IRC Strengthens Collaboration with Rising Woman Shelter and Wellness Center

International Rescue Committee has donated household items to the rising Woman Shelter and Wellness Center that will be used in the day to day running of the facility.

The items include, 6 mattresses, bed sheets, blankets, plates, cups, boxes of washing soap and among others.

The items were handed over to UGANET Executive Director by International Rescue Committee IRC, Women Protection and Empowerment Response Officer Bridget Onubia, at the Shelter home whose location is confidential for the safety of Gender Based Violence GBV survivors.

“On behalf of UGANET and the team of the Rising Woman Shelter and Wellness Center, we would like to appreciate this kind gesture from IRC. The entire team is happy because this is an addition to what we needed to run this facility even better.” Said UGANET Executive Director, Dorah Kiconco Musinguzi who equally applauded the team of staff that are manning the shelter home.

On the other hand, Ms. Onubia commended UGANET for the work they are doing to support GBV survivors. “I also appreciate the people we have been working with, UGANET has been very supporting especially to the survivors of GBV who do not have a place to stay. We’ve had one client that you have supported and we would like to continue with this collaboration.” She said.

Since its inception in May 2020 at the height of the COVID – 19 lockdown that brought the entire nation to a standstill, the Rising Women Shelter and Wellness Center has provided temporary shelter to seventy four (74) women, ten (10) walk in clients and thirty two (32) children.

The shelter is currently keeping ten (10) clients, who include four (4) women and six (6) children.

Unlike other shelter homes, the UGANET shelter home takes in both nationals from across the country together with refugees. “We have had clients from Sudan, Congo, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania. The only challenge we have had with international GBV survivors however is language barrier during counselling sessions, but this has not been applicable to most of them.” Said Rhonah Babweetera the Head, Gender Equality and Violence Against Women Prevention department.

The shelter was also designed to not only provide emotional and physical healing, but to also provide life skills to clients, such that they are able to earn a living when they are resettled. Some of the life skills offered are making crafts, shoes, beadwork, baking, making soaps, vasselines, backyard gardening and among others. “We are mostly on the same page; safe spaces are intended to calm survivors of Gender Based Violence down. This is our ideal of a safe space.” Ms. Onubia noted, during a tour around the home.