Uganda
Stories from change-makers in Uganda
Shamim’s father decided it was time for her to get married when she was just 16 years old.
“Here, people think girls are a source of income,” Shamim says. “They give parents 100,000 shillings [about US$900] and take the girls.”
Shamim told her father that she refused to be married. And after stopping her own wedding, she took part in a child marriage prevention workshop run by Plan International. Shamim then became a community volunteer and began working with parents to persuade them not to marry off their daughters, and instead prioritize their education.
Shamim has stopped a number of child marriages in her community and has convinced local leaders to support her work. And eventually, she opened a vocational training center of her own to teach girls the skills they need to become independent young women.
Even though children with disabilities in Shamim’s village are usually left at home, Shamim has encouraged all children to join the center. As a result, two girls with disabilities enrolled in tailoring classes. One has already completed the course and is now working.
“At last, we can see parents beginning to understand the value of education in this village,” village chairman Godfrey Mutegombwa says.
Learn more about our Gender & Youth Equality work
Shamim told her father that she refused to be married. And after stopping her own wedding, she took part in a child marriage prevention workshop run by Plan International. Shamim then became a community volunteer and began working with parents to persuade them not to marry off their daughters, and instead prioritize their education.
Shamim has stopped a number of child marriages in her community and has convinced local leaders to support her work. And eventually, she opened a vocational training center of her own to teach girls the skills they need to become independent young women.
Even though children with disabilities in Shamim’s village are usually left at home, Shamim has encouraged all children to join the center. As a result, two girls with disabilities enrolled in tailoring classes. One has already completed the course and is now working.
“At last, we can see parents beginning to understand the value of education in this village,” village chairman Godfrey Mutegombwa says.
Gloria was forced to drop out of school when she was just 9, after the sudden and death of her parents — the cause of which is still unknown.
The situation was unbearable for Gloria and her siblings.
“Other children used to laugh and tease us because our parents had died of a strange disease,” she says. “No one was willing to take care of us.”
Gloria had to work on farms to earn an income. The money went to food for her and her siblings, and her brother’s school fees.
After several difficult years, Gloria found a new way to support her family — she was given the opportunity to participate in a Plan vocational project. She received seeds to grow her own food and was able to start her own farming business. Along with her farm, she also received a sewing machine from Plan to continue tailoring after the training ended.
“I have been able to buy some materials for my tailoring work and rent a room for my business,” she says.
Gloria can now afford to eat nutritious food, pay for her young siblings’ school fees and get them treatment when they’re sick. She’s also in the process of getting a new house built for her family.
“Without this project, we would have lived our lives in poverty,” she says. “The training was a turning point in my life. We are all living a better life now.”
Learn more about our Skills & Work programming
“Other children used to laugh and tease us because our parents had died of a strange disease,” she says. “No one was willing to take care of us.”
Gloria had to work on farms to earn an income. The money went to food for her and her siblings, and her brother’s school fees.
After several difficult years, Gloria found a new way to support her family — she was given the opportunity to participate in a Plan vocational project. She received seeds to grow her own food and was able to start her own farming business. Along with her farm, she also received a sewing machine from Plan to continue tailoring after the training ended.
“I have been able to buy some materials for my tailoring work and rent a room for my business,” she says.
Gloria can now afford to eat nutritious food, pay for her young siblings’ school fees and get them treatment when they’re sick. She’s also in the process of getting a new house built for her family.
“Without this project, we would have lived our lives in poverty,” she says. “The training was a turning point in my life. We are all living a better life now.”
Jackline became a refugee at age 7.
She fled South Sudan with her family to escape the ongoing conflict, and has lived in the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda since.
Plan International has been working in the camp to establish education services for children like Jackline. Girls’ clubs have also been set up to help girls speak freely about the issues that affect them in their pursuit to receive an education.
“Through the club, I have learned a lot about gender issues,” Jackline says. “I have developed more confidence in all aspects of life. I now know that, as a girl, I am very valuable and can do as much as boys can do.”
Although Jackline has experienced a lot of trauma, she now has hope for the future because of Plan’s support.
“I focus a lot on books and see a bright future ahead,” she says. “I encourage girls who have dropped out of school to come back.”
Learn more about our Education work
Plan International has been working in the camp to establish education services for children like Jackline. Girls’ clubs have also been set up to help girls speak freely about the issues that affect them in their pursuit to receive an education.
“Through the club, I have learned a lot about gender issues,” Jackline says. “I have developed more confidence in all aspects of life. I now know that, as a girl, I am very valuable and can do as much as boys can do.”
Although Jackline has experienced a lot of trauma, she now has hope for the future because of Plan’s support.
“I focus a lot on books and see a bright future ahead,” she says. “I encourage girls who have dropped out of school to come back.”
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in Uganda since 1992.
Our work in Uganda
Office & operations
Plan Uganda’s country office is located in Kampala, with program unit offices in Yumbe, Arua, Nebbi, Adjumani, Lira, Kamuli and Tororo.
Technical areas
Skills and work, education, protection, health, disaster response
Number of sponsored children
As of June 2022, people like you sponsor 25,743 children in Uganda.
Gender equality is a fight we must all take on together. Through sponsorship, you can change lives and create long-term impact in communities.
The full circle of Fate
When you sponsor a child through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send them birthday gifts and cards.
Give them special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe them to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
Arrange a visit (pending any travel restrictions), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and with the exception of Little Treasures they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor