Let Girls Learn!

As part of the U.S. Government’s commitment to Let Girls Learn, The White House and the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama and the U.S. Peace Corps have formed a powerful collaboration to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world.

Uganda is one of thirteen countries to pilot the Let Girls Learn initiative. Honored to have been selected to participate in promotional and educational videos to motivate the larger Ugandan community to take part in promoting the well-being, education and development of the girl child. Great working with Ugandan celebrities, dignitaries and activists including Kick Boxing champion Golola Moses!

I am also honored to serve as a member of the National Child Protection Working Group (CPWG), as well as a member of the Child protection Sub Working group on Refugee children, working closely with UNHCR and UNICEF (Group co-chair). As at January 31st 2015, there are 429,567 refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda, out of which 257,567 are children, requiring specific protection issues. These include separation from their families, child labour, child abuse, exploitation, conflict with the law, Gender-Based Violence and psychosocial distress. And as always, the girl child is the most vulnerable.

As members of CPWG, one of our responsibilities is to Coordinate planning and assessments with all other actors to avoid duplication and address gaps, including geographical and programmatic gaps.
This week we also came together to contextualize and develop Child Protecting Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Action in Uganda including Education and Child protection!

It is always a pleasure to serve!