Happy month of October to us all

Today, Zoota Initiative for Development joins IOM Uganda on raising awareness about Trafficking in Persons. Our trans-border communities in Arua District and Arua City are at a high risk and stand on the red line for human smuggling and human trafficking.

Access to safe abortion protects the health of women and girls. As with all other health services, women and girls should be able to access safe and respectful abortion care, when they need it, without fear of harm, punishment or recrimination. #HealthForAll

“As we empower the girl child, we must also empower the boy child whilst guiding them to grow into responsible men who respect and support empowered girls” - Ms. Diana, Arua District Local Government

Today, we join @sihanetwork.bsky.social for a conversation on “Breaking the Cycle: Early Marriage, Teenage Pregnancy and the Case for Public Awareness and Legal Reform.” This conversation is directly linked to the #STEMESProject where Zoota is supporting teenage mothers and survivors of SGBV.

We thank our local leaders for joining us at the STEMES Project launch. Your time, support and ideas have helped continue shape this project and enable us collectively deliver quality results from this community Investment.

We didn’t come to #UNGA80 to sit back. We came to build the world we need, starting with the Feminist Playbook🔥. We kicked off consultations to shape a shared vision for gender equality & concrete pledges of action on how our sector can make it real. 🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/4gyanqA

High lights from our recently concluded STEMES Project Launch in Arua District.

The STEMES Project Launch Day - Our approach to rural development should be locally led and satisfy the needs of the local community people. We need to start from the ground up - Parish Chief Ezuku Parish, Vurra Town Council, Arua District.

Project Launch Day: We are honored to be partnering with NextWorldNow Community Investments to deliver a project to empower rural teenage mothers who are survivors of sexual abuse and gender based violence in the most affected rural and trans border communities in Arua District

The STEMES Project Launch🚀 Day #endgbv

Today I feel fulfilled. Years of advocacy on cross-border trade & trans-border communities between Uganda & DRC🇨🇩 are finally bearing fruit. Honored to play a role in redefining development, strengthening ties in West Nile & building safer, peaceful and thriving rural communities.

We must make sure that no woman or young person faces violence, harassment or abuse as they try to earn a living in our trade corridors in Westnile. These spaces should not be places of fear but path ways of opportunity.

A reminder that rural young people must be included in decision making. With half of the world’s population under 30, our voices are essential for shaping a fair and sustainable future✊

We are thrilled to have won the National Legal Hackathon 2025! 🎉. Now we want to hear from YOU on what topics we should feature on Her Voices from the Borderlands Podcast? Drop your ideas in the comments, DMs or email us at; [email protected] We can’t wait to🧏🏿‍♀️

At Logiri Sub-County in Arua District celebrating International Youth Day with the incredible young people who will shape the future of our communities.

The young people are saying that we need to urgently protect our environment. Conversations and initiatives about the future of our communities must put young people first #youthdayaruadistrict

Today we are partnering with Arua District in celebrating International Youth Day with the young people of our communities. Our commitment remains strong to empower rural and cross-border youth and to shape a better and brighter future for our communities.

We need to support cross-border trade from trans-border communities even when it is largely informal. For many rural families especially for women and young people it is survival. It provides income, food, and opportunities, while also sustaining local economies.

A special Thank You to the @wougnet.bsky.social team for providing this opportunity for us to pitch our innovation. Congratulations to fellow winners and participants for putting up innovative ideas that promote women’s voices. We look forward to collaborations and partnerships.

We are honored to partner with Next World Now Community Investments to empower 150 girls in our rural and trans-border communities in Arua District. Through this partnership we will equip survivors of SGBV with the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to thrive #nameittoendit #endgbvnow

Our Monday Checklist📝✍️

35% of Uganda’s girls face sexual violence before adulthood. Behind this statistic are stolen childhoods & silenced futures. Sexual violence is a betrayal of our duty as parents, leaders & communities. It’s time to act; strengthen laws, support survivors & end harmful cultures.

Join us in celebrating Zoota Initiative for taking 3rd place at the National Legal Hackathon 2025! Our trans-border innovation “Voices from the Borderlands Podcast” will break down barriers to freedom of expression for women in rural & cross-border communities #herrighttoknow #innovateinspireinclude

Today we had the honor of pitching our rural trans-border innovation “Her Voices from the Borderlands Podcast” a space designed to amplify the voices of women in cross-border communities, challenge harmful cultures fueling GBV in West Nile & restore women’s voice & agency to fully express themselves

Ending femicide needs urgent collective action. Women & girls deserve safety everywhere. #NameItToEndIt #ItsNotYourFault #EndGBVNow

The Arua District Human Rights Committee plays a key role in advancing human rights. We are proud that our ED @alesimajorine.bsky.social serves on it, strengthening our commitment to protecting rural & underserved communities, ending GBV and promoting inclusive governance. #ItsNotYourFault

Cross-border trade is often seen as a chance for people to improve their lives, but many small traders face struggles that go beyond tariffs and taxes. These are the hidden barriers that stop women and youth from fully benefiting from trade. #nameittoendit #itsnotyourfault

We cannot talk about cross-border trade without talking about the safety of women and young people. Trade must protect dignity, rights, and safety not put them at risk. True development happens when trade uplifts people, not when it endangers them.

Women and youth are the heartbeat of cross-border trade in Africa. They move food, clothes, crafts, and everyday goods that keep families and communities alive. Yet their full potential remains untapped because of barriers like gender-based violence, corruption, poor infrastructure…⏭️⏭️

Catch our insights on the talk show on the responsibility of fathers in protecting girls against child mariages, teenage pregnancies, sexual and gender based violence in our rural and underserved communities in Arua District. 🗣️Speaking in the Lugbara Language @undp.org @spotlightinitiative.org

Here are some insights into our conversation on GBV, SRHR, Child Marriages and Teenage Pregnancies in Arua District. @icwea @spotlightinitiative.org @undp.org #itsnotyourfault #nameittoendit #aruadistrict #GBV #SRHR

Today we held a talk show on Arua One FM to discuss key issues affecting our communities including; GBV, SRHR, child marriage, and teenage pregnancies. These challenges remain serious in the rural and underserved areas of Arua District where services are far or hard to reach.

According to a 2023 report by UN Women, approximately 85,000 women and girls were killed worldwide, highlighting the alarming prevalence of gender-based violence & femicide. This staggering figure underscores the persistent threat faced by women due to systemic inequality & GBV.

We wrapped up our training by @ICWEastAfrica and we are continuing with engagements in rural and underserved communities of Arua District. Through community engagements, advocacy & outreaches on GBV & SRHR, we shall have safer spaces, better services & stronger accountability.

Our Take Home; ✅ Document the lived stories of GBV and SRHR. ✅ Intergrate a diverse and more vulnerable and underserved persons in our program. ✅ Use data📈 driven insights to improve outcomes and impact ✅ Employ CLM (Community Led Monitoring) and CBM (Community Based Monitoring) in our programming.

Every time abuse or harassment is ignored, the abuser grows stronger. Silence protects them, not the victim. By speaking out and standing with survivors, we take away the power of those who harm and create safer spaces for everyone. #ItsNotYourFault #GBV #SRHR #endgbv

Ending GBV requires collective effort from governments, schools, media, families, and individuals must all play a role. We must; ✔ Speak up when we witness sexist jokes, victim-blaming, or abusive behavior. ✔ Support survivors by believing them and directing them to resources….👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿

We Need to Address the Systemic Injustices in Cross-Border Trade. Until cross-border trade is made inclusive and addresses systemic injustices, it will remain closed off to the very women and youth who depend on it the most. True trade justice means removing barriers so that everyone can benefit.

Increasing access to SRHR & GBV services is about health, justice, and dignity. Too many girls in remote areas face barriers to care. When we remove these, they can make informed choices, stay safe, and build brighter futures. Services must reach those who need them most. #SRHR #GBV #ItsNotYourFault

🌍🕊️ Happy World Humanitarian Day!. Today we honour all humanitarian workers and volunteers who risk their lives to help others. May we continue to stand in solidarity with communities in need and act with compassion, courage, and hope. #WorldHumanitarianDay #Compassion #Service

📢 Today Zoota joins a 2-day SRHR & GBV training led by @ICWEastAfrica. We are strengthening our role in monitoring services and pushing for accountability from duty bearers so that young women and girls in rural Arua and in cross border trade can live safer and healthier lives. #itsnotyourfault

Youth in Cross-Border Trade: Driving Innovation and Opportunity. Across our border towns, young people are redefining trade. They are moving beyond traditional methods using mobile money to close deals in minutes, packaging products in creative ways, and finding new markets through social media.

The global theme for the #InternationalYouthDay2025 is “LOCAL YOUTH ACTIONS FOR THE SDGS AND BEYOND”… In Arua District, we are looking forward to joining the District in celebrating #IYD2025 on the 5th day of September 2025.

This International Youth Day 2025, we stand with rural youth and young traders in Arua and West Nile. Young people need skills, mentorship and fair accessible opportunities. Investing in young people means building stronger rural communities and a thriving local economy. #InternationalYouthDay2025

In West Nile, cross-border trade is more than buying & selling, it’s a lifeline. For our youth, especially young women & those from rural communities, it means income for school fees, food on the table, and dignity in providing for their families. #internationalyouthday2025 #localactionglobalimpact

From all of us at Zoota, we celebrate the energy, resilience, and dreams of young people everywhere especially in our rural communities, survivors of Gender Based Violence, teenage mothers, and youth in cross-border trade who we work with everyday. #InternationalYouthDay #internationalyouthday2025

🥳Happy International Youth Day🎉. When we invest in rural youth, we invest in the future of Arua and West Nile. When we stand with young traders, we strengthen the backbone of our local economy. This International Youth Day, we are committing to walk with young people every step of the way #youthday

In the towns and villages of Arua and across West Nile, young people are already building solutions. We are starting small businesses, running community savings groups, teaching each other skills, and standing up against violence. What we lack is not ideas or determination, it’s the backing to take…

In Arua, we the young people are creating the change we want. Through community dialogues, we address GBV, advocate for youth-friendly services, & build solidarity among rural communities. Through micro-enterprises, we are tackling unemployment & providing economic opportunities where we are needed⏭️