SUUBI4Her Savings Accounts Launch
The ICHAD team successfully launched the opening of saving accounts for the Suubi4Her study on July 30th, 2018 at the Kimaanya Church grounds in Masaka. Youth Development Accounts (YDAs) were opened for participants from 15 schools in the treatment arms of the study. Over 600 guardians and participants attended the function. Centenary Bank Kyotera and Stanbic Bank Masaka officials facilitated the account proceedings. The bank officials and the ICHAD team will continue the opening of the bank accounts for the participants in the two intervention groups. In addition, schools that attended the launch received English, Mathematics and Biology textbooks, which were received with gratitude.
The occasion was also attended by the SMART Africa colleagues and affiliates, ICHAD staff, and RTY collegues, as well as political and religious leaders, including the Commissioner for Private Schools, Hon. George Muteekanga, the District Education Officer of Masaka, the Mayor of Masaka Godfrey Kayemba Afaayo, the State Minister for Higher Education Hon. Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo, the LCV Chairperson of Masaka Hon. Jude Mbabaali, the Reverend Father Joseph Kato. Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Director of Africa Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis, gave welcoming remarks during the event. The ICHAD team looks forward to testing the effectiveness of Suubi4Her intervention in reducing risky behaviors among young adolescent girls in the Masaka region.