"Rosette Masaba Kagushi Leads 'Rise With Her' to Fight Poverty Through Women's Empowerment"

Can you introduce your project and explain how it contributes to addressing SDG 1, No Poverty?

SDG 5 Gender Equality.

What motivated you to focus on eradicating poverty, and how did your journey begin?

I was motivated to raise awareness and get involved in efforts towards poverty eradication in my community of the inequalities that exist today. I continue to see mothers and children in dire situations with little or no help from key stakeholders. Some children are severely malnourished and are unable to make a full recovery. These preventable illnesses can be fixed when communities have the tools and can access the services they need. Also, mothers are still dying during childbirth, a situation that can be prevented with adequate access to quality health services. I believe the youths have been left out of the formal sector and are facing the challenge of unemployment. I began my journey to raise awareness, add my voice, and advocate for better service delivery in Uganda. I think we can all work together to create sustainable solutions and end poverty once and for all.

Can you highlight some of the key initiatives or projects you have been involved in to combat poverty?

I am the Team Lead at MEC African Youth Collective, a local organization In Kampala, Uganda which is at the forefront of addressing youth challenges and provides a platform for engagements. For instance, we organize and facilitate constructive dialogues on unemployment, climate change, leadership, and policy among others. This is because when the youths are educated, they can learn skills which can help them earn a living and improve their lives.

How do you measure the impact of your efforts in reducing poverty within communities?

I believe that mentorship programs and skill development workshops have significantly improved the mindset of the communities we serve. However, there is still a need for efforts from our government and stakeholders to help young people harness their innovations and skills to tackle poverty effectively.

What are some of the main challenges you've encountered in your work towards achieving SDG 1, and how have you overcome them?

There is a lack of funding and we have been able to overcome this challenge by mobilizing resources through partnerships and collaborations with like-minded individuals and organizations which enable us to deliver our programs to communities in need.

Also, there is a lack of adequate education and we were able to conduct awareness campaigns and virtual events that provide people with access to knowledge and free skills training, helping them prepare for employment.

How do you ensure that your poverty alleviation programs are sustainable and have a lasting impact?

We are creating programs that are easily accessible and free, and those who volunteer and work with us are training the next generation to share the same skills with our communities.

Can you discuss any successful collaborations or partnerships that have contributed significantly to your anti-poverty initiatives?

Last year, we mentored and trained two cohorts of university students who are a group of five each and they have gone on to be entrepreneurs and other full-time employees of companies and organizations. I believe they are now able to afford their basic needs and that's how we are making a difference in our society.

In your opinion, what are some effective strategies or approaches for addressing the root causes of poverty?

I believe we need to ensure that there is adequate access to education in our communities. Educated people can create or find jobs and earn a living.

How do you prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable populations in your poverty reduction efforts?

We have been able to provide free trainning session on essential skills to help them compete in the job market.

What advice would you give to individuals or organizations looking to make a meaningful impact in the fight against poverty?

I believe we all have the power to make a difference in our communities, and there is power in collaborating with like-minded individuals, organizations, and companies as eradicate poverty because you will be able to reach a bigger group of people and help them create a sustainable future for all.