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For many women in Uganda, home is not a safe place
Behind closed doors, violence, conflict and insecurity often take place, often linked to alcohol. Women and girls are hit hardest, both physically, economically and socially.
When alcohol is normalized, violence is also normalized.
Money that should go to the family's needs is wasted on alcohol, and women have to bear the consequences, with less power over their lives and fewer opportunities to influence their situation.
Together with our partner, we are working to change this. We create safe contexts where women and girls can organize, build strength and take their place. At the same time, we work with the whole of society to change norms around alcohol and violence.
When women gain power over their lives, families and societies also change. More people live without violence, more children have safer upbringings, and more futures are opened up.
Meet Mary – who took the fight for women's safety further
Mary is 27 years old and lives in Kumi district, Uganda. Growing up, she saw how alcohol affected the people around her. Families were torn apart, children dropped out of school, and women lived in insecurity.
“I saw what was happening but I didn't know what I could do,” she says.
When Mary was given the opportunity to be part of our work, that changed. Through education, she gained knowledge about how alcohol affects health, the economy and, not least, women's rights. She also got to practice speaking in front of others, leading conversations and driving change in her community.
With new tools and growing confidence, Mary began to take action.
She held information sessions in schools, visited families and led conversations about alcohol in her local community, often through music, drama and stories that made it easier to understand and talk about difficult issues.
But she didn't stop there.
Mary also began engaging with local leaders and decision-makers. Today, she is involved in influencing how society works to reduce alcohol harm and create safer environments, especially for women and girls.
The change is noticeable. More young people are getting involved, more families are starting to reflect on the consequences of alcohol, and local initiatives for safer communities are emerging.
“Now I know that my voice matters,” says Mary.
When women and young people are given knowledge, support and the opportunity to influence, something important happens. They don't just change their own lives, they change entire societies.
Your gift will enable more women like Mary to stand up for their rights and create safer lives – for themselves and others.
