US4Women

Empowering Ugandan women to rise above poverty

Did you know that women account for around two-thirds of the world’s labor force yet earn only 10% of the world’s income? And of the 900 million adults worldwide who cannot read or write, about two-thirds are women? Ending blasting problems like poverty means realising individual potentials of the people on earth and how much they could be worth, if given a chance. Can something be done so that women who are a little less than 50% of the world’s population, can be more of a contributory factor to benefit everyone? Yes, it can and it begins with the empowerment of women.

92hands created the US4WOMEN program to increase and improve the social and economic strength of women in the community, to ensure equal-right to women, and to make them confident enough to claim their rights, such as:

To freely live their lives with a sense of dignity, self-worth and respect. To have complete control of their lives, both within and outside their home and workplace. To make their own choices and decisions. To determine financial and economic choices.

For example, we started a literacy program and have taught them basic skills in reading and writing the english language and doing business. They were taught to make counter books and some of them have gone on to make them and sell in their neighbourhoods. We also started a loan scheme where the women borrow money to start income generating projects and return it after an agreed period of time. Women are natural collaborators and they boost themselves to great heights when they feel useful and capable.

We believe that women empowerment does not just mean educating women, giving them jobs and helping them get equal rights as men, but to provide a sense of relief, a sense of dignity and a sense of freedom. and if we are empowering women then indirectly we are empowering their families and if each and every family is empowered in our country, then we are building stronger communities.

It is the right of every woman to take her own decisions for her own benefit as well as the society and together we will transform our communities by transforming families.

US4Women Programs

Hairdressing

Women are taught different hairstyles, from plaiting cornrows, pencil styles to natural hair treatment and styling. Women are taught this skill because it saves time and allows them to make money within the shortest time, as they can work remotely.

Tailoring

The tailoring class enable women to learn the different styles in fashion, from making uniforms, school sweaters, aprons, masks to making graduation gowns, wedding gowns and suits for both men and women.

Make-up

With this new era, women have picked up the trend of applying makeup to look more beautiful and elegant. They stand out and walk with confidence. This program enables women to learn how to use makeup from the basics of applying foundation, eyebrows, applying eyeshadows and concealers.

Baking

Women are taught the art of baking, making cakes of all styles and flavours, cupcakes, bread, buns and so much more. This helps them generate income to sustain their families at home since it is an easy skill to practice at home, and doesn’t need a lot of requirements.

Business and Skills Training

The ability to find gainful employment is a way to escape a life of poverty helplessness. We live in a world where the job market favours people who are adequately educated with useful skills to compete effectively. We empower the women who are economically disadvantaged who have little or no education by training them in vocational skills so that they can gain value, economic independence and self-esteem. Many of them do not have access to the training and resources that can help them become financially sufficient and independent.

Skills development is the key to improving household productivity, employability and income-generating opportunities for women. We train them in vocational courses like book-making, making arts and crafts, hair dressing, tailoring among others. Later, they can be able to establish their own businesses through a micro-finance program, with support from 92Hands. We will also teach them business skills like starting their own business, how to wisely manage their finances and provide them with the opportunities for growth and empowerment. This is truly transform their lives through creating dignified work opportunities.