When 13-year-old Barbara Mukisa arrived at Girl Up Initiative Uganda’s Big Sisters Camp this summer, she said she was initially nervous about being away from home for the first time. The Kampala student, who was born in the city and now lives in the Kisasi neighborhood, balances school, evening study sessions, caring for younger siblings, and household chores. It is a typical juggle for many girls in Uganda, where domestic responsibilities often compete with education.
Growing up in the urban slums of Kampala, Monica witnessed firsthand how being a girl could mean a lifetime of limited opportunity and tough social expectations. “Growing up,” she recalled, “very few girls went to university, very few girls did not get pregnant. Most organizations were focused on women, and there weren’t many organizations investing in girls’ rights and education.”
“I believe in myself more than I used to. I know that I’m a different girl. I’m a girl who has courage” – Barbara Mukisa
By the time she left the weeklong camp, she was a different person.
“I believe in myself more than I used to,” Barbara said. “I know that I’m a different girl. I’m a girl who has courage.”
The Girls Opportunity Alliance supported Girl Up Uganda to bring together 300 girls, 25 teachers, and 30 staff for a weeklong immersion in leadership, menstrual health education, and climate justice. For Barbara, the camp addressed topics she once found difficult to discuss.
Read full story here
