Relationship empowering families

Working across boundaries to build strong families and united communities in which everyone has a chance to grow and prosper is the main objective of Mothers' Union’s Family Life Programme.

Currently operating in 8 areas of Uganda, the programme mobilises community groups to work together to identify and prioritise the key issues they face and then, as a group, develop ways in which they can tackle these and bring about change and improvements in their community. The programme is thus initiated, facilitated and locally owned within each community, which allows prioritisation and relevant development in areas identified by the group members themselves. Through this model the communities are motivated and empowered in the most sustainable way possible. Through the programme, communities are now actively tackling issues such as food security, health and sanitation, Human Rights, HIV/AIDS and environmental degradation.

As well as bringing about practical changes in a community to improve living conditions, the Family Life Programme is also helping to transform family and community relationships. The programme is open to the whole community regardless of age, sex, religion and tribe and the inclusive nature of the programme and its way of working has proved to be a uniting force in the communities in which the programme operates. Families and communities are now more united, husbands and wives value each other more, people of different faiths live side by side in harmony. In short communities are flourishing.

The programme is also ensuring greater gender awareness and the promotion of women’s rights within the communities by actively challenging the gender inequality caused by cultural and traditional beliefs that women should be subordinate to men. Group members and facilitators have noted changes in gender roles in their homes. Before the programme was introduced, wives tended to stay at home with the children and did not engage in any income generating activities. Many male group members involved in the programme say they now share the workload with their wives, do the housework together and help look after the children. Across the whole programme, participants report that relationships between husbands and wives have greatly improved. Women group members also report they are now able to take part in decision making and negotiate issues with their husbands. Alcohol was also a significant problem in many of the communities and domestic violence was very prevalent but these too have reduced. Many couples have chosen to get married because their relationships have been restored. This is also providing a positive role model for children as they see their parent’s relationship change.

Quotes

“Before Family Life Programme, people in the communities expected hand outs - free things. But now the Mothers' Union is giving them knowledge. Knowledge is better! They say 'with knowledge we can get what we want'. This makes a difference... There is a spirit of helping one another and building relationships that before did not exist."

“My family used not to make sanitation a priority in our homestead. However the training on health, hygiene and model home development which I attended opened my eyes and ears about keeping health and hygiene in our home. When I went back home I talked to my wife and children about what I learnt from the training. I started involving myself directly and encouraging others to actively participate in home hygiene improvement. We are now happy because our home has changed and is admired by other people. We love each other because of the many things we have achieved together”.
Mr Muyimbwa – FLP group facilitator, Butolo village, Central Buganda.

“Family Life Programme has helped me so much. Now in my family there is unity”
Beatrice, Family Life Programme Facilitator, Sebei, Uganda

Facts

- In 2008 65 new family life programme facilitators were trained and went on to start family life groups.
- In total at the end of 2008 the programme had 272 family life groups in operation with over 5,556 participants.