Bringing together extensive experience, Set Her Free’s team possesses a deep understanding of the obstacles that our communities face. Our approach to support vulnerable young women and exploited children is broken up into four focus areas: Education and Development, Protect and Empower, Sexual Reproductive Health, and Climate Change Adaptation. These focus areas are rooted in an understanding of our communities’ contexts, addressing not one but many of the challenges that threaten to derail the lives of young women and girls in Uganda.
Education and Development: Young girls and young women living in urban and rural communities can gain control over their lives by accessing formal, quality education and the necessary vocational skills training in a safe environment that will allow them to have a sustainable future. Set Her Free will continue to invest in enhancing girls and young women’s human capital, we believe that this not only increases their knowledge and exposure but also increases their social protection networks, delays sexual initiation, and reduces early childbearing.
Protect and Empower: While all girls and young women have the right to protection, those living in marginalized communities face disproportionate risks and distinctive consequences. This is especially true when we are not able to create a safe and friendly environment or are unable to invest in reducing the vulnerabilities that make them susceptible to violence abuse and exploitation. Set Her Free invests in further strengthening its protection and empowerment approach beyond providing a transit shelter for girls and young women to be a safe space where they can access psychosocial support, empowerment, health, and education services.
Sexual and Reproductive Health: Lack of information and access to general health and reproductive health services removes girls and young women from participating in education, income generation, and other developmental opportunities. Set Her Free will invest in reducing vulnerabilities caused by poor sexual reproductive health choices, poor water, and sanitation as well as abuse of drugs and alcohol. We believe that investing in proper programs and information for girls and young women to tackle these health risks will enable them to live longer and have more productive lives.
Climate Change Adaptation: Set Her Free will work towards ensuring that vulnerable girls and young women from urban and rural communities have access to information, knowledge, and skills on climate change adaptation. The effects of climate change adaptation tend to disproportionately affect communities that predominantly live below the poverty line. Girls and young women in these communities tend to have distinct roles and responsibilities related to climate-sensitive activities. Involving them in climate adaptation programs helps reduce their vulnerability.
Check out the Set Her Free Strategic Development Plan for more information.
