Attending School Keeps Ugandan Girls Safer

Ugandan girls are far likelier than boys to drop out of school for many reasons, such as poverty (elevating the need to work or marry for money), domestic labor burdens, and lack of access to girls-only restrooms and hygienic supplies. Girls in rural areas are even more likely to leave school early. Yet staying in school can help female students avoid a host of dangerous outcomes: illiteracy, unplanned pregnancy and single motherhood, unemployment, lack of access to school-sponsored health services, and child trafficking.

How School Attendance Helps Keep Ugandan Girls From Being Trafficked

As of 2018, over 2 million Ugandan children were involved in child labor, often as the result of human trafficking in Uganda. Child labor rates increased during pandemic school lockdowns, including the number of girls trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation.

However, keeping girls in school and providing the support they need to stay there can keep them safe from human traffickers and other dangers because of the following factors:

• Girls in school are watched over by teachers and school administrators rather than being alone out in their communities, where they are more vulnerable
• They are located in a space exclusively for children and teachers, where human traffickers cannot easily follow them
• Greater levels of education help girls to make informed decisions about their lives and bodies
• The more education girls attain, the more earning potential they have (10–25% more for each year of school), which can motivate them to stay in school and focus on a career rather than dropping out and becoming vulnerable to exploitation 

In addition, educating families and children about the dangers of human trafficking can help keep students in school and make them less likely to be lured or coerced into this industry. 

Help Protect Female Ugandan Students With Simone’s Kids

You can help improve school attendance rates for Ugandans—especially for girls—by supporting schools and education programs, which provide children with the tools they need to build a more promising future. Simone’s Kids in Nakaseke, Uganda provides education and meets basic needs for children in order to help them break the cycle of poverty.

You can maximize your impact with recurring donations to Simone’s Kids by joining The Village. The Village is a passionate group of donors committed to bettering the lives of children in Uganda by making monthly donations that help to provide better meals, more teachers, more activities, and even post-graduation services.

You can also make a difference by shopping at the Simone’s Kids Store or donating to Simone’s Kids. Your gifts help purchase school supplies, textbooks, food, and other necessities for Ugandan students. Consider doubling your contribution by asking if your employer participates in a donation match. Give today!