Airtel Uganda has announced a partnership with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) to join in their fundraising campaign dubbed “Goats For Girls” that aims at keeping young girls in the Karamoja region in school.
As part of the partnership, the telecom company handed over UGX11,000,000 for the purchase of 100 goats that will be handed over to girls in Moroto and Napak districts. Each girl will be handed two goats from which she will obtain income to pay school fees and purchase scholastic materials. Upon reproduction, she will be required to give the first two kids to another girl for the process to continue and benefit other girls within the community.
Speaking during the handover, Airtel Uganda Managing Director Mr. V.G Somasekhar pledged Airtel Uganda’s support to ensure that school-going children in local disadvantaged communities have access to quality education, which will benefit them, their families and their communities.
“Girl child education is not a priority in many local communities across Uganda. At Airtel Uganda, we believe that it is critical for the empowerment of women and are therefore committed to ensuring that girls in the most disadvantaged communities get equal opportunities to access quality education and realize their potential,” he noted.
On why they have chosen to donate goats, Mr. Somasekhar noted that the initiative is not only supportive of ensuring that the girls stay in school but also ensures economic empowerment that is much needed to bridge the socioeconomic gaps witnessed across the country.
According to United Nations’ Girls Education Initiative statistics, literacy rates for young females still lag behind that of young boys by five percent, and nearly half of all girls in Uganda are married before the age of 18. In Northern Uganda – Karamoja region, girls take on women roles faster because they cannot afford to go to or stay in school due to economic challenges.
Commenting on behalf of IIRR, Pamela B. Nyamutoka Katooro, the IIRR Uganda Country Director, appreciated the partnership with Airtel and stated that this would go a long way in improving education outcomes for disadvantaged girls especially in pastoral communities.
“Since 2015, IIRR’s “Goats 4 Girls” model has successfully been used to support over 2000 girls to enroll and stay in school. The initiative inhibits the practice of forced early marriage and empowers girls with not only educational benefits but also economic independence that enhances their self-worth, dignity and confidence,” she commented.