Empowering women and girls is at the heart of Pour Femme’s mission. In refugee camps and conflict-affected communities across Uganda, women and girls face extreme challenges that threaten their safety, health, and futures. Many arrive as survivors of gender-based violence, only to find themselves vulnerable again in overcrowded camps or impoverished urban areas. Our goal is simple but transformative: to provide them with the tools, skills, and support to rebuild, recover, and rise above these challenges. When women and girls thrive, their families and communities grow stronger, more resilient, and more peaceful.
Key Issues Faced by Women and Girls
Women and girls in Uganda, especially refugees and those in marginalized urban communities, face a series of intersecting challenges. Here are the key issues:
Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
– Statistic: 50% of refugee women and girls report experiencing gender-based violence, often within the very places where they seek shelter.
– Consequences: Many women suffer long-lasting trauma, isolation, and fear, severely impacting their mental health and sense of safety.
At Pour Femme, we break the silence on GBV. Through self-defense classes, community awareness, and survivor support programs, we empower women to protect themselves and regain control over their lives.
Economic Disparities
– Statistic: In Uganda, 70% of women work in informal, low-paying jobs without security or fair wages. Refugee women are at the highest risk of exploitation, with limited access to employment or skills training.
– Consequences: These economic barriers keep women in cycles of poverty, dependent on unsafe work or forced to rely on others, making them even more vulnerable to exploitation.
Our economic empowerment programs give women the skills and resources they need to achieve financial independence. Through small business training, microfinance opportunities, and job placement support, we’re building a foundation of security and opportunity.
Limited Access to Education and Health Services
– Statistic: Only 13% of girls in refugee camps reach secondary school. Many drop out due to early marriage, household responsibilities, or lack of resources.
– Consequences: Limited education closes doors to future opportunities, leaving girls more susceptible to exploitation and poverty.
Pour Femme provides SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) education and counseling services, ensuring that women and girls have the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their health and futures.
– Self-Defense Training: Over 80% of women report feeling more secure after completing self-defense training, knowing they have the tools to protect themselves and their families.
– Economic Empowerment: 70% of participants in our small business and vocational training programs have launched sustainable businesses, lifting themselves and their families out of poverty.
– Education and Health Services: Since 2011, over 3,000 women have accessed vital healthcare and education through our SRHR programs.
The Importance of Gender Equality
Gender equality is more than a moral imperative—it’s a pathway to sustainable development and peace. Research consistently shows that when women are empowered, everyone benefits:
– Economic Growth: If women in Uganda participated in the workforce at the same rate as men, national GDP could increase by up to 20%. Women reinvest in their families, supporting education, health, and community growth.
– Improved Health Outcomes: Empowered women are healthier and can better advocate for their children’s needs. With Pour Femme’s support, refugee women access not only medical services but the knowledge to make health-conscious decisions for themselves and their families.
– Peace and Stability: In post-conflict areas, women are essential to building peace. They take on leadership roles in community healing and reconciliation, driving change from within.
Empowering women isn’t just about individual lives; it’s about creating a ripple effect that uplifts entire communities and lays a foundation for a more equitable and stable society.
Our Unique Approach: Transforming Lives, Rebuilding Communities
At Pour Femme, we believe that real change happens when women take the lead in their own empowerment. Our programs are designed not only to address immediate needs but to provide long-term solutions that women can use to thrive.
What Sets Us Apart
– Local Leadership and Knowledge: Our programs are led by women who have experienced displacement and hardship themselves, like Aneno Patricia, our Finance and Administration Lead. Aneno grew up in Northern Uganda, experienced life in IDP camps, and brings invaluable insights that ensure our programs are culturally relevant and impactful.
– Trauma-Informed Care through Movement: Our “Movement and Play for Trauma Healing” initiative, which combines self-defense, soccer, and trauma therapy, is transforming lives by helping women reclaim their bodies and voices.
– Economic Justice through Skills Training: We prioritize economic independence for women by focusing on marketable skills that suit Uganda’s economy. This approach reduces dependency and strengthens community resilience.
The Impact of Our Work
Every year, Pour Femme empowers thousands of women and girls across Uganda to overcome adversity and reclaim their future.
– 35,000+ Women Supported Since 2011: Our programs reach women in some of the most underserved and vulnerable communities, equipping them with tools for resilience and independence.
– 80% of Participants Feel Safer: Our self-defense programs have been transformative, giving women the strength to stand up for themselves and live without fear.
– 25% Reduction in GBV Incidents Among Participants: By addressing GBV through prevention, support, and self-defense, we’ve seen meaningful reductions in incidents in communities where we work.
Our programs are designed to create lasting change by equipping women with skills, knowledge, and support. [Read more about our impact here](link to Our Impact page).
Join Us in Making a Difference
The need is great, but together, we can make a difference. When you support Pour Femme, you’re not just helping one woman—you’re changing the trajectory of entire communities. There are many ways to get involved:
– Become a Protector: Help provide safe spaces and self-defense training for women escaping violence.
– Support Economic Independence: Your donation helps refugee women start businesses, gain employment, and provide for their families.
– Raise Your Voice: Share our mission on social media and advocate for women’s rights and refugee support.
What Happens Without Support?
Without intervention, the issues faced by women and girls in these vulnerable communities continue to escalate:
– More women remain trapped in cycles of violence and exploitation.
– Girls lose out on education, perpetuating poverty for future generations.
– Communities miss the potential that empowered women bring to peace-building and economic stability.
Your support is crucial to breaking these cycles. Together, we can make sure that no woman or girl is left without a safe space, a path to recovery, or a chance to thrive.
