Amani Initiative is a Ugandan grassroots nonprofit organization founded in 2012 to prevent and respond to harmful practices like teenage pregnancy and child marriage. Through integrated, community-led approaches, the organization addresses systemic barriers and promotes gender equality across households, schools, and communities. Since its inception, Amani Initiative has reached over 160,450 girls and community members directly through collaboration with schools, health facilities, women’s self-help groups, and has engaged 250 trained community members.
In Uganda, 46.4 percent of girls drop out of school before reaching Primary Seven, around the age when many girls reach puberty and face gender-related risks. A significant percentage of adolescent girls have early marriages and pregnancies. Girls lack access to educational materials, school meals, menstrual hygiene supplies, and mentorship, while bearing heavy household responsibilities. Low academic performance and diminished self-esteem further reduce their chances of staying in school. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues as the rates of teen pregnancy increased, and many of these girls now face stigma and unwelcoming school environments.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, Amani Initiative will grow its Dream Achievers Program. The program identifies girls at high risk of dropping out and enrolls them in a support system designed to help them transition successfully through the next three years of their schooling. Girls receive life skills training and mentorship to navigate academic and personal challenges, as well as educational materials to relieve financial barriers. Parents and teachers are also engaged in sessions and training to support gender-sensitive interventions.
By aligning school, home, and community efforts, Amani Initiative hopes to reach 500 adolescent girls and more than 1,000 additional community members. The project envisions a future where every girl can complete her primary education, free from the threats of child marriage and teenage pregnancy. The organization supports building confident, resilient young women ready to shape not only their futures but also their families and communities at large.
To learn more about Amani Initiative, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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