As the world gathers energy toward youth-led change, Wezesha Girls Network Uganda proudly stands among the voices driving this transformation. This October, our message of empowerment, resilience and leadership echoed through the 3rd edition of Lightup Impact Days 2025, held in Nairobi, Kenya under the inspiring theme “Let Youth Lead: Driving Gender and Climate Justice.” which is a reminder that real change begins when young people are trusted to lead and that empowering girls is at the very heart of achieving lasting social justice.
At Lightup Impact Days 2025, youth-led organizations from across East Africa came together to share experiences, innovations and ideas on how to strengthen grassroots impact and our work with teenage mothers, school-going girls and young mentors is aligned with the conference’s mission. “Lightup Impact Days reaffirmed what we already believe, that solutions to community challenges must come from the people closest to those challenges. And that includes young women and girls,” Namata Sanyu Mariam shared a representative from Wezesha Girls Network.
Lightup Impact Days 2025 emphasized shifting power from top-down structures to community-driven, youth-centered movements. This mirrors our own approach of investing in grassroots mentorship, local partnerships and sustainable skills development that empower girls to take charge of their futures.The conference also highlighted the intersection between gender and climate justice that is an important reminder that empowered girls become strong voices for environmental sustainability in their communities. At Wezesha, we see this connection daily as young women advocate for greener practices and community-led conservation.
As Lightup Impact Days 2025 called on the world to trust and invest in local leadership, Wezesha Girls Network Uganda takes this as a renewed call to action.
Our next steps include:
1. Expanding mentorship programs in schools and rural communities.
2. Equipping more teenage mothers with livelihood and business skills.
3. Strengthening partnerships to reach even more girls across Uganda.
4. Integrating climate resilience education into our mentorship programs.
We are determined to ensure that the energy from Lightup Impact Days translates into real, measurable change on the ground where girls live, learn and dream. To every young leader who attended Lightup Impact Days and to every girl who dares to dream: we see you, we believe in you, we are with you. When we let youth lead, we unlock innovation. When we empower girls, we secure a better tomorrow and when we light up impact together, the world becomes brighter for everyone.
Compiled by: Ainomugisha Mercy
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