“Now I use my voice to help other girls"

Sharon’s story — and how she’s helping others feel safe in school

“I thought I had no future. But then someone saw me.”

My name is Sharon. I’m 17 years old and the secretary of my school’s Hope Club.

Not long ago, I’d dropped out of school. I felt completely lost. In my community, if you’re not in school, people start treating you like you don’t matter.

But then a woman - a community mentor from Tusitukirewamu - saw me.

She asked about my life. She listened.

And she helped me join Awamu’s catch-up school. That’s where things changed.

I started learning again. I got counselling. I made friends. I felt like I belonged.

Now I’m back in school — and I’m using my voice to support other girls, especially those who’ve been through violence or felt invisible.

“In Hope Club, we talk about consent, our rights, and how to get help. We speak in assemblies. We lead peer sessions. Girls listen — because we’ve lived it.”

And when something happens - even harassment from boys or teachers - girls come to us. We help them speak up. We help them if they need to report something. That is very important.

Sharon is one of hundreds of girls supported through our catch-up education programme, and one of thousands who will benefit from our wider ‘Creating Girl-Friendly Schools’ project across Kawempe, Kampala.

Together with our partner Tusitukirewamu, we’re working with 10 schools to make education safer and more supportive for girls who’ve experienced violence or early motherhood. That means:

Training teachers in safeguarding, mental health and trauma support

Developing and embedding whistleblowing and child protection systems

Establishing peer-led Hope Clubs like Sharon’s

Bringing sexual and reproductive healthcare services into schools

Tackling stigma through outreach with families and community leaders

This project was shaped by the voices of girls like Sharon. They told us what they needed - safety, support, someone to believe in them - and together, we built a programme that responds to those needs.

With support from the Educational Opportunity Foundation, and people like you, we’re helping girls not only return to school - but helping to create schools where every girl feels seen, safe and supported.

“I used to feel like I had no future. Now I’m part of building one — not just for me, but for other girls too.”

If you’d like to support more girls like Sharon to get back to school and take a stand against violence please donate today