UGANDA: Empowering girls to lead a self-determined life
Field of Studies: Political Science, Psychology, Education, Social Work, Computer Science, Sociology
Language: English
Number of Participants: 2
Scheduled time of the internship: 3 months between July and September 2012
Kawempe is the division of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, with the lowest average income. Situated around 8.5km from the city centre, this metropolitan area has businesses, small industry as well as low income housing. The majority of youth in Kawempe do not attend school, especially girls. It makes them vulnerable to sex work, early marriage and drug trafficking.
In Kawempe, the NGO Somero Uganda has created a youth centre where it uses peer education to reach the young people. Somero focuses on vulnerable groups with special focus on girls and young women. Computer and literacy classes, scholarships, tutoring and career guidance are aimed at offering the needed skills for a self- determined and self-sufficient life. Somero also gives health-related and psycho-social support and engages in community and mentor mobilization and sensitization. Somero’s vision is the creation of a network of mutual support among young Ugandans.
In this internship participants will gain insight into the multiple effects that education of women can have on local communities. The goal of this internship is to support the strategic development of this grassroots organization. Therefore, interns will create a communication strategy for Somero Uganda including a web page, social media and a blog for Somero scholarship-holders. The GLEN-participants will also support the daily work of the NGO: giving classes on health and literacy, supporting the documentation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities. Interns will also teach IT classes and develop an alumni volunteer program. The GLEN-participants might be joined by a local intern.
The interns should have experience with IT education and social work. Ideally, they will have web design and communication skills in order to develop the communication strategy of the NGO. GLEN-participants should be comfortable being confronted with the difficult personal backgrounds of the participating girls and enjoy working with and counselling young people.
The scheduled time for the internship is 3 months between July and September 2012. Training and seminars prior to the internship will be held in English.
The tandem will be formed by a Czech participant and a German/Swiss participant.
Proposed by: Janna Rassmann (Chairperson Somero)
Number of the internship: 5000300629
