Mary's fight against human trafficking and child marriage

"I'm so happy that I can now go to secondary school," says Mary, smiling. For the 17-year-old, this fulfils a dream she has worked towards for years. Her story shows what a difference education can make.

Mary Nangiro has attended the Akigyeno Primary School since 2021, which is run by MAF's partner organisation Ezekiel 37 Ministry. Around 300 pupils learn there – in the remote region of Karamoja in northeastern Uganda, where the literacy rate is among the lowest in the country.

Mary is a disciplined student: "I studied at night so that I would get good grades. The school gave us torches so that we could read even after dark."

There is no electricity in her home village. The solar-powered torch therefore became an indispensable tool for Mary on her path to a better future.

At just 17, she is one of the few pupils to achieve top marks in Uganda's national Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). The result plays a decisive role in whether and how further schooling is possible.

Education as protection against trafficking and child marriage

But not all the girls in Mary's circle were so fortunate. One of her friends was abducted by a man last year and then forced into marriage. Mary knows many other girls who have suffered a similar fate – some her own age, others even younger.

A 2021 report by the organisation ENACT shows just how urgently protection through education is needed: girls from Karamoja are sometimes sold for the equivalent of just four Swiss francs and trafficked to Nairobi. Attending school offers them far more than lessons. It creates a safe place, opens up future prospects and empowers girls to stand up against exploitation, trafficking and child marriage.

Florence Talamoi, senior education officer in the Napak District, encounters this reality regularly. "Poverty and insecurity are among the main causes of child trafficking in our region," she explains. "Some children are even taken to Kenya by relatives and forced into marriage there."

"The school has already made an incredible difference" Florence Talamoi

For girls like Mary, the Akigyeno school therefore means far more than free lessons – it is a place of safety and hope. "The school has already achieved an incredible amount. But there is still much to do." Alongside their lessons, all pupils receive two meals on school days. For many children, these are the only reliable meals of the day, as there is often not enough food at home.

A partnership that makes a future possible

MAF regularly flies the staff of Ezekiel 37 Ministry to Moroto. From there, they travel on to the Akigyeno Primary School in the Napak District. The region is one of the most remote in Uganda. Because of poor roads and difficult conditions, the journey by car often takes one to two days.

Rebecca Sekamanya, founder and head of the school, is therefore especially grateful for MAF's support. "We value MAF greatly. Without these flights, we could hardly continue our work." The flight takes only around 90 minutes. This allows Rebecca and her team to spend their time working with the children rather than travelling for days. "Spending two days on the road is neither sensible nor a responsible use of our resources."

The effort pays off: Rebecca is proud of her school's first graduating class. "When our first class sat their final examination, I didn't have particularly high expectations. All the more reason to be delighted with the result." All 19 pupils passed the examination and qualified to attend a secondary school. Three of them even achieved the top grade. Only a few years ago, many of these children were herding cattle during the day or staying at home. Without access to education, their prospects would have been shaped by poverty, insecurity and a high risk of exploitation.

Today, Mary looks to the future with confidence. Secondary school begins for her soon. Her big goal is to become a nurse. One day she hopes to help her own community – and to give others the same hope that she has received through education.