Who will fight for refugee children’s rights, if I don’t?

Holding a megaphone, she resolutely leads a group of seven boys on a community sensitization drive. The boys walk behind her holding placards and a banner bearing child protection messages. She is an unwavering girl who believes in the power of speaking up to create change in her community. She is fighting to influence and change cultural norms and beliefs that negatively affect children.

It is a hot mid-morning in Maaji refugee settlement when she and her group embark on their mission for the day. The trenchant sun is no obstacle to the children's determination for the assignment. Their first stop is at a marketplace. The group always targets places where they can speak to a large audience. The group's patron welcomes them and briefs the vendors on the purpose of the visit.

Nancy, 17, takes the stage, holds the megaphone to her mouth, and starts sensitising vendors on the dangers of forced marriages. "Some of our parents organize marriages without our consent and because this immoral act is not acceptable in Uganda, they take the young girls back to South Sudan and arrange marriages for them. This is unacceptable. You are denying children the right to a happy life," she says.

"I request that you take good care of your children and keep them in school. Let children be children. I know as refugees we face a lot of challenges, but school is the only safe place for children," Nancy adds.

Nancy is the only girl in this teenage boys-led organisation known as the Male Action Group (MAG). The group aims to address gender inequality within the settlement. She says she joined the boys-only group to make girls comfortable as they learn and share about gender roles and rights. "Girls are usually shy to share issues affecting them with fellow boys. I joined MAG last year and can now present the challenges the girls face to the group. We look for solutions working with our patron and World Vision staff. Who will fight for our rights if I don't?" she says.

Before joining the group, Nancy, who has been in the settlement since 2016, was almost submerged in a wave of emotional distress. During her early days in the settlement, she would cry herself to sleep, both day and night. "I lost my mother and brother in the civil war in South Sudan. I came with my father, but he is a drunkard. Life would have been manageable, but my stepmother started mistreating me," she says.

Her woes with her stepmother took a mental toll on her. Their sour relationship climaxed in Nancy contemplating suicide. "I wanted to end my life because she kept reminding me how my mother died. Sometimes she could stop me from attending Child-Friendly Space (CFS) activities – to play with my fellow children. She could not support me in school and sometimes denied me food," she adds.

These sad memories cause fresh tears for Nancy. Thankfully, her life changed when she opened up to a World Vision caregiver at the CFS. Nancy is a true testament that psychosocial support is vital, especially for children; the innocent victims of war. "If emotions had overpowered me, I would be dead. World Vision staff supported me to fight and triumph over emotional distress. They have moved with me on my recovery journey and empowered me to fight for my fellow children’s rights.” Says Nancy.  

In addition to being a member of the MAG, she is also part of Mobile Journalists (Mojo). Nancy is using the skills and knowledge from these children-led activities to advocate for her fellow children. “I have first-hand experience with abuse and there are several other children silently suffering in the community. I want to use my newly acquired skills in mobile journalism to tell the stories of such children and bring their plight to light.

I use any opportunity to speak up on issues affecting children. She hopes to become a journalist in the future. "I want to study hard and fulfil my dream. I am happy that World Vision has created a platform for us to advocate for our rights. I feel confident to speak up, especially on issues affecting children,"

Paul Egar, a World Vision Child Protection Assistant, says they are empowering children like Nancy because when children speak up, the world listens.

Story and photos by Derrick kyatuka, Communication Officer, Uganda Refugee Response