Summary

In Kayunga district - Uganda, poverty and limited economic opportunities remain the leading causes of child marriage, denying girls and young women the chance to live fulfilling lives. This project will address this crisis by empowering 200 vulnerable girls and young women (aged 14–24) with vocational skills training, business development support, financial literacy trainings and peer-led savings groups. This project will equip them to become financially independent, reclaim their future and became changemakers in their communities.

Challenge

Girls and young women in Kayunga face significant barriers to education and economic opportunity. Over 700,000 girls in Uganda aged 6–12 have never attended school, and nearly 80% drop out before high school. As a result, many are vulnerable to child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence. With 34% of girls married before 18 and a national teenage pregnancy rate of 25%, urgent action is needed to change this trajectory and ensure girls have access to skills and opportunities for a better future.

Solution

Gufasha Girls Foundation  will provide 200 vulnerable girl and young women with;

• Vocational training in skills such as tailoring, reusable pad making, soap production, and weaving.
• Business development support through workshops and one-on-one mentorship to help girls launch small businesses.
• Financial literacy training in budgeting, saving, and financial planning.
• Creation of women-led savings and self-help groups to foster ongoing peer support and collective empowerment.

Participants will be selected based on vulnerability criteria, including teenage mothers, child marriage survivors, and those from low-income households. Monitoring and evaluation will track progress in income, self-confidence, business creation, and community leadership.

Long-Term Impact

By equipping girls with the skills, confidence, and networks to become economically independent, this project will:

• Increase income and reduce poverty for participants and their families.
• Foster leadership and self-reliance among adolescent girls and young women.
• Create lasting peer support systems through savings and self-help groups.
• Help break the cycle of child marriage and gender-based violence.
• Build a generation of empowered women who contribute to their communities’ development and advocate for girls' rights.