Welcome to ROSE. (Reaching Out to Spread Equality)

 ROSE program is a transformational space where young girls and boys come together to learn, grow, and take responsibility for their lives. Through ROSE, they begin the journey of becoming empowered, confident, and self-reliant women and men.

The club gives young people the opportunity to build practical skills, reflect on who they are, and discover who they want to become. It’s a space where dreams are nurtured and the foundation for future leadership is laid.

ROSE Program is an initiative under MAPLE (Microdevelopment for the Alleviation of Poverty through Learning and Entrepreneurship)

MAPLE provides tailored business training and entrepreneur mentorship to local savings and loan groups across Eastern and Northern Uganda. It’s in this setting that ROSE takes root, helping young people grow not only financially, but also personally and socially.

Mission

To work with young people — especially young women — in underserved areas, helping them build the confidence and develop the skills they need to gain financial independence and to create real, positive change in their lives and communities.

Background

Launched in 2009, ROSE was created with one clear goal: to empower young women in the Mbale District and surrounding areas in Eastern Uganda. The original vision was to offer more than just basic financial education — ROSE is designed to be a holistic, life-shaping experience for girls aged 12–18.

The program included:

• Financial literacy

• Health education

• Self-reflection and personal growth

• Decision-making skills

• Confidence-building activities

• Inspirational life modules

From 2009 to early 2011, the program ran successfully and received positive feedback. Girls found the life-skills content valuable and relevant. But challenges soon became clear. Financial literacy was only covered in a single session, and many girls didn’t fully understand how it applied to their daily lives. Trainers also noticed that while sessions were powerful, the lessons didn’t always stick, and the club often didn’t continue once the formal training ended.

This led MAPLE to make a pivotal decision in March 2011: to redesign ROSE from the ground up, with a stronger structure, clearer themes, and more lasting impact.

A Club That Lives On

The new ROSE was reimagined as more than a short-term training. It became the ROSE Club — a lasting community built by and for the youth themselves.

The club would:

• Reinforce core themes like financial literacy in every session

• Be youth-led, empowering participants to take ownership

• Continue functioning even after the official sessions end

• Foster ongoing leadership, not just short-term engagement

With this approach, ROSE shifted from simply delivering knowledge to building real transformation. Girls and now boys as well are encouraged to take initiative, support one another, and become leaders in their homes and communities.

The result? A new generation of confident, financially aware, and socially responsible youth who are prepared to make a difference, not just in their lives, but in the lives of others.

ROSE Objectives

1. Teach girls the importance of saving and building financial independence

2. Build confidence and inspire self-belief

3. Encourage independent thinking and questioning of the world around them

4. Empower girls and boys to become proactive changemakers in their families, communities, and beyond

Our Motto

• Who do you want to be?
  What can I do...?
  What can I do to...?

We encourage every participant to ask questions, to think independently, and to imagine the kind of future they want because real change starts with a bold, curious mind.