Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum (UYAHF) is a youth-led organization dedicated to supporting girls to lead healthier, more equitable lives. The organization’s mission is to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and gender equality. UYAHF has impacted more than 500,000 people in the communities it serves through a multifaceted approach, which includes: direct support and referrals for survivors of gender-based violence; educational workshops; campaigns focused on assisting young mothers and preventing teenage pregnancy; and advocacy to end early marriages and unions.
Violence against women and girls is a persistent and urgent problem in Uganda. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated this issue as millions of girls were out of school for two years—the longest period of closure in the world. During this time, the rate of teenage marriages increased by 55 percent compared to pre-pandemic rates, and many girls were forced to marry, preventing them from returning to school. Today, girls are still suffering long-lasting effects, which include mental health challenges, sexually transmitted infections, and physical injury.
UYAHF’s project, “Giving Girls Voice, Choice, and Control”, will focus on ending gender-based violence, recognizing the need for comprehensive solutions to protect Uganda’s girls. UYAHF will work to create safe spaces called “Girls’ Dignity Clubs” in schools, local health centers, and community centers to raise awareness about violence against girls in Uganda. UYAHF will also create a curriculum focused on enhancing girls’ knowledge of their reproductive health and rights. A core part of the curriculum will focus on post-rape care, offering life-saving information that emphasizes the importance of immediate response. The curriculum will also include lessons on preventing pregnancies, the risks of child marriage, and the importance of education.
UYAHF’s project will directly reach approximately 1,000 girls and 100 community members, who will help amplify the organization’s work through digital and media communications. As an end goal, UYAHF hopes to create transformative change in Uganda by empowering girls, disrupting harmful social norms, and building local support for girls’ education. For more information about UYAHF, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
See more projects: Africa, East Africa, Child Marriage, Gender-based Violence, Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights