What We Do

Words Into Deeds founder Gertrude Noden introducing the Sustainable Development Goals as part of a 2-day interactive workshop for teachers. Sessions include principles of human rights and strategies for engaging students in outreach projects.

Young mothers are receiving 6-month training as seamstreeses, during which they produce reusable menstruation garments that are distributed to girls at local schools, thereby enabling them to attend school during their periods. Trainees also receive counseling and training in computer literacy and business practices.

Students at the UNIFAT Primary School in Gulu, Uganda receive certificates of achievement following a 2-day workshop on how to design and implement community outreach projects.

Ithaca-area students, community health leaders, and Ithaca Mayor Myrick (upper left) present the results of their year-long Youth Voices on Substance Abuse project at an invited public forum at the United Nations.

Addressing the greatest need identified by teachers following a Professional Development Workshop at the UNIFAT Primary School, two rooms were renovated, 30 computer stations were purchased, an IT instructor hired, and a solar power system was installed. Now teachers and all grade level students are learning basic computer skills and interacting with global partners.

Schools often lack basic resources to launch student outreach projects, and Words Into Deeds offers grants of up to $150, which in Uganda is above the average monthly salary of most teachers. Ten projects are currently underway; these include vegetable and tree gardens, bead-making, soap-making, an eNewsletter, and a plastics-to-playground project.

Words Into Deeds awarded scholarships to five graduating UNIFAT students who participated in training and outreach projects during the nearly 2-years their school was closed and whose whose families were unable to meet the cost of enrolling them in high school.