By Vicent Emong
KUMI — Nearly 500 parents in Kakures Sub-county, Kumi District, have received training in positive parenting skills as part of efforts to tackle teenage pregnancies, strengthen family stability, and improve child welfare.
The two-day training, organized by Africa Water Solutions under its Girl Plus Programme, was held at Kanyamtam Primary School and brought together parents, community leaders, and local government officials.
Speaking during the training, Catherine Bena Anyait, a Programmes Field Officer with Africa Water Solutions, said the initiative was designed to address the growing challenges of family instability and its impact on children, especially girls.
“We are here in Kakures for a Positive Parenting Training because our community engagements have revealed that instability in families is one of the major contributors to teenage pregnancies,” Anyait said.
She explained that Africa Water Solutions is implementing both the Girl Plus Programme and the WASH Programme, with the Girl Plus initiative specifically focusing on protecting girls from teenage pregnancies, school dropout, and other vulnerabilities.
According to Anyait, stable families play a critical role in ensuring that children grow up in safe and supportive environments.
“As an organization, we want parents to find common ground and promote stability in their homes. When families are stable, parents can raise children together and provide proper guidance,” she noted.
She added that family conflicts and broken homes often expose young girls to exploitation and increase their risk of early pregnancies.
“We have seen that when there is instability in families, wrong people take advantage of the situation, and many girls end up becoming pregnant at a young age,” she said.
The training attracted approximately 500 parents, demonstrating strong community interest in finding solutions to challenges affecting children and families.
The Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Kumi District, Fred Malinga, commended Africa Water Solutions for organizing the training, describing it as timely and necessary.
“I appreciate Africa Water Solutions for creating this opportunity. It is encouraging to see fathers, mothers, elders, and young people all participating in discussions about parenting and family wellbeing,” Malinga said.
He expressed concern about what he described as the growing neglect of parental responsibilities in many households.
According to Malinga, excessive alcohol consumption and inadequate supervision of children have contributed to the increasing social challenges affecting young people.
“Many parents have abandoned their responsibilities. Children are attending social events without supervision while some parents spend long hours in drinking places instead of guiding their families,” he noted.
Malinga urged parents to recommit themselves to raising responsible and productive children who can contribute positively to society.
He also emphasized the importance of restoring moral guidance within homes and communities.
“People no longer openly discuss parenting and family matters, yet these issues are critical to family stability. We need to reform ourselves and address the challenges affecting our communities,” he said.
Parents who attended the training welcomed the initiative and described it as transformative.
Many participants said the knowledge gained would help them improve communication within their families, resolve conflicts peacefully, and create healthier environments for their children.
They further appealed to Africa Water Solutions to continue conducting similar community engagements aimed at strengthening families and promoting child protection.
Community leaders expressed optimism that the training would contribute to reducing teenage pregnancies, improving family relationships, and enhancing the wellbeing of children across Kumi District.
The initiative is part of broader efforts by development partners and local authorities to empower families and protect vulnerable children through education, mentorship, and community-based interventions.
