Delay Marriage Promote Schooling for Ugandan Girls

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Child marriage and teenage pregnancy remain some of the greatest barriers to the rights and future of girls in Uganda. Despite progress in awareness and advocacy, many girls are still being forced into marriages before their eighteenth birthday or becoming mothers while still children themselves. These harmful practices rob girls of their education, expose them to gender-based violence, and deny them the opportunity to reach their full potential.

At Joy for Children Uganda (JFCU), we have continued to work with communities, schools, and leaders to challenge the norms and drivers that perpetuate these issues. During this reporting period, our team carried out awareness dialogues with cultural, religious, and community leaders, emphasizing the devastating effects of child marriage and teenage pregnancy on both girls and society as a whole. Parents and guardians were engaged in open discussions about the importance of keeping girls in school and protecting them from early marriage pressures.

In schools, we provided safe spaces where adolescent girls could share their experiences, learn about their rights, and access reproductive health education. Many of the girls we spoke to shared stories of pressure from poverty, cultural expectations, or family arrangements that pushed them toward early marriage. By equipping them with knowledge, confidence, and support, we are helping them to say “no” to child marriage and “yes” to education and a brighter future.

We also engaged boys, teachers, and local authorities to ensure that teenage pregnancy is no longer seen as the sole burden of girls but as a community challenge requiring collective action. Boys learned to understand consent, respect, and the dangers of exploiting girls, while teachers were trained to support pregnant learners and survivors of early marriage rather than pushing them further into isolation.

The impact of this work is already visible. Communities are beginning to speak out against early marriages, parents are showing greater commitment to keeping their daughters in school, and girls are expressing hope for futures beyond early motherhood or forced unions.

Looking ahead, JFCU is committed to scaling up these efforts by reaching more schools and communities, expanding sexual and reproductive health education, and strengthening community structures that protect children. However, this work cannot be sustained without your support.

Your generosity has enabled us to create safe spaces, carry out community dialogues, and empower both girls and boys with the tools to resist harmful practices. Together, we are breaking cycles of poverty, inequality, and violence that stem from child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

Thank you for standing with us. Every contribution you make gives a girl the chance to remain in school, delay marriage, and pursue her dreams with dignity and confidence.