Dear Supporters,
Greetings! We in Uganda are thinking of you daily and hope that you and your family, friends, colleagues and loved ones are all healthy, safe and well.
COVID 19 has placed us in uncharted waters. This health, social and economic crisis has an even greater negative impact on adolescent girls in Uganda who are now out of school. When girls are out of school and isolated in this context they are at greater risk of becoming victims of rape, violence, early pregnancy, forced child marriage and food insecurity. It’s exactly the circumstance we have worked so hard to help girls avoid.
And yet, the investment that you’ve made in the future of these girls through Girl Power Project® has created grit and resilience to guide them through these times. Every decision we make is being guided by our long standing commitment to putting the health and wellbeing of vulnerable adolescent girls and their broader communities at the center of our work.
We are happy to report that our team is healthy, safe and social distancing. With your support we are working with our most vulnerable girls remotely every day to proactively implement measures that protect them through communication, education and prevention. We are sending our sponsored girls funds via mobile money for essentials such as food, medication and soap to ensure they are not forced to use their bodies -- sometimes the only asset they own -- to pay for their basic needs to survive.
Moreover the girls -- over 20,000 of them now who have gone through Girl Power Project® have access to Community Legal Volunteers and Girl Power Advocates-- individuals who serve as critical point persons for girls to access via phone. They are going above and beyond in their role as leaders and champions of girls in this especially difficult time.
The value of the seeds we have planted by working hand in hand, day after day, at the deepest of grass roots with our fellow community members is bearing more and more fruit as these leaders shine in these challenging times.
We could not be more proud that our Girl Power Project® trained girls are bravely and confidently working together to protect themselves and their communities from COVID19 and other threats.
Please take extra good care of yourselves and be brave, even if you are scared. We will come out on the other side of this stronger than ever.
