ABOUT THE SIMAMENI PROJECT

The Simameni project seeks to improve ACCESS, RETENTION, and EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES for secondary school- going girls within selected communities of the Western and Teso regions in Uganda.

This five-year project, (2019 to 2024) is led by the Canadian Teachers’Federation (CTF/FCE), and Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), financed by Global Affairs, Canada.

To achieve the project’s outcomes, CTF/FCE and UNATU also collaborate closely with numerous other organizations working in education and gender equality, including the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) as well as local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Why the Simameni project?

Despite the girls’ right to quality education, and despite the numerous benefits associated with girls’education, the majority of secondary school-aged girls are not attending school in Uganda.

According to UNESCO, the rate of attendance among girls in secondary school throughout the country was only 22% in 2015.Although girls’ secondary school enrollment in Uganda is steadily climbing, increasing from 7.8% in 1997 to 22.1% in 2015 (World Bank), the rate is still low, and lags behind that of boys (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)). The Simameni projection is therefore a deliberate action to address these concerns.

How does Simameni work?

By working towards the improvement of education for girls at the secondary school level, Simameni addresses two key factors

1. Poverty
2. Lack of access to education and gender inequality.

The project plans to achieve its outcomes by;

(a) Improving conditions within schools to make them safer, more responsive, and more inclusive for girls,

(b) Fostering support for girls’ education within families and communities by influencing gender norms and supporting policy implementation.

Why educating girls matters

1. Educated mothers are more likely to send their children to school hence creating a beneficial cycle
2. Educated girls have better work opportunities and are therefore more able to improve their well-being and that of their families, and entire societies
3. Educated girls take better care of their health hence reduced maternal mortality, and decreased probability of HIV infection
4. Educating girls improves their ability to enjoy their human rights, increased gender equality, and increased engagement in leadership roles

PROJECT AREAS

Simameni works in selected districts of the Western and Teso regions in Uganda. These include; Serere, Ngora, Kumi and Bukeda (Teso) and Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and Kibaale (Western). Simameni targets 3 schools per district, therefore 12 schools benefit from the project in each region. These include;

Teso Region

Kumi – Atutur Seed S.S, Nyero Rock High School, Ongino S.S

Ngora – Kobuin Seed S.S, Mukura Memorial S.S, Ngora Girls S.S

Bukedea – Bukedea S.S, Kidongole Seed S.S, Malera High S.S

Serere – Pingire S.S, Ojetenyang Seed S.S, St. Elizabeth S.S, Kidetok

Western Region

Kyenjojo – Kyenjojo S.S,, Katooke S.S,, Kisojo S.S,

Kibaale – St.Kizito S.S, Kibedi, Buyanja S.S, Kisalizi Parents School

Kyegegwa – Humura S.S,, Kasule Seed S.S,, Bujubulu S.S,

Kamwenge – Kyabanda S.S,, Biguli S.S,, Rwamwanja S.S,