MENTORSHIP FOR TRANSFORMATION: A Teens Mentorship Camp in Namayumba Sub-County

We hosted our teens holiday mentorship camp and this time around; it was in the community where we serve. This event brought together over 75 girls and boys from various schools, who for the majority were attending their very first Teens Holiday Mentorship Camp.  Through mentorship camps, we aim at empowering the next generation through by equipping them with knowledge on healthy relationships, education, menstrual health management, decision making, goal setting, building healthy relationships and effective communication. 

The idea for the Teens Mentorship Camp was born out of a growing recognition of the many challenges teenagers face in Ugandan communities, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas like Namayumba. These challenges include limited access to information, high rates of school dropouts, peer pressure, early pregnancies and child marriage. In line with our work to end child marriage, and empowering adolescent girls and boys, the camp was designed as a safe space where young people could explore their dreams, discover their strengths and gain practical knowledge to navigate life’s challenges. The camp is part of our broader community-driven strategy to end child marriage. 

Real change begins with informed, confident and supported young people and by equipping teens with knowledge and skills, we are challenging the narratives and circumstances that often push them into early marriages. In Namayumba, child marriage is still a pressing issue due to poverty, lack of education, harmful cultural practices and parental neglect. Our camp was an intentional effort to interrupt these cycles by showing young people that they have value, choices and a future worth fighting for. We reminded them that ending child marriage is not just about saying “no” to a harmful practice, it is about saying “yes” to education, mentorship and opportunities for every child.

Throughout the day, our mentors engaged with the participants in different topics like healthy relationships, education, menstrual health management, decision making, goal setting, building healthy relationships and effective communication. At the end of each session, many students opened up, asked questions, reflected deeply and connected with each other and their mentors in meaningful ways and for us, this shows the impact that was made. The mentors did not just teach, they listened, encouraged and affirmed the potential that lies within each young person. By the end of the day, most of the participants expressed a renewed sense of purpose. They committed to making better life choices, setting goals, avoiding bad relationships and becoming role models in their communities. Some even committed to sharing what they had learned with their siblings, classmates and friends.

A success story from our teens camp was that, we were happy to connect with our mentee “Eseza” who we have journeyed with since 2019. Eseza has been part of our mentorship programs from when she was in Primary Five and is now in Senior Five. While speaking to the attendees, she thanked Raising Teenagers Uganda for the inspiration and mentorship that she has been offered over the years. She pledged to stay in school and complete her education and inspire other young people to do the same. This was a proud moment for us and we are happy to walk this journey of transformation with her. We believe that when one child is empowered, an entire community begins to shift.

In the weeks ahead, we will return to Namayumba to reconnect with the participants, assess their progress and provide additional guidance. We believe that consistent support is the key to lasting transformation.

We remain committed to raising informed, resilient and visionary teenagers. Our Teens Mentorship Camp in Namayumba is just the beginning. We envision a Uganda where every adolescent is equipped with the tools, support and confidence to make positive life choices and contribute meaningfully to society. And with each camp we are not just changing individual lives, we are transforming communities. Together, let’s continue mentoring for impact, nurturing dreams and saying no to child marriage with one teen at a time

COMPILED BY: PILLAR MBABAZI