Oyam, (UG):- Oyam District leaders have called on youths to change their mindset toward the empowerment projects that development partners always donate to them.
The appeal was made Thursday, November 21, at Oyam Town Council during the distribution of 28 goats donated to vulnerable girls by DREAMS [Determine, Resilience, Empowering, Aids Free, Mentored and Safe ], an NGO operating in Uganda.
Mark Obangkwon, who represented the Chief Administrative Officer of Oyam, implored the beneficiaries not to sell these animals to repay VSLA debt. “These goats are meant to empower you, not to be sold off for debt repayment,” Obangkwon said.
He added; “These goats have the potential to improve the livelihoods of the beneficiaries if managed well so take care of them well,’’.
Hellen Awali, the Senior Community Development Officer of Oyam Town Council, also advised the beneficiaries to treat these donations as their own and take full responsibility for their care.
“Consider these goats as your own assets and take good care of them. View the goats as a long-term investment that could provide continuous benefits, such as breeding opportunities to non- NGO properties,” she said.
Job Okori, the Animal Husbandry Officer of Oyam District, urged the beneficiaries to use the animals for transformation. He emphasized proper feeding, health management, and regular veterinary care to maximize the goats’ productivity and lifespan. “These goats can be a source of transformation for your lives if you take proper care of them.”
Monica Akello, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her optimism about the donation saying the proceeds from the goats shall support her to educate her children and start a small business. “I am hopeful that the donation will benefit us in many ways once the goats multiply,” she said.
About DREAMS
The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) partnership is aimed at reducing the rate of HIV among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the highest HIV burden countries. These countries accounted for nearly half of all the new HIV infections that occurred among AGYW globally.
Adolescent girls and young women account for 71% of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Young women and girls in the region are twice as likely to be living with HIV as boys and men the same age, and account for one in four new infections in the region.
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