Akilimali Rebecca, an 18-year-old refugee from Congo living in Makindye, faced significant challenges in pursuing her education before the Girls Empowering Girls, Urban social protection program began in 2019. Initially in primary five, she lacked hope due to her caretaker’s belief that girls should focus on homemaking. Rebecca frequently missed school, struggled with unpaid fees, lacked scholastic materials, and faced embarrassment due to a lack of proper sanitary supplies. Additionally, she silently endured U reproductive health concerns for two years without assistance, leading to shyness, difficulty making friends, and a loss of hope. On joining the Girls Empowering Girls programme, Rebecca’s life took a positive turn. She received knowledge, guidance, and support through mentoring from peer mentors. Cash transfers enabled her to purchase necessities and cover school needs each term. The program overcame debts that had led to her being labeled a school fees defaulter. Initially considering abandoning her education for vocational training, the Girls Empowering Girls program restored her hope, allowing her to regularly attend school. Rebecca now leads a youth group in her community, where she shares her story of perseverance in achieving dreams and lifetime goals. She reached out to a community youth group to learn hairdressing, aiming to support herself with skills to make reusable pads and generate a decent income during vacations. Openly sharing her testimony with around 100 youth in her church, Rebecca encourages them to stay in school and seek help for their life challenges from supportive individuals. The Girls Empowering Girls program played a crucial role in transforming Rebecca’s life, giving her the opportunity to pursue her dreams and make a positive impact in her community
