Be sure to register for our upcoming Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, June 8! Support our education, healthcare, and community development programs by enjoying a delicious breakfast. We're raffling off three great baskes! Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event, so don't miss out! Visit www.reachforuganda.org/events/ to register! We can't wait to see you there. (fb)

Nationally in Uganda, only 4% of women graduate from university or vocational education. We are dedicated to empowering girls and women and promoting gender equity. In Uganda, our efforts have boosted enrollment among girls. In 2004, when REACH’s first primary school opened, less than 30% of our students were girls. But now, at our primary schools, 53% of all students are girls, 100% of whom complete university or tertiary education. Every year, we implement strategies to increase enrollment and retention of female students. Our girls’ mentorship program works to encourage them to stay in school, grow their confidence, learn about gender-relevant barriers, and how to combat them. Still, our commitment to gender parity goes far beyond education, as we strive to uplift women in all aspects. Women form a significant portion of our boots-on-the-ground workforce in Uganda. Recently, with the ongoing construction of the Hawthorne-Scribner High School, we have insisted that women form a significant part of the labor force. These women help lay bricks, bend steel rolls, dig trenches, tasks typically reserved for men. By engaging women in construction, they have been able to develop new skills and earn an income, making them major financial contributors in their homes. We have also partnered with organizations and individuals to establish microfinance programs. When the REACH microfinance program began, it focused solely on women, providing them with business and economic empowerment opportunities they previously did not have access to. Since then, more than 400 women have benefitted from this program, having the opportunity to start small businesses and provide for their families. Our two Beatrice Tierney Health Clinics provide necessary and often hard-to-find healthcare services, to girls not only in our schools but in surrounding communities. Access to sanitary pads and contraceptives at no cost is transformative for girls and women in eastern Uganda. Our clinics make it possible for pregnant women to receive necessary prenatal care and assistance during childbirth, which is not commonly accessible in the region. REACH’s commitment to gender equity remains central to our mission and programming. To learn more about our gender equity programming and how to support our work, visit www.reachforuganda.org (fb)