#FORTHEGIRLS // How empowering girls in rural Uganda affects the whole world

As an organization founded by, run by and (primarily) funded by women, today is a special day for the Far Away Friends community as we celebrate International Women’s Day — a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

While our work at FAF supports children of all genders (#FORTHEKIDS), at our core the work we do is deeply #FORTHEGIRLS. Educating, empowering and equipping girls in rural villages with the tools they need to become strong, independent women is the most essential ingredient to breaking cycles of poverty forever — and truly affects the whole world.

One of the youngest countries by population, Uganda is home to nearly 20 million youth under the age of 18. Over the next two decades, this generation will begin joining the global workforce and according to estimates by Bloomberg, by 2100, Africa is poised to overtake Asia as the biggest workforce in the world.

Gloria, a student at Global Leaders Primary, who is breaking cycles of poverty in her community by focusing on her education & dreams for the future.

But what about the 46% of young Ugandan girls who are going to become pregnant as teenagers and drop out of school? What about the fact that only 20% of girls in rural Uganda are expected to make it to high school at all? What about the 1 out of 3 girls who are being sexually abused and experiencing extreme trauma as children — not to mention their mothers who are likely to be victims of domestic abuse at the hands of their husbands? Are they expected to join the global workforce as productive, empowered citizens? Or are we forgetting that 50% of this workforce is supposed to be WOMEN who need support today to shatter the glass ceilings of tomorrow.

In his International Women’s Day address today, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Amolatar wrote about the situation facing women & girls in the region where Far Away Friends works:

“Amolatar, we need to come clean. We are faced with 46 percent teenage pregnancy, which comes with massive school dropouts.

We have had children as young as twelve giving birth, and girls of 18 years with four children. Many young mothers are single parents. UNICEF figures of disability in Amolatar that are too huge to believe; 12,000 disabled persons in a population of about 170,000 people causes sleepless nights. They break my heart. Disability, oftentimes is associated to young mothers who many times fail to fulfill the all-important prenatal and postnatal procedures.

From rape, defilement to being child mothers, the infants themselves, a result of gender based violence end up into violent lifestyles and on climbs the cycle. Government efforts in uplifting the lives of women can be successful if cultural heads like clan leaders do their part, some of which is known but invisible. Likewise religious leaders, local councils, police, local government extension staff as well as schools.

The impunity with which we stifle the girl child and her mother must stop.”

Unless we make moves today to secure girls’ futures (especially in rural communities like Amolatar in rural Uganda where girls are often the last considered demographic) by equipping them with the tools, training, resources and confidence to transform the world, we will see a generation sucked back into the same cycles of poverty that have kept women from occupying the seats they deserve with detrimental effects on our global economy, our climate and human community.

If you’ve made it this far — you are part of the solution. You are part of the movement of humans who care deeply about ensuring girls and women in the most marginalized and silenced regions of the world finally rise up with the tools to fight oppression and break cycles of poverty forever.

In honor of International Women’s Day today, I invite you to consider joining the Far Away Friends Community by becoming an Advocate and using your power every month to equip girls in rural Uganda with access to quality education (and pay female teachers a fair & equal wage, too!).

Together, we are stronger and today we stand #FORTHEGIRLS