Strengthening Local Leadership to End Child Marriage – Girls First Fund Grantees

The 2025 Girls First Fund (GFF) Grantee Convening brought together different community-based organizations from across Uganda for a three-day training aimed at strengthening collaboration, deepening understanding of child protection and reaffirming the collective mission to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy. 

For us at Raising Teenagers Uganda, this was more than just a training of like-minded organizations, it was a space of learning, connecting, sharing insights and championing the lived realities of the girls and families that we work with every day. On day one of the training, we had deep conversations around safeguarding, reflecting on what it truly means to protect the vulnerable within project implementation. It was a day dedicated to exploring concepts such as abuse, vulnerability and safeguarding with participants engaging in meaningful dialogue about ethical programming and community accountability.

Our representatives actively contributed to discussions, offering grounded perspectives drawn from years of working with adolescents, young girls and families across rural and peri-urban communities. Their voice helped shape how safeguarding can be reimagined as a culture embedded in every interaction, partnership and intervention. As one of the few organizations that directly integrates mentoring, mental health support and positive parenting into the anti-child marriage campaigns, RTU emphasized the need for safe spaces not just for girls, but for the community actors supporting them.

Day two of the convening emphasized peer learning and collective wisdom. 

Grantees had the opportunity to learn directly from organizations already making significant strides on the ground. The two standout and host organizations i.e. AYADO (African Youth Alliance Development Organization) and Sabiny Transformation Initiative welcomed others into their regions for learning visits. These visits were designed to showcase the practicalities of implementing strategies in real communities. Participants heard firsthand from girls and community members who had benefitted from these interventions. Testimonials shared included stories of rescued child brides, schoolgirls empowered with sexual and reproductive health information, tailoring skills and parents who had changed their attitudes toward early marriage. The hosts detailed their implementation models, challenges faced and innovations used to overcome resistance, such as integrating cultural leaders and using storytelling for behavior change.

“Seeing is believing. These learning visits helped me realize that what I’m struggling with is not unique. We just need to adapt what works in our context,” one participant commented. The power of peer mentorship and horizontal learning was evident. Organizations returned with not only knowledge but also new relationships, collaboration ideas and a stronger sense of solidarity in the mission to end child marriage.

The third and final day of the convening was marked by a powerful presentation from the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development by Lydia Wasula who shared an overview of the National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy, laying out progress made and areas that still require urgent attention.  For Raising Teenagers Uganda, this session aligned directly with our advocacy work. As an organization that has consistently used storytelling, school outreach and radio dialogues to push for behavioral and policy change, RTU found affirmation in the call for more localized ownership of national frameworks.

Despite the visible strides made, such as more girls staying in school and stronger local-level collaborations, statistics reminded everyone of the urgency that still exists. Teenage pregnancy remains responsible for over 22.3% of school dropouts among girls aged 14 to 18. Adolescents continue to contribute to 28% of maternal deaths. More than 50% of unsafe abortions involve girls under 20, and teenage pregnancies account for nearly one in five births in Uganda. These numbers echo the stories RTU hears every day from the girls they support and motivate the organization to push even harder for change.

The most exciting part of the day and the entire convening was the graduation of the Leadership Challenge Cohort 1. This was the first of its kind within the GFF community and it marked a historic milestone. Graduates were celebrated for their growth, commitment and journey through a structured leadership development program. The joy, pride and reflections shared during the ceremony were truly inspiring. Raising Teenagers Uganda applauded this initiative as a game changer, especially for grassroots leaders who often carry enormous responsibility with little formal leadership support. As an organization deeply rooted in mentorship, RTU believes in nurturing leaders from the ground up.

Witnessing the Leadership Challenge graduates walk forward with confidence, share their growth stories and express their commitment to doing more affirmed RTU’s belief in the power of capacity-building and empowerment. Many of the testimonies echoed RTU’s own transformation stories from the field, stories of young women who once were silent but now lead school clubs, support their peers and advocate boldly in their communities. The convening ended on a high note, with renewed energy, strengthened partnerships and a collective commitment to continue the fight for every girl’s right to safety, education and dignity. Raising Teenagers Uganda left the space with not only new insights and tools but also deeper connections with fellow grantees and technical partners.

Beyond the sessions, our participation served as a beacon of what consistent, grassroots-driven advocacy looks like. Whether through our work in mentoring teenage girls, rescuing victims of child marriage, empowering parents with positive parenting tools or creating pathways for girls to return to school, we continue to set a strong example of what community led transformation means in practice. With stronger tools, deeper resolve and wider support, Raising Teenagers Uganda is ready to continue creating a safer, more just world where every teenager has the right to dream, learn and thrive