Kampala’s slums are notorious for drug and alcohol abuse and violent crime, poor sanitation and abject poverty. Children are often left unsupervised during the day while their parents try to make a living, and without a daily purpose or safe space to go these children become even more at risk. 

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Girls growing up in the slums are particularly vulnerable. Worldwide, girls are more likely to drop out of school, earn less, have poor health, and live in poverty. They’re often overlooked and less empowered to fulfil their potential. Growing up without education hinders a girl’s future life choices and their ability to break the cycle of poverty.  This means that they are more exposed to risky situations and people who exploit their vulnerability.

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Uganda has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the world, with 1 in 4 teenage girls becoming pregnant before they are 19. Nearly 1 in 2 girls in Uganda are married before the age of 18, and around 2.4 million are engaged in child labour. Girls and young women in Kampala’s slums are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, early or forced marriage and HIV infection.

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Lack of skills, opportunities, empowerment and self-esteem often makes young women feel that they have no choice but to engage in early child marriage, gang violence, prostitution or other risky behaviour.