SEOUL – “When I was 12 years old, my dad suggested I drop out and go learn tailoring since women don’t add so much value. Mum refused and made sure I continued my education, which led me to become a journalist and of course has helped me achieve this (The Aliguma Foundation),” Ritah revealed during the 85th AIPS Congress in Seoul.
She became more than a journalist. She is a change maker whose influence goes beyond her home country, Uganda. Ritah is invited as a speaker to many events to talk about her life-changing project through sport; “The Aliguma Foundation”. On the stage of the AIPS Congress in Seoul, she shared the achievements of her Foundation within vulnerable communities in Uganda. “The Aliguma Foundation is a social charity organisation that fosters sustainable development within otherwise marginalized populations in slums and rural communities via sports and enterprise”.
The Aliguma Foundation will be six years old this year and Aliguma is very thankful for the life-changing experience she gained when she participated in the first ever AIPS Young Reporters Programme in Shenzhen, organised by AIPS and FISU. “My trip to Shenzhen, China was a turning point in my life as my mentality change alot. I remember one speaker from FIFA called Alexander Couch talking about social good and Public relations which made me change and I felt I could change lives in Uganda after mine had changed,” Aliguma said. She then thanked AIPS president for his permanent support. “Many thanks to AIPS and AIPS president for giving us a platform to present what we do”.
Aliguma extended her thanks to UEFA who is supporting her projects. “UEFA renewed a two year contract worth 200,000euro which is helping us to build the empowerment centre but also run other projects,” she added, while particularly appreciating the UEFA president Alexander Ceferin for his historic visit to Acholi Quarters in March.
The Aliguma Foundation focuses its action around education, feeding programme, school outreach and economic empowerment. Since its establishment, Aliguma Foundation has organised eight Slum Soccer tournaments. It has given to 1,200 women and teenage mothers free sexual reproductive health services and helped 300 women to establish business. 182 children also are under the foundation scholarship. “A lot has changed especially in communities I work in,” Ritah proudly said.
To keep doing so, the Executive Director of the Aliguma Foundation invited all people to support the project.
*Credit: aipsmedia.com (https://www.aipsmedia.com/aips/pages/articles/2023/33867.html)
