Lilliane Babirye
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Act 4 Teen MothersUganda
Lilliane Babirye is the founder and board chair of the Young Women Coalition, an organization that advocates for the socioeconomic rights of teen mothers and young women in Uganda. She is also the founder and executive director of the Network of Women in Politics, a national organization that creates a nonpartisan platform for women in politics to amplify their voices. Lilliane is the founder of Babirye Cares Foundation, a charitable organization in Entebbe. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in women and development studies, and a post-graduate diploma in public administration, financial management and human rights. She is a human rights activist, a freelance counselor and a gender equity expert with over 10 years of experience.
IVLP Impact Award Project: ACT 4 TEEN MOTHERS
The Act 4 Teen Mothers project supported 100 teenage mothers who faced school closures, household poverty and sexual violence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in areas around Lake Victoria, including Bussi Island, Musooli landing site, Busambaga, Nakiwogo, Lwamunyu Island and Katabi Busamabaga. Twenty trainers, 15 council leaders, 5 village chairpersons and members of 2 partner organizations participated in the project.
Trusted community members were identified and trained to act as foot soldiers to identify teen mothers. Transformative stories on teenage motherhood were documented and disseminated. Media and grassroots campaigns were organized to end the stigmatization of teen motherhood. The project prepared young women to get back to school and trained others to start small income-generating activities to create economic activity. As a result of the project, 22 teen mothers decided to continue their education, 6 gained employment, 8 started small businesses, and others were reunited with families.
"I had dropped my dream of going back to school, but my future is now bright." - Project Participant
IVLP Exchange Experience
Lilliane participated in the IVLP Project Ending Gender-Based Violence, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360, in partnership with Vermont Council on World Affairs, WorldBoston, International Focus, Inc., and Global New Orleans.
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually
Washington, DC; New Orleans, LA; Boston, MA; Raleigh, NC; Burlington, VT