Brave Girls Festival

The Brave Girls Festival serves as a community-driven initiative to break the silence surrounding gender-based violence and reproductive health issues in the Yumbe District. Organized by a consortium of organizations under the Protect SRHR Project—including the International Rescue Committee, World Vision, Reach A Hand Africa, and Humanity Inclusion—the event is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The festival features emotional first-hand accounts from students who have experienced domestic violence or dropped out of school due to financial hardship, highlighting the real-world impact of these issues on the local population.

Beyond sharing personal stories, the festival acts as a forum for local and national leaders to advocate for systemic change. Key speakers, including district administrative officers and representatives from the NRM party, emphasize the need for increased funding for sexual and reproductive health awareness and sensitization programs. By involving cultural leaders and parents, the initiative seeks to find solutions at the household and community levels to curb child marriage and improve maternal health outcomes.

The event also underscores the critical link between education and safety, with officials calling for collective action to keep girls in school as a primary defense against early marriage and exploitation. The festival represents a collaborative effort to streamline awareness campaigns and lobby for resources that contribute to the overall empowerment and protection of girls in Uganda.