Kyegegwa District – At just 17 years old, Alice Nyirazana has defied the odds to become a community leader and advocate for the empowerment of adolescent girls with disabilities in the Kyaka II refugee settlement.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including her physical disability, Nyirazana is making an indelible impact on the lives of young girls in her community by advocating for an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG) and empowering teenage mothers through skill development.
The Kyaka II refugee settlement, located in Kyegegwa District, is plagued by alarming rates of gender-based violence (GBV), including defilement, early marriages, and school dropouts. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 54% of young girls in the settlement are defiled while fetching water and firewood. These incidents contribute to a vicious cycle of early pregnancies, school dropouts, and the heightened vulnerability of women and girls to sexual exploitation.
Nyirazana, a survivor of GBV herself, is determined to change this narrative. In her own words, she says, “When you focus on someone’s disability, you end up overlooking their abilities, beauty, and uniqueness, just like I learned how to love myself. Now, I’m helping my fellow girls by guiding how to prevent early marriages and violence.”
Training and Empowerment
Nyirazana’s journey toward empowerment began when she learned basic tailoring skills at a reception centre, where well-wishers introduced her to the trade. Building on this foundation, she received further training and start-up support from Alight Uganda’s Spotlight Initiative 2.0 project. This partnership, with Refugee Empowerment for Sustainable Development in Africa (RESDA), a local artisan community-based organisation, has allowed Alice to gain valuable skills that have since made her a successful tailor.
Through the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 project, Nyirazana and other out-of-school adolescent girls received training in various skills, including tailoring, to help them build self-resilience and protect themselves from the violence that plagues their community. Nyirazana now offers free tailoring training to teenage mothers, empowering them to become financially independent and combat the cycle of GBV.
“I love transforming lives and acting as an example for other young adolescents,” Nyirazana says. “Through my knowledge and skills, I am now able to transfer these skills and knowledge to other vulnerable girls, which has been instrumental in helping them improve their lives.”
Addressing the Ongoing Challenges
Despite the significant efforts of organisations and local leaders, challenges such as rape, defilement, and insecurity persist within the settlement. Nyirazana, who is both an orphan and physically disabled, was once dependent on her single mother for support. After the trauma of being a GBV survivor, Nyirazana found herself without the means to support herself until she became part of the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 project.
Data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics reveals that, in Kyaka II, 54% of young girls are defiled while fetching water and firewood, with similar patterns of violence continuing to affect women and girls. National statistics show that 22.3% of women experience physical violence, 16.6% face sexual violence, and 9.3% endure both. Despite these grim realities, Nyirazana’s efforts and the work of community leaders continue to inspire and create opportunities for girls and women to escape cycles of violence through skills training and economic empowerment.
Support and Collaboration
The Spotlight Initiative 2.0, in collaboration with Alight and RESDA, has played a crucial role in supporting at-risk adolescent girls like Nyirazana. With the provision of skills training and start-up kits, 126 girls in the settlement now have the tools to build businesses and improve their livelihoods. This initiative focuses on not just providing economic independence but also raising awareness of reporting channels for GBV and encouraging girls to support each other.
In her gratitude, Nyirazana expressed, “Disability is not inability. I can also do the same activities that other people without disabilities can do.”
The initiative’s success is attributed to the collaborative efforts of various organizations and stakeholders, including Alight – implementing agency providing training and support, RESDA – local partner offering skill development programmes, UNHCR – coordinating, monitoring, and supervising activities, Kyegegwa District Local Government – monitoring and referring participants and Community-Based Organisations – engaging with the community to address GBV issues.
Impact and Next Steps
Nyirazana’s transformation from a vulnerable adolescent into a community leader has had a profound impact. The skills she acquired have not only reduced her dependency but also empowered her to mentor other girls, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
With a growing network of trained girls, the community is seeing an increase in resilience, self-sufficiency, and awareness about how to report GBV cases. The Spotlight Initiative plans to continue supporting these young women by linking them to local markets to expand their businesses and strengthening partnerships with other sectors like mental health and livelihood programs.
As Nyirazana looks to the future, she remains hopeful that more young girls will join the movement for change. She ends with a call to action: “I want every girl to know they have the potential to succeed, no matter their circumstances. Together, we can break the cycle of violence and empower our community to thrive.”
Nyirazana is truly a beacon of hope in Kyaka II refugee settlement, proving that with determination, support, and the right opportunities, young girls can rise above their challenges and lead change in their communities.
