Skills Training Empowers Kalangala Sex Workers Towards Safer Futures

In Kalangala District, many young women engaged in sex work face immense pressure to forgo safe sex due to a lack of viable alternative income. This precarious situation significantly increases their risk of contracting HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted infections.

Recognizing this challenge, the Women’s Organisation Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA), with funding from ViiV Healthcare UK Limited, has launched a comprehensive skills training initiative. The program aims to equip these women with employable skills, empowering them to seek livelihoods beyond sex work.

Currently, 30 students are enrolled in hairdressing and beauty therapy courses. The goal extends beyond classroom learning, with plans to assist graduates in establishing sustainable businesses. WONETHA also intends to foster a community savings and loans association to help participants build capital for future ventures.

“When they have money, they will have the strength to say no to clients who don’t want to use condoms,” stated Naume Mbaleeba, head of WONETHA, highlighting the program’s role in enhancing negotiation power for safer sex.

To further support vulnerable individuals, especially those on distant islands, WONETHA has acquired a boat. This vessel will facilitate the delivery of essential health supplies, including condoms, and enable health workers to reach remote communities for treatment and counseling services. The organization also plans to generate income by hiring out the boat when not in use for outreach, addressing potential funding gaps.

The initiative is seen as a crucial step in providing a lifeline and fostering safer, more secure futures, free from exploitation and health risks, for women in Kalangala. Local health officials have lauded the program for its potential to help individuals deviate from risky sex work towards safer, income-generating professions.