Newsletter remarks from our Co-Chair (National) of GNBU
“Change begins when ordinary people dare to imagine a better future.”
Dear Members and Partners,
As we close Quarter Two, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for the energy, commitment, and vision that each one of you brings to the Girls Not Brides Uganda (GNBU) National Partnership. Every page of this newsletter is more than an update; it is a living testament to your passion and the collective determination to end child marriage in Uganda. Our milestones in this quarter remind us that success is not driven by resources alone, but by the power of partnership by our own members.
Together with the Ministry of Gender, we convened a National stakeholder engagement meeting that not only led to the review of the National strategy or the GNBU’s inclusion on the inter-ministerial committee on child wellbeing but also opened the door for us to begin critical discussions around the forthcoming National Girls’ Summit with potential partners. This moment marked a powerful step in positioning GNBU at the center of national dialogue on child marriage.
We also facilitated dynamic regional engagements with our members, finalized and submitted co-creation strategy documents to potential donors, and convened the Steering Committee to strengthen our governance through the creation of specialized sub-committees. These committees are now focused on following up action plans from summits, sustaining stakeholder engagement, and ensuring the full roll-out of our co-creation strategy. At the same time, we welcomed new members into the partnership and appointed a Treasurer to further strengthen accountability and coordination within the partnership.
This period has equally been rich with storytelling and learning, for instance, The GNBU Coordinator and I shared powerful lessons from Movement Building and Leadership programme (MBALP) sessions organized by Girls Not Brides: the Global Partnership to End Child Marriage, while members continued to showcase their case stories, evidence of the transformative value that they bring to this partnership. Special appreciation goes to members who submitted their quarterly reports and demonstrated steadfast commitment to advancing our shared vision.
As you read this newsletter, I encourage you to celebrate these strides with pride. Each accomplishment reflects your resolve to imagine and work toward a Uganda free from child marriage.
Enjoy the read and thank you for being the heartbeat of this partnership.
Joyce Nakato: Girls Not Brides Uganda Co-Chair (National)
