhance self-sufficiency, and strengthen community development and social cohesion.
GFS project is funded by GAC through War Child Canada and OXFAM, implemented in collaboration with RELON, Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation (CECI), the Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT).