The day began with that Kampala bright sunshine that makes everything feel like possible. I woke up earlier than usual, filled with quiet determination: I wanted to be fully present for the training on child marriage. When I arrived, the room was already buzzing with energy. People from all over: Somalia, Sudan, D.R. Congo, Rwanda and other communities, filled the room. I felt like I was stepping into a living mosaic of cultures, all brought together by an urgent cause.

As real Africans, we couldn’t start at 9 o’clock sharp as planned, we had to wait for late comers before diving tough but necessary conversations. We analysed the root causes of child marriage: poverty, harmful traditions, limited access to education and pressure on families already struggling to survive. What struck me most was how common these issues are in refugee communities, but also how often they remain taboo.

During the group discussions, the compound of the African Youth Action Network transformed into an agora. Participants shared their stories, their pain and their perspectives, shaped by different journeys but bound by a common reality. We explored how child marriage destroys futures, particularly those of girls whose childhoods are replaced by responsibilities for which they are unprepared. The effects are far-reaching: physical and emotional trauma, interrupted schooling, early pregnancy and a cycle of vulnerability that repeats itself over and over again.

What struck me was someone’s comment that in the past, a girl’s ‘maturity’ was measured by the apples she harvested or her periods, which marked her growth. But today, even girls as young as ten are pushed into situations reserved for adults. Some are given the status of ‘wife’ long before they reach adolescence. The emotional cost is devastating: some young girls sink into deep despair and a few, overwhelmed by trauma, even attempt to take their own lives.

How can a child be expected to raise another child? The education they are entitled to is replaced by the burden of early motherhood. Their minds, which should be growing, exploring and dreaming, are instead trapped by responsibilities imposed on them too soon. And the consequences do not stop with the individual: early pregnancies, increased HIV infections and psychological damage affect the entire community and even the overall growth of the country.

At the end of the training, I felt both moved and motivated. The discussions reminded me that combating child marriage requires more than just awareness: it requires enforcement of laws, stricter policies, and genuine community engagement. By collaborating with groups such as Refugee Talent Group and Refugees for Prosperity, I believe we can use storytelling, community gatherings, and collective advocacy to promote lasting change.

As I left the room, I had one clear message in mind: every voice matters. And when we raise those voices together, we can reshape the future for girls who deserve to grow up, not grow old too soon.

By Jolly Fulerah and Tania Hurrem