Opening Doors to Safety, Education, and a Brighter Future

Juliet was just 12 years old when she gave birth to her child, Vanessa*.

But even before the pregnancy, Juliet had endured a challenging life. When Juliet was very young, she and her mother were forced to live on the streets, exposing them to violence, poor sanitation and marginalisation. Shortly after, Juliet's mother became unwell. The stress of their situation became too much - it was taking a toll on her mental health, so she was taken to hospital. But sadly, Juliet's mother passed away. Juliet was taken in by a nurse who was working at the hospital, who alongside her husband, became Juliet's guardian. 

Like many others in their community, Juliet's guardians grapple with unemployment, so they keep livestock and cultivate crops. But Karamoja is the most food-insecure area of Uganda ², and extreme weather events are killing their animals and crops, making it near impossible for them to make enough money to support their children and send them to school. 

Classroom beatings 

Unlike some of her siblings, Juliet was able to attend school but she experienced classroom violence. Although Uganda outlawed corporal punishment in 2018, Juliet dreaded going to school because of the beatings she received. 

"The corporal punishment made me feel very unsafe, and I refused to go back to school," Juliet tells us. 

Juliet ended up dropping out of school, instead working in a restaurant where she was befriended by an older customer. He took advantage of her age and deceived her. As a result, she ended up pregnant when she was just a child. The incident was reported to the police. 

The man who impregnated me, he escaped and ran away after he realised he would be arrested. Up to today, I don't know where he is," says Juliet. 

With the birth of her daughter, Juliet's education was cut short again. For Juliet, who dreamt of being a teacher, the likelihood of returning to school seemed a distant future, as she now had the responsibility of looking after her child. 

This Christmas, will you open the door to a rescue centre for girls like Juliet?

A return to school against all odds

Thanks to the help of VSO volunteer Semmy, everything turned around for Juliet. She was encouraged to come back to school through VSO-trained school staff, which included her teacher Samuel. Now she is safe and getting the education she once missed out on. 

VSO is also setting up rescue centres where girls like Juliet who have experienced homelessness, early pregnancy or violence, can live in safety and learn. 

Our work is about the safety of learners. It's about students feeling confident about going to school, and not being fearful. That's the kind of school that we would want for every learner, " Semmy explains. 

At these rescue centres, Semmy is delivering training to teachers like Samuel on how to support and guide girls like Juliet. In turn, teachers are providing psychosocial support and counselling to their learners.For girls like Juliet, this means they now feel safer in school, and they can speak to their teachers about any problems they're experiencing. 

"When I share any difficulties with the teacher, they come and speak to the whole class telling them not to backbite other children. We have also been taught about not engaging premarital sex or getting involved in things that could put us in danger of pregnancy," Juliet tells us. 

A more engaging and inclusive learning environment

Schools in Karamoja are often overcrowded. There is a teacher shortage and as Samuel tells us, there can be up to 87 students in one class at a time. Additionally, there's a lack of resources and as a result, the classroom environment isn't always conducive to learning. 

But Juliet is enjoying her lessons more now thanks to the teacher training Samuel received from Semmy. Semmy taught Samuel how to prepare fun, engaging and more learner-centric lessons that encourage girls to stay in school and keep learning. Semmy also provided teachers with learning materials like markers, pens, card and manila papers to help inspire a love of learning among their students. 

"What I emphasise more is supporting your learners, and I train the teachers to make sure that learning is interesting. When we train these teachers, we sow a permanent seed. These teachers will remain with improved teaching practices which will touch the lives of many more children. I feel very proud to be a part of this work," says Semmy. 

Samuel has seen first hand the positive effect these lessons are having on Juliet.

"Before Juliet couldn't read but right now she can. Also, last term she scored 48 on her science test but recently she scored 74. It feels very good to see her progress," Samuel beams.

Now that Juliet is feeling safe enough to stay in school, her hopes of becoming a teacher have become more of a reality again. "My dream is also to build a home and support others who are needy and who don’t have the possibility of getting what they want.," Juliet tells us.  

We need to help more girls like Juliet 

Although VSO volunteers are working to support girls like Juliet, not all schools in Karamoja can offer safety and support to stay in education. VSO is currently working in 193 schools in Karamoja, but our goal is to reach girls in every state school in the region. That's 400 in total.

This Christmas, please send a gift that could open the door to a rescue centre and a safer future for girls like Juliet.