By Sadie St. Denis | Executive Director
The following is a story of young girl whose life was positively impacted by Shanti Uganda's Teen Girls Health and Empowerment workshop. Today only Global Giving will be matching donations by 30%! Please consider making a donation today and help us give more girls the same opportunity as Justine!
Justine is thirteen years old. Justine is bright and cheeky; a bit mischievous in a good-natured way. She loves to dance and stands out from all the other girls when she dances traditional Baganda dance. Traditional dance is her favorite. Justine wasn’t always such an extravert. Both of her parents died two years ago and when they did she came to live with Nagawa, Florence, traditional birth attendant, village health team volunteer, and Shanti Uganda staff member. Justine was withdrawn and isolated herself from her peers and others. Florence decided to send Justine with her own thirteen year old daughter Peace to Shanti Uganda’s upcoming Teen Girls Health and Wellness Workshop. The girls learned how to use re-usable menstrual pads during their menses, how to say no to early sex, and how to protect themselves against HIV and unwanted pregnancy. They had never had such classes like this at their school and they relished this new information and knowledge. But what made the greatest impression on Justine and was the beginning of a journey of self-discovery for this young woman were the practice of yoga and the participatory use of dance, drama, and sport to convey lessons. Justine discovered peace of mind in practicing yoga and found confidence in her natural ability as a performer. That was one year ago and it is hard to believe Justine was ever a reclusive girl. She is a mainstay of the Shanti Uganda family, and continues to share her experiences and what she learned from Shanti Uganda with her peers. She encourages her friends to also attend a Teen Girls’ Workshop. Justine now participates in the Teen Girls Health and Wellness Workshop not as an bitter and introverted girl but as a charismatic leader and positive role-model for young women.
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