Dreams of the Tropical Youth Uganda Engaged Students in Kasasa to Prevent Child Marriage

Dreams of the Tropical Youth Uganda brought faith leaders, educators and young people together in Kasasa to raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and the links between health services, early pregnancy and child marriage.

As part of the inaugural Global Interfaith Weekend to End Child Marriage, the organisation carried out a focused school outreach at Kasasa New Primary School, where more than 60 adolescents took part in open, age-appropriate conversations about SRH. 

The outreach connected SRH gaps directly to the broader fight against child marriage. Child marriage is driven by unequal gender norms and poverty and has deep health and social consequences: early marriage often interrupts schooling and increases risks of adolescent pregnancy, maternal complications, gender-based violence and other harms. In Uganda, these challenges persist even as progress is being made, and community-level conversations are essential for shifting norms and protecting young people’s rights.

During the activity students shared personal experiences, asked practical questions, and pledged to support peers with accurate information. By working through schools, faith leaders and youth organisations, Dreams of the Tropical Youth Uganda demonstrated how local actors can open safe spaces for young people, promote informed decision-making, and push for services that keep adolescents healthy and in school.

This work amplified the Global Interfaith Weekend’s aim to unite faith communities and local partners in ending child marriage and protecting children’s futures. Dreams of the Tropical Youth Uganda will continue building on this momentum and welcomes collaboration with organisations and practitioners working in SRH, youth empowerment, and child-marriage prevention.