Preventing and Responding to Child Marriage and Early Unions
More choices for girls. More support to stay in school.
Since 2019, Girls First Fund-supported work has reached more than 3,000 girls from low-income families, both in school and out of school. ACT Uganda helps girls build practical skills, understand their rights and find support when pressure to marry early threatens their education.
Support: Girls First Fund through Capital for Good · Current grant: through 30 June 2027
3,000+
girls reached since 2019
7
partner schools in Padibe East
120
young mothers supported with vocational skills
Girls’ voices and choices matter
In seven partner schools, Girls’ Rights Champions help peers speak up. Menstrual health and age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health and rights sessions give girls practical information. Debating events let girls and other young people discuss child marriage and propose solutions drawn from their own experience.
ACT Uganda trains teachers in gender-responsive teaching and works with parents and boys to remove barriers to girls’ education.
Building practical options
Out-of-school girls and young mothers learn hairdressing and liquid soap making alongside financial literacy. Low-income mothers’ village savings and loan associations receive kits, training and an interest-free group revolving fund to improve access to finance and help members start small businesses.
The draft reports that 30+ girls have been supported to return to school since 2019. This figure is presented separately from the broader count of girls reached.
Changing the conditions around girls
ACT Uganda works with cultural leaders, child welfare committees and Lamwo District officials to advocate for implementation of existing child-marriage laws. With cultural leaders and communities, the project supports practices that protect girls and challenges norms that push them towards early marriage.
The project works alongside girls, families, schools and local leaders so that education, safety and opportunity are supported across the community.
