Launched today: Study by Watipa scholars for UNAIDS and the PACT about the role of young people in community responses to HIV

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Geneva, Switzerland. Hot off the press: Watipa, UNAIDS, and the PACT launch study today about the importance of youth participation in community responses to HIV. Watipa scholars were the researchers in this important project. Join the conversation and take part in the Facebook Live session that is happening now…

Ruben Pages Ramos, Youth Programmes Coordinator at UNAIDS, chats with Allen Kyendikuwa, sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate and Watipa Associate, about the results. Allen Kyendikuwa was one of the lead young researchers in the report launched today.

Allen Kyendikuwa
Ruben Pages Ramos

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Early warning signs – the effects of the Mexico City Policy in Cambodia and Malawi

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We’re proud to have worked with Frontline AIDS and local partners on a study, launched today for International Women’s Day, about the effects of the Mexico City Policy (known as the “global gag rule” by its critics) in Cambodia and Malawi. 

Strict anti-abortion funding rules implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump are causing chaos and limiting access to vital HIV services, according to a study published by Frontline AIDS on International Women’s Day.

Funding cuts as a result of the Mexico City Policy, which prevents organisations receiving U.S. funds from providing or promoting abortion, have caused disruption to HIV programmes, created an environment of mistrust, confusion and isolation among civil society organisations, and compromised access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services for marginalised people. Continue reading “Early warning signs – the effects of the Mexico City Policy in Cambodia and Malawi” →

A Right to Education – Introducing the 2018 Watipa Scholars

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Congratulations to the 8 new Watipa scholars! Earlier this month, on International Human Rights Day, we had the great pleasure in awarding 8 new Watipa scholarships to seven young women and a young man from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. They join an esteemed group of peers who we are continuing to support again this year. Continue reading “A Right to Education – Introducing the 2018 Watipa Scholars” →

Watipa scholarship program expands to celebrate International Human Rights Day

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Watipa continues its quest in making education a human right and is pleased to announce on International Human Rights Day its largest ever intake of scholars since 2016.

Thanks to the generosity of public donations and the funds raised from the social enterprise, we are thrilled to announce we have awarded 8 scholarships  to 7 young women and one young man, all under the age of 25, and including one secondary school student. Our 2018 scholars are based in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia.

Continue reading “Watipa scholarship program expands to celebrate International Human Rights Day” →

Family Connection

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Watipa is thrilled to have received a generous donation in support of the youth development programme. Caloola is a philanthropy fund set up to honour the values and memory of Gamma (grandma) and Gampa (grandpa), two grandparents at the helm of a family committed to social justice.

Gamma and Gampa each grew up in in rural Australia, and Caloola was the name of the property where they raised their family. Due to family responsibilities, neither of them completed their schooling. However they each held strong beliefs about the value of education, and throughout their lives they made significant contributions to their own community.

A few years ago, Gampa passed away while on safari in Botswana. He died peacefully of natural causes, and the family describes it as a wonderful death. Gamma is still living in Australia, and her son and daughter are now managing the family’s affairs.

When considering how to allocate Caloola’s philanthropy funds, Watipa was put forward and we were thrilled to hear that the family wanted to support the scholarships and youth development program. It seems that in a number of ways, there is a strong connection between the vision and mission of Watipa and the values of the family. They like that we are an innovative social enterprise with a focus on international Community Development. They also like the connection with Africa, with the link to Gampa, and the hope that the donation really can make a huge difference.

Watipa plans to set up in Australia one day, and we look forward to working more closely with Caloola and the spirit of generosity and social conscience that is so strong across the whole family. What a wonderful legacy for Gamma and Gampa.

Meet a graduating scholar: Kyendikuwa Francis, Uganda

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3f3ede51-3576-42af-b8fc-b386dc3eeffdCongratulations Kyendikuwa Francis, a Watipa 2016 Scholar who is graduating with a Diploma in Hotels and Institutional Catering at Uganda’s Buganda Royal Institute.

Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen?

I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding line, and no way of knowing how near the harbor was.

d31fc888-c275-4467-a731-cc60f33810b4“Light! Give me light!” was the wordless cry of my soul, and the light of love shone on me in that very hour. If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.

All great thanks to Watipa #kyendikuwafrancis Uganda.

 

Meet a graduating scholar: Aisha Bukenya, Uganda

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“I have the spirit of a go getter! I still want to be that outstanding female pharmacist that will be part of the change my continent needs to see.”

Meet Aisha Bukenya, a 2016 Watipa scholar, graduating Bachelor of Pharmacy from Kampala International University, Uganda. Congratulations Aisha – we are proud of you and your achievements!

Receiving the news that I was successful in my application to become a Watipa scholar was the most beautiful news I ever received. It was such pleasure knowing that I can sit down and concentrate on maximising my scores without having to worry about the tuition. I was able to do so much; words cannot explain my gratitude. Continue reading “Meet a graduating scholar: Aisha Bukenya, Uganda” →

Changing Perceptions: Reports launched from Positive Voices, the national survey of people living with HIV

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Today is the official launch of the Positive Voices Changing Perceptions reports, with results from a community-led project guided by participants in the national Positive Voices survey.

Positive Voices is one of the largest representative surveys of people living with HIV to date in the world, with over 4,400 participants. The survey asks about health and wellbeing, medications, experiences with healthcare, met and unmet needs, sex and relationships, lifestyle issues and financial security.

The Changing Perceptions reports bring the survey data to life by aligning statistics with personal stories and experiences of people living with HIV in order to challenge attitudes and change perceptions about HIV. This is why it is titled “changing perceptions.”  Continue reading “Changing Perceptions: Reports launched from Positive Voices, the national survey of people living with HIV” →

2018: A year reviewed by Watipa Scholars

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Every year, the Watipa scholars are asked to complete an online form to reflect on their experiences over the year. Here is a snapshot of what they said in 2018.

100% feel proud to be a Watipa scholar, and feel that the scholarship has boosted their confidence and improved the lives of people in their families.

Boom! This makes us very happy, and inspired to work even harder to bring the opportunity of a Watipa scholarship to more deserving young leaders….

Most proud of in 2018?

Screen Shot 2018-11-04 at 20.33.53 Continue reading “2018: A year reviewed by Watipa Scholars” →

Meet a graduating scholar: Congratulations Rose Aoko Omollo, Kenya

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a35ba66f-869c-4410-9869-d4434d3888f5“To me the sky is not the limit, when you are surrounded by people who are thirsty for education… Everything is possible – you only need to believe in yourself and go after those goals.”

Meet Rose Omollo, who was awarded a Watipa scholarship in 2016 and is now graduating with a Bachelor of Community Health and Development from the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya. We are proud of you Rose – congratulations! May you continue to achieve your dreams and have a positive impact in your community.

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Rose Omollo, Watipa Scholar 2016 and graduate

The Watipa scholarship has impacted my life a great deal. I am proud to have come this far in my education. Through the mentorship programme that Watipa offers to us scholars, I have also been able to help others in my community.

Now that I am doing my last semester, I believe that I have been equipped with the authority and ability to deploy and change the community and myself as an individual. Like me before them, I hope to see girls in my community completing their education and advancing to higher levels. Continue reading “Meet a graduating scholar: Congratulations Rose Aoko Omollo, Kenya” →