Wise Choices for Life helps break one of the preventable causes of inter-generational poverty, maternal mortality, by transforming thinking and behaviour with culturally relevant Reproductive Health literacy.
In 2011 Marg Docking, an Australian midwife working in Uganda, was deeply challenged by the tragic results of preventable maternal deaths. Marg returned to Australia determined to help break the poverty cycle created by ignorance surrounding reproductive health.
The maternal death rate in Uganda is still one of the highest in East Africa. Nineteen mothers die per day from pregnancy related causes. Uganda has one of the highest fertility rates in Africa. Cultural myths and traditions, as well as poor knowledge in reproductive health, drive the poverty cycle. High abortion and maternal mortality rates, gender inequality, excessive numbers of orphans and numerous abandoned babies are just some of the tragic results.
We are a training organisation that helps individuals to develop critical thinking skills, new attitudes and cultural awareness, to move men and women together toward behavioural change. We believe many of the maternal deaths could be prevented if male leaders in the community could lead and guide the men with new ideas and thinking around pregnancy and family planning. We respect the fact that traditional faith leaders give meaning and guidance to life. Our holistic training gives these traditional male leaders their rightful place and empowers them with knowledge and communication skills in reproductive health. This leads to women having a safer passage through puberty and childbirth.
Our vision is to see thriving communities where every child is born into a caring, healthy and loving family.
We do this by providing professional training in reproductive health and life skills to key community leaders, who share this knowledge with their communities.
WHO WE ARE
Wise Choices for Life is a registered Australian Charity. A community development, non-profit training organisation specialising in reproductive health and life skills, we exist for the elimination of inter-generational poverty.