{"items":"\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2258\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 post-2258 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-265\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-gave-me-the-freedom-to-build-a-better-life\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Iragena-Olga-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"Iragena Olga\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Iragena-Olga-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Iragena-Olga-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Iragena-Olga-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Iragena-Olga-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Iragena-Olga-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t13\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAug\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sexual And Reproductive Health &amp; Rights<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-gave-me-the-freedom-to-build-a-better-life\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\u201cFamily Planning Gave Me the Freedom to Build a Better Life\u201d<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-08-13T14:04:53+00:00\">August 13, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-gave-me-the-freedom-to-build-a-better-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-gave-me-the-freedom-to-build-a-better-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-gave-me-the-freedom-to-build-a-better-life\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Iragena-Olga-scaled.jpg&description=%E2%80%9CFamily+Planning+Gave+Me+the+Freedom+to+Build+a+Better+Life%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-gave-me-the-freedom-to-build-a-better-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-gave-me-the-freedom-to-build-a-better-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>\u201cFamily Planning Has Strengthened My Family and My Future\u201d \u2014 The Story of Iragena Olga.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>At 26 years old, <strong>Iragena Olga<\/strong> radiates confidence, health, and a sense of purpose. A refugee from Rwanda, Olga has built a stable and fulfilling life in <strong>Nakivale Refugee Settlement<\/strong>, specifically in <strong>Kashorwa B, Nakivale Village<\/strong>. She is married, a mother of two, and a proud businesswoman. But she is also quick to point out that one key decision has been central to her success: choosing family planning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have never regretted starting family planning,\u201d Olga says with a bright smile. \u201cI work well without the stress of unexpected pregnancies. I have energy, I am healthy, and I am always clean and presentable. I can move freely to run my businesses without constant worry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Olga\u2019s introduction to family planning came unexpectedly. Shortly after she met the man who would become her husband, she visited <strong>Nakivale Health Centre III<\/strong> for malaria treatment. At that time, she was worried about the risk of an unplanned pregnancy. During her visit, she encountered health workers from <strong>Shared Action Africa<\/strong>, who were conducting training, counseling, and offering <strong>free family planning services<\/strong> to refugee women.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey explained the options clearly, answered all my questions, and respected my choices,\u201d Olga recalls. After thoughtful consideration, she chose the <strong>Intrauterine Device (IUD)<\/strong>, a long-term, reversible family planning method.<\/p>\n<p>For Olga, the IUD has been a perfect fit. She used it for two years, during which she felt in control of her reproductive health and could fully focus on her family and work. \u201cWhen I felt ready to have another child, I simply went back, had the IUD removed, and I conceived,\u201d she says. Today, her first child is <strong>12 years old<\/strong> and her second is <strong>seven years old<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, Olga decided it was time to expand her family again. She has had her IUD removed and is now planning for her third child. \u201cThe one I have been caring for is mature now, so I feel ready,\u201d she explains. \u201cI am happy because I know I can give birth to healthy children and still take care of them well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Olga credits family planning with strengthening her relationship with her husband. \u201cI am safe with my children, and we are in love together with their father because we can manage to take care of them,\u201d she says. \u201cChild spacing has done a great job for our family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond her personal success, Olga is deeply grateful to Shared Action Africa for the role they have played in her life and in the lives of many other refugee women. \u201cI appreciate Shared Action Africa for its services,\u201d she says. \u201cI request them to extend their work to communities outside the refugee settlements so they can help more women.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her message is clear: family planning is not only a health intervention \u2014 it is a tool for economic empowerment, stability, and dignity. By having control over when to have children, Olga has been able to build her business, maintain her health, and raise her children in a loving, well-supported environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can run my business, move in any direction I want, and focus on my goals,\u201d she says proudly. \u201cAll this is possible because of the decision I made with the guidance of Shared Action Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Olga\u2019s journey reflects the broader impact of reproductive health services in refugee contexts. Access to accurate information, counseling, and a range of safe family planning methods can help women make decisions that transform their lives and communities.<\/p>\n<p>Her story is a reminder that even in the most challenging circumstances \u2014 like displacement and life in a refugee settlement \u2014 women can thrive when given the tools and freedom to take control of their reproductive choices.<\/p>\n<p>As Olga prepares for the next chapter of her life, she continues to serve as an example to other women in Nakivale: that with the right support, it is possible to balance motherhood, personal growth, and financial independence.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2255\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 first  post-2255 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-232\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-my-future-in-my-hands-bridgets-story\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_105609_515-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_20250715_105609_515\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_105609_515-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_105609_515-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_105609_515-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_105609_515-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_105609_515-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t13\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAug\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sexual And Reproductive Health &amp; Rights<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-my-future-in-my-hands-bridgets-story\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\u201cFamily Planning, My Future in My Hands \u2014 Bridget\u2019s Story\u201d<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-08-13T14:00:33+00:00\">August 13, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-my-future-in-my-hands-bridgets-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-my-future-in-my-hands-bridgets-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-my-future-in-my-hands-bridgets-story\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_105609_515-scaled.jpg&description=%E2%80%9CFamily+Planning%2C+My+Future+in+My+Hands+%E2%80%94+Bridget%E2%80%99s+Story%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-my-future-in-my-hands-bridgets-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/family-planning-my-future-in-my-hands-bridgets-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>\u201cFamily Planning Has Given Me Control Over My Future\u201d \u2014 Bridget Mateengo\u2019s Journey to Empowerment.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo intensified, 33-year-old <strong data-start=\"256\" data-end=\"276\">Bridget Mateengo<\/strong> made the difficult decision to flee with her family in search of safety. Her journey led her to <strong data-start=\"373\" data-end=\"404\">Nakivale Refugee Settlement<\/strong> in Uganda, a place that would not only offer her refuge but also transform the way she viewed her future as a mother.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"526\" data-end=\"819\">Bridget arrived in Nakivale with her husband and two children, carrying the trauma of conflict and the uncertainty of life in a new country. \u201cWhen I first came here, my mind was full of fear for the future \u2014 I didn\u2019t know how we would survive, let alone plan for more children,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"821\" data-end=\"1178\">Her turning point came when she attended a <strong data-start=\"864\" data-end=\"905\">family planning sensitization session<\/strong> organized by <strong data-start=\"919\" data-end=\"943\">Shared Action Africa<\/strong>. Through training, counseling, and education, Bridget learned about different contraceptive options and their benefits for women, especially in refugee settings where resources are limited and healthcare access can be unpredictable.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1180\" data-end=\"1454\">After thorough consultation with health workers, Bridget chose <strong data-start=\"1243\" data-end=\"1253\">Sayana<\/strong>, a safe and effective injectable family planning method. \u201cI decided to try Sayana because it was convenient, discreet, and gave me time to focus on raising the children I already had,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1456\" data-end=\"1883\">Over time, Bridget saw the tangible benefits of her choice. She now has <strong data-start=\"1528\" data-end=\"1546\">three children<\/strong>, all well-spaced, which has allowed her to provide each child with adequate care, attention, and education. Her youngest, just <strong data-start=\"1674\" data-end=\"1691\">one month old<\/strong>, was born healthy and strong. Immediately after childbirth, Bridget opted for a <strong data-start=\"1772\" data-end=\"1803\">five-year injectable method<\/strong> to ensure she could space her next child and focus on her family\u2019s stability.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1885\" data-end=\"2189\">\u201cFamily planning has given me control over my life. I am able to make decisions that are good for my children, my health, and our future,\u201d Bridget says with a proud smile. She appreciates Shared Action Africa for creating a safe space where women can discuss reproductive health without fear or stigma.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2191\" data-end=\"2418\">She is especially grateful for the <strong data-start=\"2226\" data-end=\"2262\">personalized <\/strong><strong>counselling sessions<\/strong>. \u201cThe health workers took time to explain everything to me in a language I understand. They answered my questions and respected my decisions,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2420\" data-end=\"2646\">Bridget now encourages other women in the settlement to seek information on family planning. She believes that knowledge is power and that making informed reproductive health decisions can transform families and communities.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2648\" data-end=\"2797\">\u201cThanks to Shared Action Africa, I feel empowered. I can plan my life, provide for my children, and still have hope for the future,\u201d she concludes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2252\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 post-2252 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-climate-justice category-economic-empowerment\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-411\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/from-refugee-to-successful-farmer-in-nakivale\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/tom-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"tom\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/tom-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/tom-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/tom-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/tom.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t09\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAug\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/climate-justice\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Climate Justice<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/economic-empowerment\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Economic Empowerment<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/from-refugee-to-successful-farmer-in-nakivale\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">From Refugee to Successful Farmer in Nakivale.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-08-09T10:25:05+00:00\">August 9, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/from-refugee-to-successful-farmer-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/from-refugee-to-successful-farmer-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/from-refugee-to-successful-farmer-in-nakivale\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/tom.jpg&description=From+Refugee+to+Successful+Farmer+in+Nakivale.\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/from-refugee-to-successful-farmer-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/from-refugee-to-successful-farmer-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>Refugee Farmer Thrives in Nakivale Settlement Through Shared Action Africa\u2019s Agricultural Skills.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In the heart of Nakivale Refugee Settlement\u2019s Sangano Zone, a vibrant green garden stands as a testament to resilience, hard work, and the transformative power of agricultural training. Here, <strong>Musabyimana Anatalia<\/strong>, a member of the Ingyamugambi refugee group, spends her days tending to neat rows of healthy cabbages, dodo, sukuma wiki, and chilies.<\/p>\n<p>When we met her, she was busy weeding the group\u2019s cabbage garden, her face glowing with pride as she narrated her journey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI appreciate Shared Action Africa for its training and agricultural skills,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have adopted modern farming techniques. I was trained to cultivate crops in small spaces and still harvest more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Anatalia\u2019s story is one of remarkable productivity. Using the techniques she learned, her cabbages now flourish, yielding <strong>over 30,000 heads per harvest<\/strong>. Each cabbage sells for UGX 2,500, earning her approximately UGX 75,000,000 per season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter collecting the money from the harvest, I use part of it to meet my family\u2019s needs,\u201d she explained. \u201cThe rest, I reinvest in agriculture as I prepare for the next season. My cycle continues.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her success is measured not only in income but also in improved living standards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince I began with Shared Action Africa\u2019s development initiatives, my family and I eat greens as we want,\u201d she shared. \u201cThe children do not fall sick because they eat a balanced diet. We have enough food in our store, we pay school fees on time, and all the children are in school. There is peace at home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The transformation in her household reflects a broader change in the community. Shared Action Africa\u2019s approach goes beyond teaching farming\u2014it promotes cooperation, collective action, and unity among women.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey taught women to join hands and work together for development,\u201d Anatalia said. \u201cWe pool our efforts and establish gardens after sharing ideas and knowledge learned from the trainings.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This collaboration among women farmers has strengthened social bonds, improved food security, and increased household incomes in Nakivale. By pooling resources and applying modern agricultural methods, they maximize harvests even on limited land.<\/p>\n<p>For Anatalia, each harvest marks both an achievement and a new beginning\u2014a step toward improving her family\u2019s welfare while investing in a sustainable future. Her reinvestment strategy ensures farming remains both profitable and environmentally sound.<\/p>\n<p>She credits much of her success to the practical nature of the training she received. Techniques such as optimal plant spacing, integrated pest management, and soil fertility improvement have enabled her to achieve exceptional yields from small plots.<\/p>\n<p>Her thriving cabbage garden in Sangano is living proof that with the right skills and support, refugees can achieve food self-sufficiency and financial independence.<\/p>\n<p>Anatalia also speaks with pride about the dignity that comes from self-reliance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do not regret joining Shared Action Africa\u2019s agricultural trainings,\u201d she said firmly. \u201cIt has changed my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her story stands as an inspiring example of how targeted agricultural support can unlock the potential of refugees, transforming them into active contributors to both their families and communities. Shared Action Africa\u2019s model demonstrates that with tools, knowledge, and opportunity, people can build sustainable livelihoods\u2014even in the most challenging circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>As Anatalia returns to her cabbage garden, her message is simple but powerful: resilience, knowledge, and collective effort can transform small plots into fields of opportunity. For her, each healthy cabbage head is more than just a product\u2014it is a symbol of growth, stability, and hope for the future.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2248\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 last  post-2248 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-907\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/taking-control-a-refugee-mothers-story-of-health-hope-and-family-planning\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_100209_411-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_20250715_100209_411\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_100209_411-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_100209_411-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_100209_411-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_100209_411-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_100209_411-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t06\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tAug\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sexual And Reproductive Health &amp; Rights<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/taking-control-a-refugee-mothers-story-of-health-hope-and-family-planning\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Taking Control: A Refugee Mother\u2019s Story of Health, Hope, and Family Planning<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-08-06T14:15:29+00:00\">August 6, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/taking-control-a-refugee-mothers-story-of-health-hope-and-family-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/taking-control-a-refugee-mothers-story-of-health-hope-and-family-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/taking-control-a-refugee-mothers-story-of-health-hope-and-family-planning\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_20250715_100209_411-scaled.jpg&description=Taking+Control%3A+A+Refugee+Mother%E2%80%99s+Story+of+Health%2C+Hope%2C+and+Family+Planning\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/taking-control-a-refugee-mothers-story-of-health-hope-and-family-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/taking-control-a-refugee-mothers-story-of-health-hope-and-family-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>&#8220;Family Planning Changed My Life&#8221;: Akimaana Nadine\u2019s Journey with Shared Action Africa.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda<\/strong> \u2014 Akimaana Nadine, a 23-year-old refugee residing in Nyarugugu zone of Nakivale Refugee Settlement, is a mother of two. Her firstborn is five years old, and her youngest is just three months. Nadine shares her heartfelt appreciation for Shared Action Africa, whose intervention has positively transformed her experience with childbirth and family planning.<\/p>\n<p>Nadine recalls visiting Nakivale Health Centre III, where she encountered a health worker from <strong>Shared Action Africa<\/strong>. During that visit, women were being sensitized and trained on family planning methods, including the importance of child spacing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI became interested in using family planning because I live with my partner, and we were sexually active almost every day,\u201d Nadine explains. \u201cI was afraid of having children one after another because we did not have enough money to take care of them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by the training, Nadine decided to adopt family planning and opted for <strong>Sayana Press<\/strong>, an injectable contraceptive. She has used it successfully for five years, allowing her to space her children in a way that fits her life and resources.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never experienced any problems using it,\u201d she says. \u201cI gave birth to my first child when I was ready, and after delivery, I continued using the method because it was working well for me. When I wanted another child, I paused it and conceived again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nadine recently welcomed her second child and has already resumed her Sayana injections, confident in her ability to prevent unintended pregnancies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been good for my body, my life, and my relationship. I have the energy for both food and for my man,\u201d she smiles. \u201cNow I can care for my children properly because I\u2019ve given birth to a number I can manage. We feed them well, they are healthy, and we are happy as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She adds that her husband, the father of her children, is also content because he can provide for a manageable family size.<\/p>\n<p>Nadine expresses her gratitude to Shared Action Africa for the vital knowledge and access to services that have allowed her to take control of her reproductive health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thank Shared Action Africa for making my life better through family planning.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2242\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 first  post-2242 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-849\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowered-to-stay-in-school-uwase-janets-journey-with-family-planning-in-nakivale\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_174442_596-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_20250716_174442_596\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_174442_596-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_174442_596-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_174442_596-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_174442_596-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_174442_596-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t17\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJul\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sexual And Reproductive Health &amp; Rights<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowered-to-stay-in-school-uwase-janets-journey-with-family-planning-in-nakivale\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Empowered to Stay in School: Uwase Janet\u2019s Journey with Family Planning in Nakivale.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-07-17T06:11:43+00:00\">July 17, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowered-to-stay-in-school-uwase-janets-journey-with-family-planning-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowered-to-stay-in-school-uwase-janets-journey-with-family-planning-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowered-to-stay-in-school-uwase-janets-journey-with-family-planning-in-nakivale\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_174442_596-scaled.jpg&description=Empowered+to+Stay+in+School%3A+Uwase+Janet%E2%80%99s+Journey+with+Family+Planning+in+Nakivale.\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowered-to-stay-in-school-uwase-janets-journey-with-family-planning-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowered-to-stay-in-school-uwase-janets-journey-with-family-planning-in-nakivale\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"blog-area\"><strong>Empowering Refugee Girls Through Family Planning: How Shared Action Africa Helped Uwase Janet Stay in School and Secure Her Future in Nakivale Settlement.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>At just 22 years old, Uwase Janet, a student at Nakivale Vocational Training Centre Institute in Uganda\u2019s Isingiro District, is an inspiring example of how access to family planning education can transform the life of a young refugee woman. Through a program implemented by <strong data-start=\"363\" data-end=\"387\">Shared Action Africa<\/strong> under the <strong data-start=\"398\" data-end=\"458\">ARJ (A Raise for Reproductive Justice for Refugee Girls)<\/strong> initiative, Janet and many other young women have gained vital knowledge on reproductive health and the power to make informed choices.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"596\" data-end=\"883\">Janet recalls how her life changed after Shared Action Africa visited their institute. \u201c<em data-start=\"684\" data-end=\"772\">They <\/em><em>counselled us on the different family planning methods and how effective they are,<\/em>\u201d she says. &#8220;<em data-start=\"785\" data-end=\"882\">I chose the Sayana injection, which works for three years, and it has been so effective for me.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"1210\">Having a boyfriend, Janet knew the risks of unplanned pregnancy. But with the knowledge and access to family planning, she has been able to protect herself and stay focused on her education. &#8220;<em data-start=\"1077\" data-end=\"1186\">Family planning has helped me avoid unwanted pregnancy. I\u2019m still in school and almost finishing my course,<\/em>&#8221; she shares with pride.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1212\" data-end=\"1494\">Unfortunately, not all her peers have had the same journey. &#8220;<em data-start=\"1273\" data-end=\"1360\">The girls I was studying with dropped out of school because of unplanned pregnancies,<\/em>&#8221; Janet says. &#8220;<em data-start=\"1375\" data-end=\"1493\">But I stayed because I used the skills I got from the training by Shared Action Africa. It really helped me succeed.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1496\" data-end=\"1764\">Janet speaks highly of the support offered by the organization. &#8220;<em data-start=\"1561\" data-end=\"1676\">I appreciate Shared Action Africa for the love they have for the girl child. My life is simple and enjoyable now,<\/em>&#8221; she says. &#8220;<em data-start=\"1689\" data-end=\"1763\">I haven\u2019t faced any challenges using the family planning method I chose.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1766\" data-end=\"2012\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Uwase Janet\u2019s story is a testament to the life-changing impact of reproductive health education and support in refugee settings. Thanks to Shared Action Africa, she is not just surviving but thriving\u2014with her future still bright and within reach.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"blog-area\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/h2>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2237\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 post-2237 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advocacy\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-113\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/shared-action-africa-brings-menstrual-hygiene-support-to-refugee-schoolgirls\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_130047_318-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_20250716_130047_318\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_130047_318-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_130047_318-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_130047_318-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_130047_318-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_130047_318-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t16\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJul\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/advocacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Advocacy<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/shared-action-africa-brings-menstrual-hygiene-support-to-refugee-schoolgirls\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Shared Action Africa Brings Menstrual Hygiene Support to Refugee Schoolgirls..<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-07-22T06:27:18+00:00\">July 22, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/shared-action-africa-brings-menstrual-hygiene-support-to-refugee-schoolgirls\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/shared-action-africa-brings-menstrual-hygiene-support-to-refugee-schoolgirls\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/shared-action-africa-brings-menstrual-hygiene-support-to-refugee-schoolgirls\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_130047_318-scaled.jpg&description=Shared+Action+Africa+Brings+Menstrual+Hygiene+Support+to+Refugee+Schoolgirls..\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/shared-action-africa-brings-menstrual-hygiene-support-to-refugee-schoolgirls\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/shared-action-africa-brings-menstrual-hygiene-support-to-refugee-schoolgirls\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>Shared Action Africa Champions Menstrual Hygiene in Schools: A Lifeline for Girls in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Menstrual hygiene in schools<\/strong> is critical for the health, dignity, and academic success of female students\u2014especially in refugee communities where access to resources is limited. In Uganda\u2019s <strong>Oruchinga Refugee Settlement<\/strong>, <strong>Shared Action Africa<\/strong> has taken the lead in promoting menstrual health by training girls and launching the use of <strong>menstrual cups<\/strong> and supplied sanitary pads at <strong>Visionary Blue School<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This initiative has brought about life-changing benefits for the girls and the entire school community. Below are some of the <strong>key uses and importance of menstrual hygiene<\/strong> made possible through Shared Action Africa&#8217;s intervention:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Reduces School Absenteeism<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Before this intervention, many girls missed school during their periods due to lack of menstrual products and safe spaces. Shared Action Africa\u2019s provision of <strong>menstrual cups<\/strong> and hygiene training has enabled girls to stay in class, improving attendance and performance.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI used to stay home during my period,\u201d said one student. \u201cNow I can come to school every day without fear.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Promotes Girls&#8217; Health and Prevents Infections<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>By teaching girls\u2019 proper hygiene practices and how to safely use menstrual cups, Shared Action Africa has helped prevent infections such as <strong>UTIs and RTIs<\/strong>. Clean water, soap, and access to sanitation facilities now play a greater role in girls\u2019 well-being at school.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> Boosts Confidence and Participation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Girls who once felt embarrassed or insecure now feel clean and confident. With stigma being addressed openly, students are more comfortable participating in class and interacting with peers.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> Encourages Gender Equality<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Importantly, the program involved <strong>training boys<\/strong>, helping them understand menstruation and respect their female classmates. This has helped reduce teasing and built a more supportive environment for all students.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong> Enhances Retention and Reduces Dropout Rates<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Thanks to Shared Action Africa\u2019s efforts, girls who were at risk of dropping out due to period-related challenges are now staying in school\u2014and thriving. The training has turned menstruation from a barrier into something manageable.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><strong> Builds Lifelong Hygiene and Health Habits<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Through education sessions, girls have learned how to maintain proper hygiene throughout their menstrual cycle, a habit that will benefit them long into adulthood.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong> Creates a Supportive Learning Environment<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Shared Action Africa\u2019s presence at Visionary Blue School has also inspired teachers and school leaders to support menstrual health. Girls now have trusted adults they can approach with questions and concerns.<\/p>\n<p>In refugee settings like Oruchinga, where girls are often most vulnerable, <strong>Shared Action Africa\u2019s menstrual hygiene program<\/strong> is not just about hygiene\u2014it\u2019s about dignity, empowerment, and opportunity.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThey didn\u2019t just teach us how to manage our periods,\u201d said one student. \u201cThey gave us back our confidence.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2233\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 last  post-2233 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advocacy\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-430\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-education-empowered-a-future-lawyer\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131450_104-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_20250716_131450_104\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131450_104-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131450_104-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131450_104-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131450_104-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131450_104-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t16\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJul\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/advocacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Advocacy<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-education-empowered-a-future-lawyer\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">How Menstrual Health Education Empowered a Future Lawyer.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-07-16T19:22:36+00:00\">July 16, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-education-empowered-a-future-lawyer\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-education-empowered-a-future-lawyer\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-education-empowered-a-future-lawyer\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131450_104-scaled.jpg&description=How+Menstrual+Health+Education+Empowered+a+Future+Lawyer.\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-education-empowered-a-future-lawyer\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-education-empowered-a-future-lawyer\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>&#8220;Training Changed Everything for Me&#8221; \u2014 Oliva&#8217;s Journey to Confidence and Justice.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Nyirakamana Oliva<\/strong>, a 16-year-old refugee from <strong>Rwanda<\/strong>, is a Primary Seven pupil at <strong>Visionary Blue School<\/strong> in <strong>Oruchinga Refugee Settlement<\/strong>, Uganda. Her dream is to become a lawyer, one who will fight for women\u2019s rights, especially <strong>single mothers<\/strong> who are left to raise children alone after fathers abandon their responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI want to bring justice to women who are voiceless,\u201d<\/em> Oliva says. <em>\u201cMany single mothers suffer silently. They carry the burden of raising children alone, while the fathers disappear. As a lawyer, I want to fight for them. \u201cShe said. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>But until recently, Oliva faced challenges that nearly pushed her away from school, particularly during her <strong>menstrual periods<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cBefore the training, boys used to laugh at us when we stained our uniforms. It was embarrassing,\u201d<\/em> she explains. <em>\u201cI felt unsafe and ashamed every time my period started. Sometimes, I didn\u2019t want to come to school. \u201cOlivia said. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>That changed when <strong>Shared Action Africa<\/strong> conducted a <strong>school hygiene outreach<\/strong> at Visionary Blue School. Health workers led training sessions for girls on <strong>personal hygiene, menstrual health<\/strong>, and <strong>self-care<\/strong>. Importantly, boys were also included and that made all the difference.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAfter the training, everything changed. The boys came to us and apologized. They told us they didn\u2019t understand what we were going through before. Now, they even support us. If someone sees a girl has stained, he will quietly help her\u2014not laugh,\u201d<\/em> Oliva shares with a smile.<\/p>\n<p>Through the training, Oliva also learned about <strong>staying clean and protecting herself from infections<\/strong> during menstruation.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI now know how to protect myself from STIs and other infections. I keep myself clean, and I feel confident,\u201d<\/em> she says. <em>\u201cI am not afraid of school anymore.\u201d She spoke. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Oliva believes that the program came at the right time and saved her from dropping out.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cShared Action Africa has solved problems that were pushing me away from school. Now I\u2019m focused on my dream of becoming a lawyer,\u201d<\/em> she says proudly. <em>\u201cTheir words of wisdom have opened a clear path for my future. I thank Shared Action Africa for helping us. They didn\u2019t just teach us hygiene they gave us back our confidence.\u201d She spoke. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2227\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 first  post-2227 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advocacy\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-537\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-support-helped-nahweera-stay-in-school\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131440_341-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_20250716_131440_341\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131440_341-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131440_341-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131440_341-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131440_341-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131440_341-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t16\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJul\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/advocacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Advocacy<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-support-helped-nahweera-stay-in-school\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">How Menstrual Health Support Helped Nahweera Stay in School<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-07-16T18:57:21+00:00\">July 16, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-support-helped-nahweera-stay-in-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-support-helped-nahweera-stay-in-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-support-helped-nahweera-stay-in-school\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131440_341-scaled.jpg&description=How+Menstrual+Health+Support+Helped+Nahweera+Stay+in+School\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-support-helped-nahweera-stay-in-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/how-menstrual-health-support-helped-nahweera-stay-in-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>\u201cNow I Can Learn with Confidence\u201d \u2014 Nahweera Ruth Shares Her Journey to Menstrual Dignity.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Nahweera Ruth<\/strong>, a 15-year-old refugee and Primary Seven candidate at <strong>Visionary Blue School<\/strong> in <strong>Oruchinga Refugee Settlement<\/strong>, dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Her ambition is fuelled by a desire to save the lives of mothers, many of whom, she believes, die during childbirth, particularly in conflict-affected regions like the one she calls home.<\/p>\n<p>During a school outreach on hygiene conducted by <strong>Shared Action Africa<\/strong>, where girls received training on personal hygiene and menstrual health, Nahweera privately shared the challenges she faced before the program reached her school.<\/p>\n<p>Having lived the realities of period poverty, Nahweera understands all too well the silent struggles many refugee girls endure during menstruation. In a candid conversation, she recounted her experience:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cBefore Shared Action Africa came to our school, my monthly periods were the hardest time of the month,\u201d<\/em> she said softly. <em>\u201cI felt alone, ashamed, and afraid. Sanitary pads were too expensive for my parents. I often had to use old pieces of cloth, tissue, or even leaves. They were uncomfortable and would leak. I couldn\u2019t concentrate in class because I was always worried something would happen.<\/em> <em>Our school didn\u2019t have proper toilets or even water most of the time. There was nowhere clean or private to change. I would wear the same cloth all day, even when it was soaked. I felt dirty and stressed. I missed many school days because I had no pads and no safe place to manage my periods. I would stay home and fall behind in class. I love school, but every month I felt like giving up.<\/em> <em>At school, you fear standing up in class. If you stain your uniform, boys laugh, girls whisper, it\u2019s like you\u2019ve done something wrong just because you&#8217;re menstruating. I used to hide from my friends during my period. When I first got my period, I didn\u2019t even know what it was. I thought I was sick. I cried. My mother tried to explain, but she didn\u2019t know much either. We were never taught about it in school. And there was no one to talk to. no counsellor, no understanding teachers. I felt like I had to face it all alone. \u201cShe said. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Everything changed when <strong>Shared Action Africa<\/strong> launched its menstrual health and hygiene program at her school.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe health workers taught us everything\u2014how to manage our periods, how to use a menstrual cup, how to stay clean, and how to support each other as girls. They even talked to the boys and taught them to respect us, not to laugh or mock. For the first time, I felt safe and understood. The menstrual cup has changed my life. I no longer worry every month about buying pads. I\u2019m not afraid to come to school. I feel clean, confident, and ready to learn.\u201d Ruth said. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>With a bright smile, Nahweera added:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI want to thank Shared Action Africa for remembering girls like me. Because of them, we now have hope, dignity, and the chance to stay in school. \u201cShe said. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>This is a story of transformation, not just for Nahweera, but for many girls in Oruchinga and other refugee settlements who are finally being given the tools, knowledge, and confidence to thrive.<\/p>\n<p>l and thrive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2223\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 post-2223 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advocacy\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-370\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowering-refugee-girls-menstrual-cups-introduced-at-visionary-blue-school\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131424_396-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_20250716_131424_396\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131424_396-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131424_396-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131424_396-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131424_396-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131424_396-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t16\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJul\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/advocacy\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Advocacy<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowering-refugee-girls-menstrual-cups-introduced-at-visionary-blue-school\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Empowering Refugee Girls: Menstrual Cups Introduced at Visionary Blue School<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-07-16T18:11:18+00:00\">July 16, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowering-refugee-girls-menstrual-cups-introduced-at-visionary-blue-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowering-refugee-girls-menstrual-cups-introduced-at-visionary-blue-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowering-refugee-girls-menstrual-cups-introduced-at-visionary-blue-school\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250716_131424_396-scaled.jpg&description=Empowering+Refugee+Girls%3A+Menstrual+Cups+Introduced+at+Visionary+Blue+School\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowering-refugee-girls-menstrual-cups-introduced-at-visionary-blue-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/empowering-refugee-girls-menstrual-cups-introduced-at-visionary-blue-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>Promoting Menstrual Health in Refugee Communities: Shared Action Africa Introduces Menstrual Cups at Visionary Blue School.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>During the launch of the menstrual cup and the distribution of sanitary pads by <strong>Shared Action Africa<\/strong> at <strong>Visionary Blue School<\/strong> in <strong>Oruchinga Refugee Settlement<\/strong>, Shared Action Africa health workers engaged both boys and girls in vital discussions on personal hygiene and sexual and reproductive health.<\/p>\n<p>The sessions aimed to build awareness and confidence among students. Boys were sensitised on how to treat girls with respect, particularly during menstruation, while girls were guided on proper hygiene management and encouraged to feel confident during their periods. In addition to distributing sanitary pads, the team introduced the <strong>menstrual cup<\/strong>\u2014a sustainable and reusable innovation in menstrual hygiene.<\/p>\n<p>Shared Action Africa Health workers demonstrated the correct use of the menstrual cup and encouraged girls to share their experiences and challenges with menstrual health at school.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Owomugisha Novence<\/strong>, a 15-year-old pupil in Primary Seven at Visionary Blue School and a refugee from <strong>Rwanda<\/strong>, shared her personal struggles:<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;It has been difficult for me to afford sanitary pads. Sometimes my parents can\u2019t even pay my school fees, let alone buy me three packets of pads, which cost UGX 5,000 each. I use two packets every month. So, whenever I got my period, I would stay home and miss school.<\/em> <em>Sometimes, I would improvise with old pieces of cloth, but changing them at school was difficult. There was no proper place to dispose of them and replace with clean ones. Carrying extra cloths in my bag was embarrassing in front of classmates. They often weren&#8217;t clean or secure, and I didn\u2019t feel comfortable. I couldn\u2019t play or interact freely with friends because I was afraid the cloth might fall out, which was very shameful.<\/em> <em>Now, we see hope for the future. Shared Action Africa introduced us to the menstrual cup, which can be used for more than a year. We\u2019ve learned how to use it properly, and it will help us save the money we used to spend on pads. We won\u2019t miss school anymore because of our periods. We\u2019ll feel free and confident to engage with others at school. We truly appreciate Shared Action Africa for the great work they are doing to support girls.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Through initiatives like this, Shared Action Africa continues to promote dignity, education, and health for adolescent girls in refugee communities\u2014helping them stay in school and thrive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-2215\" class=\"blog-design-masonry blog-post-loop blog-style-flat  col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-12 last  post-2215 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-economic-empowerment\">\n\t<div class=\"article-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"carousel-704\" class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-img-wrapp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/nzayisenga-faidas-journey-with-shared-action-africa\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/faida-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large wp-post-image attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"faida\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/faida-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/faida-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/faida-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/faida-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/faida-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-date woodmart-post-date\" onclick=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-day\">\n\t\t\t\t\t15\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"post-date-month\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJul\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\n\n\t\t<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meta-categories-wrapp\"><div class=\"meta-post-categories\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/category\/economic-empowerment\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Economic Empowerment<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/nzayisenga-faidas-journey-with-shared-action-africa\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Nzayisenga Faida\u2019s Journey with Shared Action Africa<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta woodmart-entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"entry-meta-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"modified-date\"><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-07-15T19:15:06+00:00\">July 15, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"meta-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt='author-avatar' src='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm' srcset='\/\/www.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62df2e8ad997208b88cd35517fb166b8?s=32&#038;r=g&#038;d=mm 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/\" rel=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"vcard author author_name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fn\">Admin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hovered-social-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"woodmart-social-icons text-center icons-design-default icons-size-small color-scheme-light social-share social-form-circle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/nzayisenga-faidas-journey-with-shared-action-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/nzayisenga-faidas-journey-with-shared-action-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/nzayisenga-faidas-journey-with-shared-action-africa\/&media=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/faida.jpg&description=Nzayisenga+Faida%E2%80%99s+Journey+with+Shared+Action+Africa\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-pinterest\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Pinterest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/nzayisenga-faidas-journey-with-shared-action-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/share\/url?url=https:\/\/sharedact.org\/nzayisenga-faidas-journey-with-shared-action-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" woodmart-social-icon social-tg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"woodmart-social-icon-name\">Telegram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-content woodmart-entry-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1613429991146\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-area\">\n<h2><strong>Bernadette Nyabenda: Advancing Livelihoods Through Agriculture and Savings.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Nzayisenga Faida, a member of the Tafuta Savings and Business Group in Nyakagando A, has transformed her life through economic development training provided by Shared Action Africa. Once burdened by the high cost of purchasing vegetables, she now grows her own at home\u2014ensuring both food security for her family and savings on household expenses.<\/p>\n<p>The training sessions conducted by Shared Action Africa equipped her with essential knowledge in climate-smart agriculture, harvesting, and post-harvest handling, including proper storage techniques that reduce losses and improve food safety.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am Nzayisenga Faida from Nyakagando A, a member of the Tafuta Savings and Business Group. I have no regrets about getting involved in the agricultural initiatives organized by Shared Action Africa,\u201d she shares. \u201cBefore the training, I used to buy vegetables at high prices from the market to feed my children. However, after attending the sessions, I learned how to grow vegetables using a keyhole garden. This has not only helped me feed my family but also save up to UGX 500,000.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Faida notes that Shared Action Africa has played a significant role in empowering women within her savings and business group. \u201cWe were taught better farming methods, including how to establish and maintain backyard gardens throughout the year. These gardens now provide us with a steady and reliable source of vegetables. Since adopting these techniques, we no longer struggle to access nutritious food.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition to farming skills, Faida and her fellow group members were trained in proper harvesting and post-harvest handling techniques. This includes best practices to safeguard produce from pests and diseases during storage. They also learned how to properly store seeds using sacks with polyethylene linings, which help prevent spoilage, and the importance of thoroughly drying harvests before storage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShared Action Africa taught us how to protect our harvests and seeds,\u201d Faida adds. \u201cTheir training has helped us minimize waste, maintain food quality, and improve the overall sustainability of our farming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Through these interventions, Shared Action Africa continues to uplift refugee women by building their capacity in agriculture and financial independence, ultimately improving household resilience and community development.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article><!-- #post -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t","status":"have-posts","nextPage":"https:\/\/sharedact.org\/author\/admin\/page\/3\/?woo_ajax=1"}