Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda

This article describes the development and implementation of the Anyaka Makwiri program and summarizes results from the qualitative assessment of participant experiences. Anyaka Makwiri is a multicomponent mentoring program developed for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ages 15 to 24 in Gulu,...

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Main Authors: Kate F. Plourde, Geeta Nanda, Elise Healy, Dennis Kibwola, Phoebe Mutonyi, Michael Ochwo, Francis Okello, Joy Cunningham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Clemson University Press 2021-07-01
Series:Journal of Youth Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/1003
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author Kate F. Plourde
Geeta Nanda
Elise Healy
Dennis Kibwola
Phoebe Mutonyi
Michael Ochwo
Francis Okello
Joy Cunningham
author_facet Kate F. Plourde
Geeta Nanda
Elise Healy
Dennis Kibwola
Phoebe Mutonyi
Michael Ochwo
Francis Okello
Joy Cunningham
author_sort Kate F. Plourde
collection DOAJ
description This article describes the development and implementation of the Anyaka Makwiri program and summarizes results from the qualitative assessment of participant experiences. Anyaka Makwiri is a multicomponent mentoring program developed for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ages 15 to 24 in Gulu, Uganda. The comprehensive program consisted of a curriculum covering sexual and reproductive health (SRH), financial capabilities, soft skills, and gender-based violence and gender equality; activities designed to improve participants’ social connectedness; optional onsite testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and pregnancy along with STI treatment; group-based savings; and links to SRH services, including contraceptive and gender-based violence services. The program was implemented over a 6-month period and reached 490 AGYW. Findings are derived from routine program-monitoring data including administrative records, de-identified service statistics, and baseline surveys. In addition, this article summarizes some of the key findings from qualitative interviews with both mentors and AGYW participants, conducted at the conclusion of the program.  Participants generally had a favorable view of the mentoring program, particularly in terms of the curriculum topics they were exposed to, and mentors were also positive about their experiences. Despite the program’s many successes there were some implementation challenges, the most prominent being intermittent participant attendance due to a variety of difficulties. The lessons learned from the implementation of Anyaka Makwiri provide valuable insights for the design and implementation of multicomponent mentoring programs for AGYW.
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spelling doaj.art-df0484f804474375941e1f6fbe90e6ec2024-02-02T06:57:08ZengClemson University PressJournal of Youth Development2325-40172021-07-01162-327828610.5195/jyd.2021.1003706Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in UgandaKate F. Plourde0Geeta Nanda1Elise Healy2Dennis Kibwola3Phoebe Mutonyi4Michael Ochwo5Francis Okello6Joy Cunningham7Research Utilization: Global Health, Population, and Nutrition, FHI 360Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health: Global Health, Population, and Nutrition, FHI 360Research Utilization: Global Health, Population, and Nutrition, FHI 360FHI 360 UgandaAnyaka Makwiri and The Aids Support Organization (TASO) GuluThe Aids Support Organization (TASO) GuluVarimetrics Group LimitedResearch Utilization: Global Health, Population, and Nutrition, FHI 360This article describes the development and implementation of the Anyaka Makwiri program and summarizes results from the qualitative assessment of participant experiences. Anyaka Makwiri is a multicomponent mentoring program developed for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ages 15 to 24 in Gulu, Uganda. The comprehensive program consisted of a curriculum covering sexual and reproductive health (SRH), financial capabilities, soft skills, and gender-based violence and gender equality; activities designed to improve participants’ social connectedness; optional onsite testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and pregnancy along with STI treatment; group-based savings; and links to SRH services, including contraceptive and gender-based violence services. The program was implemented over a 6-month period and reached 490 AGYW. Findings are derived from routine program-monitoring data including administrative records, de-identified service statistics, and baseline surveys. In addition, this article summarizes some of the key findings from qualitative interviews with both mentors and AGYW participants, conducted at the conclusion of the program.  Participants generally had a favorable view of the mentoring program, particularly in terms of the curriculum topics they were exposed to, and mentors were also positive about their experiences. Despite the program’s many successes there were some implementation challenges, the most prominent being intermittent participant attendance due to a variety of difficulties. The lessons learned from the implementation of Anyaka Makwiri provide valuable insights for the design and implementation of multicomponent mentoring programs for AGYW.https://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/1003adolescent girlsyoung womenhivreproductive healthmentoringasset-building
spellingShingle Kate F. Plourde
Geeta Nanda
Elise Healy
Dennis Kibwola
Phoebe Mutonyi
Michael Ochwo
Francis Okello
Joy Cunningham
Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda
Journal of Youth Development
adolescent girls
young women
hiv
reproductive health
mentoring
asset-building
title Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda
title_full Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda
title_fullStr Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda
title_short Implementation of Anyaka Makwiri: A Multicomponent Mentoring Program for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda
title_sort implementation of anyaka makwiri a multicomponent mentoring program for adolescent girls and young women in uganda
topic adolescent girls
young women
hiv
reproductive health
mentoring
asset-building
url https://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/1003
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