Welsh project to support schools in Uganda to overcome stigma around sexual reproductive health

Teams4U a Welsh based organisation has been awarded the Wales for Africa Multi Year Grant to facilitate the project and will use a peer-to-peer training approach, building on previous work in the area.

Teachers and nurses from Wales will visit the schools twice a term to develop lesson plans and model teaching methods. Parents will also be involved and meetings will be held with Parent Teacher Associations.

Establishing a sexual health curriculum will help to challenge stigma concerning menstruation and increase education on menstrual health (MHM) and sexual reproductive health (SRH) and create better links between schools and their local health clinics. It will also help to combat school absenteeism related to menstrual health. Promoting access to health services, the project aims to benefit approximately 18,000 children.

The project is timely as the Ugandan government developed the first Sexual Education Framework in May 2018. Teams 4U volunteers will conduct a 2-day seminar for 100 teachers from the participating schools on the Ugandan Sexual Education Framework and how to apply this to the classroom and school curriculum.

In Wales, Teams4U will facilitate a new part time role to work with Welsh schools, colleges and Universities to develop school links and contribute expertise and volunteering time to the project. Targets include engaging with at least 20 primary schools, contributing to the global citizenship education of an estimated 600 pupils in North Wales.

The grant scheme, administrated by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), enables community groups and organisations throughout Wales to access funding for small-scale Wales-Africa projects that have a positive impact in Africa and at home in Wales.

Eluned Morgan, the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language, said:

“Our Wales for Africa grants programme transforms the lives of tens of thousands of people from across this beautiful and diverse continent every year. It’s estimated this Teams 4U grant will benefit 18,000 children – a tremendous number of soon-to-be adults who will be more informed, better educated and healthier thanks to Welsh Government funding.

“It’s important we recognise the mutual benefits from supporting projects abroad and I encourage groups and organisations from across the country to bid for funding so they too can benefit the lives of people here and in Africa – Welsh support, past and future, truly makes a difference.”

The next Wales for Africa main grants for applications between £5,000 and £15,000 will open in Spring 2019.