By Tessa Davis | Program Director
Just Like My Child Foundation's Girl Power Project helps youth visualize their futures and dream big, a first step in goal planning. Girls were given poster board to map out their plans, tell their stories and illustrate their dreams in creative ways.
Nabatanzi Joan’s headline on her poster board read “I want to become a truthful lawyer.” She listed as a role model Julia Sebutinde, a lawyer for the international courts, who, according to Joan, speaks the truth. At the bottom of her poster board she states, “I want to promote justice in the world so that we may live in harmony if supported.”
Another superstar Girl Power participant called Namayanja Joan wants to be a football (soccer) player when she grows up, and drew a really great drawing of a girl in a football uniform kicking a soccer ball. Her dream is to go to Barcelona, Spain and play in the big leagues, a women’s soccer league called Barcelona (W.T.). She went on to express that “if I come back to Africa, I want to start up the teens’ [soccer] team.” She also has dreams of building a house for her mother and brother, and helping orphans by taking them to school, giving them food and clothing. Her role model is Messi, “he is the best footballer in the world; he has got all the techniques! How I wish I could play like him.”
Other girls stated they want to become doctors, musicians, lab techs, farmers, nurses, nuns, foresters, journalists, neurosurgeons, teachers, principles, hair stylists, and more. Some of the role models they listed were teachers, parents, popular Ugandan music artists, William Shakespeare, and influential doctors, teachers and other professionals in their lives.
Coming from poor rural villages, these girls have many obstacles in their way. University fees are expensive. Tradition may force girls to marry and have children early, which may delay or prevent them from reaching their dreams. Some may not even be able to complete middle school or afford to go to high school. However, with the help of Girl Power the girls seemed very determined to continue studying and developing skills that will help them overcome these challenges. They’ve identified the positive role models in their lives who can help them out, and they’ve got their mind maps to help them stay on track to realizing their dream.
We hope you continue to be a part of Just Like My Child Foundation’s Girl Power Project movement!! We extend our continuing gratitude to our partners, The collective Heart and Feminine Power. Together, we are doing amazing work!!
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