Joan
Uganda
Joan comes from central Uganda. Most girls in her community attend school between the ages of twelve and fifteen. Sadly, by age fifteen, nearly 50% have dropped out. Girls in these communities are not encouraged to pursue an education and often become child brides.
As the oldest of seven children, this could have been Joan’s fate. However, The Girl Power Project stepped in when Joan was nine years old. They sponsored her education, and she has been working with The Girl Power Project since 2010. Joan has worked on many community service projects, including an initiative to provide safe menstrual products to girls in need. Since not all girls have access to simple sanitary products, menstruation often forces them to stay home from school.
Now an ambassador and mentor with The Girl Power Project, Joan has personally helped hundreds of Ugandan girls. She has seen the potential in herself and many other at-risk girls.
Joan is committed to using her platform to empower girls who are both voiceless and vulnerable.
Story courtesy of Just Like My Child Foundation, an organization dedicated to delivering healthcare, education, and empowerment programs to communities in rural Uganda.