Aloyo, lives in the village “For God” in Gulu City. At the young age of 24, she had already encountered many challenges including the death of both parents and a recent separation from her husband. Aloyo, feeling overwhelmed and filled with doubt about her future, moved in with her grandmother. That’s when the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) program came into her life, giving her hope.
The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-initiated DREAMS provides a comprehensive, multi-sectoral package of core interventions to address key factors that make girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV. These include structural factors, such as gender-based violence, exclusion from economic opportunities, and a lack of access to secondary school. DREAMS applies multiple interventions at once so that adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) receive comprehensive support that keeps them safe from risks, including HIV.
DREAMS Implemented in Uganda
In Uganda, DREAMS is implemented through a collaborative effort between the Government of Uganda, PEPFAR through USAID and DoD program implementers like URC, and local organizations. The partnership focuses on high-burden districts where a large proportion of existing HIV/AIDS clients are AGYW. DREAMS provides educational support, economic empowerment, and health services to AGYW in these districts. Working with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), URC supports the Mubende and Gulu military health facilities to implement DREAMS as part of the DoD Uganda URC Project.
Providing More Support to the Most Vulnerable
Aloyo was among 172 AGYW enrolled at Gulu Military Hospital who received the DREAMS comprehensive package. After further assessment, Aloyo and 56 other beneficiaries were identified as critically vulnerable. These participants were trained in vocational skills for three additional months – 33 in tailoring, 10 in hair dressing, six in baking, and four each in knitting and catering.
These AGYW also participated in trainings, which included financial literacy sessions which included discussions on the advantages of joining Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) schemes. Aloyo joined a savings group that has helped her to gain financial stability.
A Change in Course Towards Self-Sufficiency and Wellbeing
Aloyo’s newly acquired skills led her to a new career. “After three months of vocational skilling in catering and bakery, I applied for a position at Acholi Inn Hotel Limited. To my surprise, I was chosen from among the four selected from a pool of nine applicants. DREAMS has transformed my life in ways I never imagined,” she said.
Her journey is a testament to the resilience of girls and women when they have access to tools, resources, and support that contribute to their self-sufficiency and wellbeing. Aloyo’s story is one of countless seen in DREAMS’ graduates, and one where empowerment is only the beginning of a woman’s promising future.
