Uganda based charity organization, Uganda Youth Soccer Academy (UYSA) has partnered with multinational media agency, Girlhood to bring to light stories of young women and girls in the country. The Katanga based Academy believes that the collaboration will bring to light the untold stories of young girls living in the slums of Katanga in Kampala.
The project will feature a series of stories about the girls’ lives and their communities on Instagram. Girls between the ages of 15-25 will be given storytelling training and will be able to open up about their experiences and as well their aspirations in the series. The project has been rolled out in the United States of America, Sri Lanka, Kenya and other countries.
Girlhood was founded by seasoned journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, Masuma Ahuja. The organization grew from her book, GIRLHOOD that documented lives of teenage girls from 27 countries.
According to UYSA’s co-director in charge of Women and Girls, Doreen Ssali, the project will help shine a light on the adverse effects of Sexual and Gender Based Violence which is on a record rise owing to the covid-19 pandemic.
“Despite their proven potential, in Uganda today, many young women are uneducated, teenage brides, targeted as sex workers, raped and exposed to HIV/AIDS. Girls and Women in Urban Slums have turned to fetching water and wood rather than learning to read and write and many Girls bear children while they are still children themselves especially during the Covid-19 lockdowns,” Ssali said
“The world has been missing out on a tremendous Economic opportunity for change and this new partnership is timely and we are delighted to bring welcome Girlhood to UYSA.” she added
UYSA is a local football charity that aims at uplifting lives of children and families living in slums in Uganda’s capital, Kampala especially Katanga in Mulago. The football charity runs on donations from abroad to facilitate its projects. UYSA has seen countless children through school over the years.
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