Lessons Learned from Our Trainings in Walanga, Uganda

When we first dreamed of bringing human rights and civic education to Walanga Village, we knew it would be a learning journey, not just for the participants, but also for us. Today, as we look back on these months of work, we feel proud, humbled, and more determined than ever to continue empowering women and children to shape the future of their communities.

Setting the Scene

Walanga is a vibrant village in Uganda, where community bonds are strong but access to education and civic resources remains limited. Women and children, in particular, face daily challenges linked to inequality, lack of participation in decision-making, and limited awareness of their rights. We chose Walanga because we believed that investing in its people could ignite real, long-lasting change.

The Trainings

Our project focused on three main groups: children, young mothers, and grandmothers. We organized training sessions on:

• Human rights and gender equality

• Civic participation and leadership

• Voting sensitization in preparation for the 2026 Ugandan elections

  
  

Through games, storytelling, interactive workshops, and discussions, we tailored the training to be accessible and meaningful to each group.

What We Learned

1. Adaptation is Key: Children learn best through play and imagination, while adults appreciate practical examples rooted in their daily lives. We quickly realized that flexibility in our methods made all the difference.

2. Trust Comes Before Teaching: Building trust with participants, especially women who had rarely been asked for their opinions, was essential. Before we could teach about rights and leadership, we had to listen.

3. Stories Create Change: When we introduced human rights concepts through real-life stories, we saw faces light up with recognition. Storytelling proved to be one of the most powerful tools for change.

4. Women's Leadership Strengthens Entire Communities: Encouraging women to see themselves as leaders not only empowered them individually but also strengthened the resilience and cohesion of the community as a whole.

5. Local Collaboration is Non-Negotiable: Partnering with the NSETTE Foundation was crucial. Their knowledge of the community, culture, and needs made our work possible and meaningful.

Impact So Far

• We trained 70 participants across all age groups.

• We collected 29 children's surveys and 30 women's surveys, which provided valuable insights into their needs, dreams, and the impact of the training.

• We witnessed firsthand the beginnings of a new dialogue about rights, participation, and change within the village.

What’s Next

Our work doesn't end here. We are now developing two toolkits, one for children and one for women, so that these trainings can be replicated in other Ugandan communities and in other countries. We hope to continue expanding this model, reaching more villages, and sparking more change.

Closing Reflection

Our time in Walanga taught us that real empowerment is not about delivering a message; it's about sharing a journey. We are grateful to every woman, child, and partner who trusted us, taught us, and inspired us.

The seeds have been planted. Now, together, we nurture them into a stronger, more inclusive future.

If you'd like to support our efforts or learn more about partnering with us, please get in touch. The journey is just beginning.