Vase of Transformation is committed to reaching young people living in impoverished communities through a diverse range of programs addressing specific needs and SDGs. Our implementation model focuses on educating, Empowering, Engaging, and Leading.
ADOLESCENT HEALTH
Our program seeks to empower both adolescent boys and girls with knowledge and information to transition to adulthood with ease and prevent the poor outcomes associated with emotional, behavioral, and other health concerns through the BIA comic book and School Outreaches. These provide an open door to subjects that are still considered taboo. The book offers sessions on growth and changes that make puberty a transformational period for teenage girls and boys who are rarely given adequate assistance. Using an interactive comic book to deal with puberty makes it possible to reach out to children and teenagers directly.
The BIA comic book is illustrated to help girls and boys understand and learn about changes in their bodies in a fun, easy, and intriguing way as they continue to grow while building their self-confidence. For many girls and boys, puberty can be an uncertain time. The BIA comic book includes everything boys and girls need to know about changes during puberty, how to cope with the changes, growing breasts, wet dreams, acne or pimples, their periods, hair in private areas, feelings, nutrition, managing period cramps, preparing for your first period, period poverty and so much more. This book has practical steps to guide them as they learn about amazing changes happening in their bodies during puberty and beyond. The BIA Comic offers encouraging support while answering questions that girls and boys have about puberty.
Menstruation is not a frequently discussed topic, yet it is a big problem for teenage girls and young women who are faced with the prospect of using old rags, toilet paper, leaves, polythene bags, newspapers, and some digging menstrual holes where they sit during their periods to curb the flow of blood. In addition, girls endure attitudes that stigmatize menstruating women and girls as dirty. They, therefore, feel too ashamed to leave home while they are menstruating. Most end up missing school for an extended time every month due to this.
Research shows that at least 1 in 8 young girls in Africa is absent from school due to period poverty. Absenteeism is detrimental to girls’ education and means they fall behind their male peers. These millions of absences lead to girls getting fewer qualifications, limited job access, and less time building confidence and life skills.
The availability of affordable, reusable sanitary pads to girls in these areas as an alternative to unsanitary options like rags, polythene, newspapers, and others instills healthier menstrual hygiene practices which reduce the rate of infections thus preserving their good health and well-being (SDG 3). Alleviating the burden of period poverty on these girls will enhance their enrolment and decrease school absenteeism among girls, thus allowing them to experience quality education (SDG 4) just like their male peers without any mental barriers. Good education is a foundation for future productivity. Girls having access to education without such barriers encourages them to pursue long-term career goals.
This goes a long way to improve the life of the individual girl and reduce the existing inequalities in the formal sector.
Vase of Transformation in its quest to free girls and women from the disruptions that menstruation brings provides hands-on training to adolescent girls, especially those in rural areas on how to independently make, clean, eco-friendly reusable sanitary pads for themselves and also teaches them menstruation hygiene practices. This program aims to improve girls’ access to adequate, sustainable, affordable, eco-friendly, and safe menstrual hygiene products. And we also provide health booklets that contain information about safe menstrual hygiene practices and other health issues.
Our program aims to empower young people to become active participants in society and bring about positive change in their communities. We focus on fostering skills, knowledge, and awareness in areas such as leadership development, civic engagement, social justice, human rights, health and well-being, environmental sustainability, and global awareness and cultural exchange.
Through a combination of workshops, training sessions, seminars, guest speakers, interactive activities, and hands-on projects. We create a safe and inclusive environment that encourages open dialogue, critical thinking, and creativity. Additionally, incorporating opportunities for practical application and community engagement to enhance the program’s effectiveness and impact.
By equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge, awareness, and opportunities, we’re nurturing the next generation of leaders and change-makers who can contribute positively to their communities and beyond.
Skills and Work
When girls, boys, women, and men are empowered with the skills they need for working life, they thrive.
They can support themselves, their families, and their communities. One-third of the world’s 1.8 billion young people are currently neither in employment, education, or training. Of the 1 billion more youth that will enter the job market in the next decade, only 40% are expected to be able to get jobs that currently exist.
This program aims to increase and improve young people’s access to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and employment skills training.
Girls Economic Empowerment
Girls and young women make up the majority of the world’s 628 million unemployed young people who have neither an education nor vocational training. Barriers caused by gender inequality and discrimination are preventing girls from going to school and getting the skills they need to access decent work and break out of poverty.
Investing in girls’ economic empowerment is essential to achieving gender equality. Enabling girls to learn throughout their lives and develop key skills can transform lives, communities, and entire communities. Each extra year of education boosts a girl’s wages by 8-10%. Young women with secondary education could expect to make almost twice as much as those with no education. n addition, research shows that women’s education is linked to health benefits for their children – they are more able to keep their children healthy, secure, and educated.
Our Program seeks to train thousands of young women from underserved communities in Uganda and connect them with job opportunities so they can become financially independent.