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@observer Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:13:02

Iceland, UNICEF commit $1m towards adolescent mothers in Uganda

The Embassy of Iceland in Kampala and UNICEF have signed an 18-month partnership worth $1 million (about Shs 3.6 billion) aimed at empowering vulnerable adolescent mothers to access multi-sectoral and inclusive social protection, early childhood development and parenting support services. According to the press statement, the partnership will allow UNICEF to link teenage mothers to protection, health, education, childcare and skilling services; provide mentorship and life skills to teenage mothers; support low-cost early childhood education (ECD) models in targeted communities and establish mobile early childhood development units and disability-inclusive ECD kits to provide early learning opportunities for children in hard-to-reach communities. The initiative, targeting Kyegegwa and Kikuube districts in western Uganda, comes with a focus on multi-sectoral and inclusive social protection, early childhood development (ECD), and parenting support services. Under this program, at least 1,000 adolescent mothers aged 12-19 years will gain access to education or vocational skills, while 2,000 of their children will benefit from both formal and non-formal early learning opportunities. Speaking at the signing event, the Head of Mission, Embassy of Iceland to Uganda, Hildigunnur Engilbertsdóttir noted that the programme will extend financial support to each beneficiary child monthly.   “Iceland is committed to empowering young mothers to enable them to learn, acquire skills, and be protected from harmful practices. This conditional cash transfer is linked to the adolescent mother’s participation in learning and her child’s involvement in ECD interventions, including ECD centres/early learning for children (aged 3-5 years) and referral to childcare services for children (aged 0-2 years). We strongly believe that these cash transfers will alleviate a young mother’s burden by supporting access to childcare services so she can return to school or seek employment,” Engilbertsdóttir further noted. Dr Robin Nandy, UNICEF Representative to Uganda, hailed the partnership as a crucial step toward sustainable change: “This agreement signifies the shared commitment of UNICEF and the Icelandic Government to prioritize the needs of children and communities in Uganda. With Iceland’s generous support, we will be able to scale up our efforts to address critical challenges, strengthen systems, and create lasting change for adolescent mothers and their children. Every child deserves a fair chance at a brighter future, and today’s partnership brings us closer to achieving that goal,” he said. The Embassy of Iceland and UNICEF have a history of impactful collaboration. Since 2019, their partnership has improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools and health facilities in refugee-hosting districts.  With this funding, UNICEF and Iceland aim to empower communities with the tools and resources they need to create a better future for children in Uganda by investing in innovative approaches and community-driven solutions aimed at contributing to Uganda’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). {loadposition inarticle}

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@observer Sat, 30 Nov 2024 18:55:22

8 Congolese refugees die, 29 injured in Kisoro road accident

Eight Congolese refugees died and 29 others sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident along the Kisoro-Kabale road in Rubanda district. The accident occurred at around 10:00 pm Friday and involved a minibus, registration number, UBK 037G that failed to break while heading to Rwamwanja refugee camp in Kamwenge district from the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border of Bunagana in Kisoro district.  The victims are from areas of North Kivu province, especially Rutshuru territory, one of the areas affected by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel insurgency. One of the casualties only identified as Hakiza told our reporter that after the failure to brake, the headlights of the vehicle immediately went off and in the process it failed to negotiate a sharp corner while at Kamukirwa village, Nyarurambi ward, Rubanda town council.Hakiza says that the driver of the vehicle is among the dead. Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region says that among the dead are three female minors, three female and two male adults. Maate says that the 29 casualties were rushed to Kabale regional referral hospital for treatment. Maate also says that the bodies of the deceased were also taken to Kabale regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem. Maate says that preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle overturned about 100 metres off the road. He also says that the victims are escapees from Rwamwanja refugee camp in Kamwenge district. Maate says that particulars of both deceased and causalities are not yet available. {loadposition inarticle}

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