A Future Unfolding: Honoring the Day of the Girl Child with 106 Graduates
Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative (ROM) joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Day of the Girl Child under the theme “Education for all Children in Africa: The Time is Now’’ with a graduation ceremony hosted by Roses of Mbuya Social Enterprise (ROMSE), in collaboration with SHE SOARS and the Mennonite Central Committee at Reach Out Mbuya Banda site.
A total of 106 young women graduated with certificates in various vocational skills following six months of training. The atmosphere was filled with joy, excitement, and pride as friends, families, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the achievement of these incredible young women. For many, this day was not just about receiving a certificate or completing a course-it was the hours of hard work, overcoming obstacles, and the relentless pursuit of a better future.
The ceremony began with a parade of the graduates, their faces glowing with pride, each one marching with energy around the ROM Banda site grounds. Some smiled with joy; others shed tears of joy as they could not fully comprehend that this day had finally dawned.
The graduation was significant as it was held in honor of the Day of the Girl Child, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges girls face worldwide, but also to celebrate their power and resilience. This day recognizes the importance of providing girls with the tools they need to succeed—whether it’s education, healthcare, or freedom from violence and discrimination.
The graduation ceremony was graced by Ms. Frances Evelyn Aguti, Senior Initiative Manager, CARE International Uganda, who commended ROM for the wonderful product that was brought out. “Your future is now bright; you have done courses where you won’t look for jobs,” Ms. Aguti said while addressing the graduates. She committed to CARE International Uganda’s continued funding for the SHE SOARS project in Nakawa and Makindye. Through SHE SOARS, ROM equips out-of-school adolescent girls and young women with vocational skills. Equipped with these skills, the girls can create their businesses, thus empowering them economically and overcoming structural challenges such as poverty, which hinders them from realizing their full potential.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, ROM’s Director of Programs, Ms. Hilda Achayo, urged the graduates to offer quality services. “You are a unique group. This is the first time our girls receive a Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) certificate,” Ms. Achayo revealed. “We pray that all of you soar high,” she added.
The guest of honor, Mr. Henry Kakembo, Operations Manager, Global Paints, commended ROM for her excellent community work. “Global Paints is privileged to partner with ROM, and we pledge our continued support,” Mr. Kakembo said. On behalf of Global Paints, Mr. Kakembo handed over a cheque of 2M UGX to contribute to the establishment of a ROMSE computer laboratory where girls will develop valuable technology skills and access essential digital tools that are increasingly necessary across all fields.
The graduates expressed their profound appreciation to ROM and the funders for giving them an opportunity to obtain skills that will change their lives. One of the graduates, Norrinne Kayiza, broke down in tears as she received her start-up kit. “I cannot imagine all this is for me. I am going to start a future, a good future,” she said.
The girls received start-up kits for the different fields they specialized in, such as salon equipment and accessories like hair braids, hair dryers and shampoo, sewing machines, and deep fryers, setting them off on a new journey, a new beginning with a promise of a brighter future.
The day climaxed with the cutting of a cake, celebrating the achievements of 106 young women armed with vocational skills starting their journey toward economic empowerment and independence.
