1.8 Imparting political leadership skills in the next generation of leaders

Photo credit: Stock image

1.3 The higher Education Access Programme (hEAP)

The Higher Education Access Program is an eight-year Program that seeks to enable 300 young women and men from economically disadvantaged regions of Uganda access to education and leadership development, including transition to higher education or to secure employment in sectors that contribute to the development of their communities and the country.

The Program is focused on providing bursaries to academically bright and gifted students from the Northern region including Adjumani, Amudat, Amuru, Kaabong and Pader; Eastern regions including Bukwo, Buyende, Katakwi and Mayuge; and, the Western region, including Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Kanungu and Ntoroko. FAWE continued to support 271 Students taking Diploma and Degree studies in Uganda.

In April, 10 students from Busitema and Mbarara university graduated with degree certificates. Between July and December, 49 students completed their studies with 11 students from Gulu University graduating in September 2021 and the remaining 38 awaiting graduation.

Out of the 49 students that had completed their studies, 13 of them are volunteering as nurses or lab technicians, 13 others are part time teachers, 5 are employed full time while 7 are self-employed. Further, 60 students (30 female, 30 male) who pioneered the Higher Education Access Certificate, a bridging course in Busitema University graduated and are currently enrolled in science-based Degree Courses at Busitema University.

Additionally, two universities, Gulu and Mbarara received accreditation from the National Council for Higher Education to enroll bridging course students.

1.4 Sixty students graduate with certificates in higher education

On 27th March 2021, FAWE Uganda held a graduation Ceremony for 60 students (26 Female, 34 Male) who completed the Higher Education Access Program (HEAP) at Busitema University in Tororo – Eastern Uganda.

The ceremony was meant to appreciate and congratulate learners who completed the one (1) year study under the Higher Education Access Certificate program to prepare them to transition into university degree programs. It helped popularize the HEAP Program in Uganda; and clarified fears and expectations about it. The awareness is focused on increasing the number of students taking-up the course in the seven (7) Partner Universities of Busitema, Gulu, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Lira, Muni and Kabale.

The 60 learners will transition to degree courses in, Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery, Nursing, Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation, Engineering, Education in Sciences and Languages, Water Resources Management, and Animal Production and Management at Busitema University under the FAWE Mastercard Foundation scholarship. Prior to the graduation ceremony, a two day transition workshop was held and learners were oriented on career selection and success in a professional work environment, understanding institutional rules, regulations and reporting structures, life in college or Higher institutions of learning, mentorship and coordination at different campuses, discipline and building blocks of success with the objective of enabling them to settle down and concentrate on their studies in the next education journey.

After the ceremony, a radio talk show was held at Rock Mambo FM in Tororo district to popularize the Certificate program following completion of the first cohort of learners. Three (3) graduands and the Dean Faculty of Science and Education featured as Panelists. Learners shared their testimonies, experiences about the program and appreciated FAWE and Mastercard Foundation for supporting and enabling them to achieve their dreams. The talk show reached out to over 3 million people in Eastern Uganda.

The event was graced by several dignitaries including officials from Busitema University – The Dean Facility of Science and Agriculture, Quality Assurance: Academic Registrars from Gulu and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Media, FAWE Uganda staff, mentors and roles models, and the learners.

The Higher Education Access Programme is aimed at enabling students, who have not attained sufficient grades at Senior Six (6) to enroll for a degree course after successfully undertaking a one certificate course. It serves as an alternative route to access University Education by A-level students who did not attain the two principal passes as the current direct requirement for admission.

Graduates of the Higher Education Access Programme (HEAP) happily pose for a photo after the graduation ceremony held in March 2021. The graduates, 60 in total (26 female and 34 male), graduated from Busitema University in Tororo, Uganda.

1.5 Scholarship Entrepreneurship Fund

FAWE supports 45 scholars’ businesses under the Scholarship Entrepreneurship Fund. The program is a pilot project funded by Mastercard Foundation aimed at nurturing creative and innovative scholars’ business ideas to enable them productively and positively contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities. The project running from 2019 to 2021 targeted scholars at tertiary level under the Scholars program in Rwanda. Today, the Scholars continue to be mentored and trained on successful ways of managing their businesses.

1.6 Commonwealth Scholarships

Once again, FAWE was selected as a nominating agency for the Commonwealth Scholarships. This is largely attributed to FAWE’s presence in 33 countries across Africa and her consistency to select high quality candidates for the scholarship program over the years.

Out of 35 applicants nominated by FAWE in March 2021, 19 applicants (9 PhD and 10 Masters) secured postgraduate scholarships tenable in the United Kingdom. FAWE is currently nominating girls and young women for 2022 scholarships.

1.7 Supporting girls and women through skills training

850 young women benefited from the NORAD supported Project on Youth Sustained Business Startups, implemented in Zanzibar and Mali. In Mali the girls were taught on skills on renewable energy. Some of the young women have since started their own businesses and employed girls from the project. In Zanzibar the girls were taught on Seaweed farming and majority of them currently making various seaweed products Beneficiaries of Seaweed Farming in Zanzibar, Julie Khamati, FAWE Programme Assistant on the furthest left and Kelvin Omwansa FAWE Knowledge Management Officer furthest right

This project was a classic example of FAWE’s flexibility and quick adoptability to changes in programing and responding to factors beyond our control such as COVID 19 pandemic. Some of the girls in Mali could no longer afford transport to attend internship in the institutions they had been attached. Further insecurity (Civil unrest) made movement difficult and caused a lot of uncertainty. FAWE quickly responded to these concerns ensuring to facilitate access to the institutions and support basic needs of the girls so that they can complete their internship.

Beneficiaries of the Youth Sustained Business Startups during a practical lesson in Bamako, Mali in November 2021. The project is funeded by Norad.

1.8 Imparting political leadership skills in the next generation of leaders

FAWE in partnership with The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the support from Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, implemented activities in support of Women in Political Participation (WPP). The project aimed at increasing the political participation and representation of women in Africa in line with the Maputo Protocol of 2003, various associated sub-regional protocols and standards, and the Sustainable Development Goals. FAWE is a member of a consortium of 6 members; FAWE, Gender Links, FEMNET, WLSA, IFAN, Gender Lab and PADARE in 8 African countries; Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. FAWE developed the WPP situational analysis research and countryspecific policy briefs for Kenya and Tanzania which were disseminated on different platforms

On 8th March 2021 during International Women’s Day, FAWE launched the WPP Regional Intergenerational Mentorship program, a program aimed at mentoring and passing on the mantle of leadership to young women/girls. FAWE further developed an academy manual that has been used to train young women from 8 African Countries to become leaders. In June 2021, FAWE trained over 40 facilitators from 8 African countries (Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) on the use of the FAWE academy manual and contents of the modules. The facilitators were then employed to train young women in their respective countries. In Kenya a total of 61 young women were trained on leadership skills using the said manual. FAWE invited seasoned female politicians, media practitioners and male champions of women rights to share experiences on women leadership. The participants developed action plans towards their ambition to participate in the 2022 or 2027 elections in Kenya. The trainees also benefited from an intergeneration conference where mentors and mentees shared experiences.

Further FAWE has developed a school model curriculum on leadership targeting early learners. The school module is aimed at identifying leaders at early age and training the to take up the mantle in the next generation. FAWE emphasis the need to train on leadership from an early age and this skill is best achieved from school.

FAWE Africa Deputy Executive Director giving opening remarks at the WPP workshop on developing a school model curriculum on leadership skills for early learners in schools (From left) FEMNET Executive Director Ms. Memory Kachambwa, Taita Taveta Deputy Governor H.E Majala Mlagui, Retired Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch and FAWE Executive Director Ms. Martha Muhwezi at the Intergenerational Mentorship Gala Dinner in November 2021