A day of vocational training for a girl in Uganda

The core problem that Somero's work addresses is the lack of prospects and financial dependency of many young women in urban areas in Africa. Both are caused primarily by the lack of education relevant to the job market, often accompanied by a lack of self-confidence and career orientation. The causes of this lie primarily in the Ugandan school system. High dropout rates mean that only 50% of male adolescents and only a third of girls ultimately obtain a qualification (UNICEF 2010). This situation has hardly changed since 2000 (Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2011), and in fact the graduation rates for girls have even worsened (United Nations Girls Education Initiative 2012).
The main reasons for the higher dropout rates among girls are pregnancies and arranged marriages in adolescence (UNGEI 2012). Attending secondary schools is practically impossible for girls from poor economic backgrounds, as school fees are still charged for secondary education in Uganda and expulsion from school in the event of pregnancy is common practice.
Due to a lack of school qualifications and a lack of vocational training, young women often have no chance of finding a regular job. Since girls from poor families in particular cannot expect any family support, they are usually permanently dependent on male support in the townships. In addition, 60% of young women are victims of physical violence (State of Uganda Population Report 2011); at the same time, 70% of young people consider domestic violence to be legitimate. This combination of gender inequality, lack of professional alternatives and inadequate sexual education means that teenage pregnancies are not uncommon.