International Women’s Day 2024 _Celebrations at St. Joseph Vocational Training Centre Kamuli

Every year on March 8th, people across the globe unite to commemorate International Women’s Day. This significant day inaugurated in 1908, serves as a moment to honour the accomplishments of women, foster dialogue on gender equality, and advocate for transformative change. Its an occasion to recognize the progress made towards women’s empowerment and highlight the ongoing efforts needed to ensure that women everywhere have equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of life.

This year’s theme by the UN; ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ underscores the imperative to prioritize investments in women to expedite societal advancement. This emphasis the role women play in driving progress across various sectors and highlights the importance of supporting initiatives that empower women economically, socially, and politically.

This is in line with Gender Matters for Green TVET Programme that aims to promote access to and participation in market relevant, Green Technical and Vocational/self employment for vulnerable adolescent girls and young women in trades that are traditionally male dominated-STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development envisages a world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality and all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment have been removed. To that end gender equality has one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) all to itself. In addition, gender equality cuts across all the goals and their targets. TVET is included under three targets of SDG 4 and also contributes directly to targets under other SDGs such as goal 8 on growth and employment.

We call upon all stakeholders to advocate and support girls and young women to enrol in TVET in order for them to acquire practical skills and knowledge that will enable them thrive in their lives and also contribute to the social economic development of their families and society at large.

The successful celebration of this year’s Women’s Day at St. Joseph Vocational Training Centre Kamuli was Co-Financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt.

This is part of the broader Gender Matters for Green TVET programme; a four-year initiative (2023-2026) implemented in five Don Bosco TVET Centres across Uganda and Rwanda.

The day began with students (girls and boys), staff and guests matching with the band in Kamuli Town to raise awareness on the theme and later had speeches from key women representatives and male champions. After had a football match between girls and boys.

The event was graced by representatives from Plan International Uganda -Kamuli Branch, UWONET, Rector SDB Kamuli, PDO, neighbouring schools (St. Joseph School of Nursing and Midwifery, St. John Bosco SSS, Progressive College Kamuli SSS, Central College Kamuli, Kamuli’s Grade SSS, St. Thereza Girls Primary School and media fraternity.

The Chief Guest Madam Mutesi Gloria from Plan International Uganda-Kamuli branch noted that all stakeholders should invest in girls and women in order for them to realize their full potential in all areas of their lives.  Girls and young women who attended the event appreciated all partners for supporting this initiative and called upon them to continue.