Support Set Her Free: Empower Ugandan Women

Dear Members of Global Giving,

Mackenzie Burke, Elizabeth Rhodes, and I are reporting from Set Her Free
(SHF) in Kampala, Uganda, as a part of the GROW Internship. Here, we are
working alongside Naomi and Robinah to gain in-depth knowledge on their two
programs that provide holistic care and training to girls subject to
hardships relating to poverty, including the Early Childhood Development
program and the Vocation program. Below is our report from visiting a
nearby slum where some of the girls at SHF have come from. I apologize for
the tardiness, we have had low internet bandwidth. Thank you for
understanding.

The first time I met Sarah*, she had more energy than anyone in the room.
She couldn’t stop calling us “mzungus” and laughing (the term literally
means “white man running” in Swahili). Sarah had bright round eyes that lit
up when we laughed with her. She wanted us to watch her dance and sing
hymns that she had learned from church and school.

During the first week of our internship in Kampala, our GROW Team was
invited by Set Her Free (SHF) staff members Viola, Esther, and Pamela to
interview prostitutes in one of the slums where they frequent. SHF has
received girls in their Early Childhood Development (ECD) program from this
very neighborhood. By enrolling in the ECD program, these girls could
escape a one-dimensional path inevitably leading to sex work.

As we neared our destination, canals of open sewage became more prevalent.
The smell of human defecation, sweat, and alcohol was rampant. Our first
interviews took place outside of a brothel. One woman told us how she
contracted HIV while working as a prostitute. Our group interviewed other
girls including Rasha and Laeisha*. Laeisha had long colorful cornrows and
was surrounded by her kids as she spoke. Working as a prostitute for 2
years she wanted to leave but didn’t see an affordable or viable way to
move to another place with new work arrangements. We spoke with Rasha,
another girl who has worked as a prostitute for two years. Rasha’s daughter
was living with her grandparents, but she had no money to visit her family
or buy a gift for her grandparents. A final girl we interviewed, named
Farid*, had lived in the slums as a prostitute for over 3 years. After
leaving home to find work as a live-in maid, the wife of her employer
claimed the girl was sleeping with her husband. She kicked her out of her
house. Farid came to the slums with no money or job, doubtful that her
parents knew where she was. These girls all have very different backgrounds
and life stories, but they all have one thing in common— the inability to
break free from the cyclical nature of poverty.

When we met Sarah’s mother, she was intoxicated and had a difficult time
conversing with our group. She looked physically drained and told the
social workers that her health is ailing. We told her that Sarah was doing
well at SHF, thriving in school and socializing with everyone at the
center. Sarah’s mother showed no inclination of wanting to see her
daughter.

Donors like you make it possible for girls like Sarah to avoid
prostitution, substance abuse, defilement, and poverty. Your funds enable
SHF girls to pursue another path, one that leads to education, empowerment,
and economic opportunity. Unfortunately, many girls in SHF’s EDC program—
including Sarah— do not have sponsors. The GROW Team and staff members at
SHF encourage you to reach out to friends, family, coworkers, and peers to
sponsor the young girls at SHF who lack funds for schooling. Thank you for
all of your support and for empowering Ugandan girls to live healthy,
fulfilling lives.

*Names have been changed for confidentiality purposes.
Best Regards,

Kelsey Oliver

Dear Members of Global Giving,

Mackenzie Burke, Elizabeth Rhodes, and I are reporting from Set Her Free
(SHF) in Kampala, Uganda, as a part of the GROW Internship. Here, we are
working alongside Naomi and Robinah to gain in-depth knowledge on their two
programs that provide holistic care and training to girls subject to
hardships relating to poverty, including the Early Childhood Development
program and the Vocation program. Below is our report from visiting a
nearby slum where some of the girls at SHF have come from. I apologize for
the tardiness, we have had low internet bandwidth. Thank you for
understanding.

The first time I met Sarah*, she had more energy than anyone in the room.
She couldn’t stop calling us “mzungus” and laughing (the term literally
means “white man running” in Swahili). Sarah had bright round eyes that lit
up when we laughed with her. She wanted us to watch her dance and sing
hymns that she had learned from church and school.

During the first week of our internship in Kampala, our GROW Team was
invited by Set Her Free (SHF) staff members Viola, Esther, and Pamela to
interview prostitutes in one of the slums where they frequent. SHF has
received girls in their Early Childhood Development (ECD) program from this
very neighborhood. By enrolling in the ECD program, these girls could
escape a one-dimensional path inevitably leading to sex work.

As we neared our destination, canals of open sewage became more prevalent.
The smell of human defecation, sweat, and alcohol was rampant. Our first
interviews took place outside of a brothel. One woman told us how she
contracted HIV while working as a prostitute. Our group interviewed other
girls including Rasha and Laeisha*. Laeisha had long colorful cornrows and
was surrounded by her kids as she spoke. Working as a prostitute for 2
years she wanted to leave but didn’t see an affordable or viable way to
move to another place with new work arrangements. We spoke with Rasha,
another girl who has worked as a prostitute for two years. Rasha’s daughter
was living with her grandparents, but she had no money to visit her family
or buy a gift for her grandparents. A final girl we interviewed, named
Farid*, had lived in the slums as a prostitute for over 3 years. After
leaving home to find work as a live-in maid, the wife of her employer
claimed the girl was sleeping with her husband. She kicked her out of her
house. Farid came to the slums with no money or job, doubtful that her
parents knew where she was. These girls all have very different backgrounds
and life stories, but they all have one thing in common— the inability to
break free from the cyclical nature of poverty.

When we met Sarah’s mother, she was intoxicated and had a difficult time
conversing with our group. She looked physically drained and told the
social workers that her health is ailing. We told her that Sarah was doing
well at SHF, thriving in school and socializing with everyone at the
center. Sarah’s mother showed no inclination of wanting to see her
daughter.

Donors like you make it possible for girls like Sarah to avoid
prostitution, substance abuse, defilement, and poverty. Your funds enable
SHF girls to pursue another path, one that leads to education, empowerment,
and economic opportunity. Unfortunately, many girls in SHF’s EDC program—
including Sarah— do not have sponsors. The GROW Team and staff members at
SHF encourage you to reach out to friends, family, coworkers, and peers to
sponsor the young girls at SHF who lack funds for schooling. Thank you for
all of your support and for empowering Ugandan girls to live healthy,
fulfilling lives.

*Names have been changed for confidentiality purposes.
Best Regards,

Kelsey Oliver