In the picturesque region of Fort Portal, nestled within the community of Nyankwazi Bwanika, lives Olive Karungi, a widow and mother of three. Olive is a testament to the transformative power of the Green Jobs Project implemented by Reproductive Health Uganda in partnership with WWF. This initiative aims to create and scale green jobs by applying a nature-based solution approach at a landscape level while using Gender Transformative Approach (GTA) as an entry point.
Olive’s journey began when she joined the Kichwamba Youth Vegetable Growers group, a community conservation group supported by Green Jobs project. One of the most profound impacts of the Green Jobs Project has been its role in reducing gender-based violence (GBV) within the community.
“The greatest contributors to GBV are poverty, lack of food, lack of water and making decisions between couples” Olive explains. “Women and girls were often forced to travel long distances to fetch water, exposing them to the risk of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence (SGBV).”
The community groups formed under the project have become safe spaces where members can address GBV issues within families through SRHR community dialogues. These groups have also played a crucial role in demystifying gender roles in the community. Women are now able to make decisions, especially financial ones, which were previously a domain dominated by men.
Through her group, Olive gained essential skills in sustainable agriculture and water management. “We have learned how to grow our own food and effectively store water using tanks built with skills acquired under the project,” Olive shares enthusiastically. This knowledge has been a cornerstone in fostering self-sufficiency and resilience among the community members, particularly in the face of climate-induced adversities.
Olive’s story is one of hope and transformation. The ripple effect of Green Jobs Project has led to improved living standards and enhanced safety for the people of Bwanika.
“This project has brought us together and given us the skills to make our health better. We are now more resilient, more united, and more hopeful for the future,” says Olive.
Through the Green Jobs Project, Reproductive Health Uganda has demonstrated that addressing climate change using GTA can have far-reaching benefits, extending beyond environmental sustainability to encompass social and economic well-being. Olive Karungi’s story, is a powerful reminder of the positive change that can arise when communities are empowered with GTA knowledge and skills to adapt and thrive.
