THE IAM GIRL SPACE - THE PROJECT

Uganda has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy globally. 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. Pregnancy accounts for 25% of school dropouts in Uganda. Health-wise, teenage pregnancies account for nearly 18% of births, 20% of infant deaths, and 28% of maternal deaths annually.

According to the daily monitor report of Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Eastern Uganda bears a disproportionate share of the burden: Bukedi: 29.5% of adolescent girls had already given birth, with another 3.6% pregnant for the first time, Busoga: 28.4% of girls aged 15-19 had become mothers, while 5.8% were currently pregnant. 16.1% of adolescent girls in Busoga and Bukedi were currently pregnant.

COVID-19 lockdowns aggravated the crisis, pushing girls as young as 13 into early pregnancies and school dropouts. Based on research and MoES/UN data, the drivers are interconnected: Poverty & Economic Pressure, School-Related Barriers, Stigma and lack of guidance and counselling in schools, GBV, Early Marriage & Sexual Exploitation, lack of SRHR Information & Services, harmful Norms & Community Attitudes.
A girl’s value tied to marriage and motherhood, not education. “Many in the community view pregnancy as marking the definitive end of a girl’s academic journey”.

Uganda’s 1995 Constitution guarantees the right to education for all children, while MoES Revised Guidelines on Prevention and Management of Teenage Pregnancy in School Settings - MoES 2020 guarantees unconditional re-admission of a teenage mother to school while the Education Act & National Policy Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers calls for community support and tracking of pregnant girls.

However, “policy on paper often clashes with practice”. Knowledge gaps among teachers, parents, leaders. Stigma, limited resources, and culture of forced marriage still block return. UNICEF’s 2025 regional review confirms: many pregnant and parenting adolescents remain excluded despite commitments to their right to education.

It was against this background that the <b>IAM GIRL SPACE</b> was established.
Not to "rescue" girls, but to stand with them, their families, and communities to remove the barriers — poverty, stigma, lack of information, and lack of opportunity — that kept them out of school.

THIS GIRL- SHE IS MORE THAN HER STORY
She is more than her circumstances.
She is more than society's expectations.
She is more than her mistakes.
She is more than the labels placed upon her.

THE BIG IDEA
More Than a Podcast—A Movement of Hope
IAM GIRL SPACE is more than a podcast.
It is a safe space where girls are heard, believed and empowered. Through honest conversations, lived experiences and practical guidance, the podcast inspires girls to rediscover their identity, overcome barriers and pursue their dreams with confidence.

The heart of IAM GIRL SPACE is anchored in one powerful truth:
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)
This truth embraces every part of a girl's life—her body, her mind and her spirit.

It reminds her that she is not defined by poverty.
She is not defined by teenage pregnancy.
She is not defined by rejection.
She is not defined by other people's opinions.
She is defined by her God-given identity.

The IAM GIRL SPACE gives a voice to girls whose stories are too often unheard. It educates, inspires, equips, and most importantly, it reminds every girl that her worth has never changed.

Our Core Message
No matter your story...
No matter your past...
No matter your circumstances...
Your worth has never changed.
You were created with purpose.
You were created with dignity.
You were intentionally made.
You are mentally well.

A CALL TO ACTION

I AM GIRL SPACE is HAMIZA’s campaign to return teenage girls to school, support them to remain and complete school, — especially those who got pregnant, mothered children, and were pushed out.

But we don’t do this alone.
We are calling on the wider community: boys and men, parents and caregivers, teachers, local leaders, cultural and religious leaders.
Because no girl returns to school if her home, her village, and her community don’t welcome her back.
Every girl has a role to play. So do we.
Every girl carries within her extraordinary potential.
She is a future teacher, doctor, farmer, entrepreneur, scientist, leader, mother and changemaker.

Yet her future depends not only on her determination, but also on the choices we make today. Will we listen to her voice? Will we protect her dignity? Will we create schools where she feels safe? Will we challenge harmful beliefs that limit her opportunities? Will we stand beside her when she needs support the most?

These questions are not for girls alone.
They are for all of us Parents, Teachers, Faith leaders, Community leaders, Government, Development partners, Boys and men.

Together, we have the power to build communities where every girl is respected, protected and empowered to achieve her full potential.
IAM GIRL SPACE is more than a podcast.
It is an invitation to listen,learn, speak, act.
To become part of a movement that believes every girl deserves hope, dignity and opportunity.
Because when one girl succeeds, a family is strengthened.
When families are strengthened, communities prosper.
When communities prosper, nations flourish.
Let us choose to be part of her story—not as bystanders, but as champions of her future.

At HAMIZA:
We are FIRM on her right to education.
We are PERSISTENT in fighting stigma.
We are GROUNDED in the truth that when a girl learns, a whole community rises.