#Human Rights #Education #Advocacy #Uganda #Kiryandongo

Learning to Lead

In Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, a group of Sudanese refugee girls gathers in a classroom, their faces reflecting determination as they discuss vital topics such as rights, dignity, and justice. For some, it is the first time they are hearing these concepts articulated, while others resonate with the experiences captured by those words. What unites them is a shared resolve to transform this knowledge into action, thereby changing the futures of girls like themselves.

In August, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), along with its partner, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), rolled out an extensive human rights education training program specifically designed for school-aged Sudanese girls who have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan and are currently living in Uganda. This initiative is supported by a grant from the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) fund, aiming not only to inform but also to heal and empower young girls through holistic education.

The program uniquely combines legal education with psychosocial support and mental health resources, enabling participants access to both formal and informal educational opportunities. The first sessions of this intensive training took place over three days and engaged 25 girls, aged between 11 and 18, who had not been attending school.

During these workshops, they delved into subjects like human rights, gender equality, gender-based violence, sexual violence, referral pathways, psychosocial support, and first aid. They also participated in practical sessions focused on crafting and disseminating advocacy messages, thereby laying the groundwork for becoming agents of change in their communities. "We are looking forward to finishing this training and contributing to our community with what we’ve learned here," one participant expressed enthusiastically.

The discussions held were not just theoretical; the girls shared personal stories and addressed topics that are often stigmatized within their communities. The ongoing displacement had disrupted their education and heightened their risk of gender-based violence and exploitation. The program provides a supportive environment that fosters resilience and confidence amidst the uncertainty they face in their host country.

Sustainability remains a key focus for this initiative. During the pilot sessions, LAW and SIHA trained 10 facilitators, seven of them being women, to deliver the program to an additional 175 girls across seven more sessions of three days each, all within the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. "I had never attended a training like this before. It was flexible and allowed us to participate and contribute our experiences," a new facilitator commented on the training.

As of mid-October, the first complete training sessions for girls began in Kiryandongo. By November, the initiative transitioned into its second phase, aimed at equipping selected participants to become change-makers in their communities and beyond. The girls are guided on implementing the advocacy strategies they designed during their training, amplifying the voices of Sudanese refugee girls while addressing pressing issues such as girls' education, child marriage, and gender-based violence.

This program is a direct response to a grim reality: the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan has led to the displacement of nearly 14 million people, with millions of children lacking access to education. The violence has escalated gender-based violence to alarming rates, with reports of sexual violence against women and girls often used as a tactic of war. The United Nations has documented widespread abuses, including against minors, and kidnappings of women and girls. Survivors face enormous barriers to accessing security, care, and justice due to the collapse of legal and protection systems, while women and children bear the brunt of this crisis.

As refugees, many Sudanese girls encounter additional obstacles in accessing education, with less than half enrolled in formal educational programs. In Uganda, the challenges are compounded by resource shortages and limited educational opportunities. This initiative not only aims to break the cycle of exclusion and silence but also fortifies a new generation of activism among young girls. By facilitating advocacy programs and outreach, with local educators' support, participants will receive assistance in accessing both formal and non-formal education available in Uganda.

This initiative represents an unprecedented investment in girls’ leadership, creating a network of young advocates who are often the first responders in their communities, able to advocate for their rights and needs while tackling broader cycles of violence that they and their communities face. As one girl poignantly stated, "I learned that education is a right and a powerful tool for empowerment. My plan is to go back to school next year. With the knowledge I gained, I hope to raise awareness among other girls in the community about their rights." With tailored support, these girls are now poised to transform their knowledge into advocacy and adversity into leadership.