By Thereza Nalumansi | Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Act4Africa
Growing up in poverty in rural Mayuge, many girls face barriers that dim their future. Harmful gender and social norms such as, “There is no need to educate a girl because she will be married off anyway,” continue to limit their chances of getting an education and securing a brighter tomorrow. Out of desperation, some girls end up pregnant in their teenage years, hoping marriage will provide the support they never received at home. Sadly, many are abandoned, left to struggle with shame, hopelessness, and uncertainty.
At Act4Africa, our heart beats for these young girls and women. We are committed to helping them reclaim their dignity and build a fresh start—by caring for their mental wellbeing, equipping them with practical skills, and providing start-up kits that enable them to live productive, meaningful lives.
In the past eight months alone, ten girls have found renewed hope through our psychosocial support. Beyond that, we have trained young women to earn a living, empowering them to lead themselves and provide for their families. The most recent group of three received sewing machines and fabric—an opportunity they describe as life-changing, especially after having dropped out of school so early.
Doreen, one of the beneficiaries, shared her story:
“I had been in the village for years, hopeless, doing manual labor—digging in people’s gardens to survive—since I dropped out in Primary Four and couldn’t get a formal job. Act4Africa has completely changed my life by giving me a skill and a sewing machine. For the first time, I feel my future is bright. Thank you so much, Act4Africa.”
Zakia echoed the same gratitude:
“Surely, you have saved us from poverty. Who else would have remembered us? Thank you, Act4Africa, for lifting us out of the ditch.”
We deeply value your continued support in helping us realize the vision of transforming the lives of young women.Thank you our dear partners for making this incredible work possible.
Next steps:
We plan to enroll 10 more young women onto the program for the next six months, continuing this journey of restoration and empowerment.
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