Desk of Hope conducted a formal community sensitization and advocacy engagement on child marriage at Omukareere Trading Center, Kazindiro Parish, Bugangari Sub-county, Rukungiri District. The activity reached over 450 community members, providing an opportunity to raise awareness on the global and local prevalence of child marriage, its root causes, and its long-term social, health, and economic consequences. The engagement resulted in strong community commitment, with more than 180 participants formally pledging to actively support efforts to end child marriage within their households and the wider community. In addition, the event recorded the participation of over 60 church leaders, whose involvement highlighted the critical role of faith-based leadership in child protection and community transformation. The event demonstrated the effectiveness of community-driven dialogue in mobilizing collective action and reinforced Desk of Hope’s commitment to promoting children’s rights and safeguarding vulnerable populations through inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Posted Feb 1, 2026
The engagement reached over 450 participants from the surrounding community. Through structured discussions and interactive dialogue, participants were informed about the drivers of child marriage, its impact on children’s rights and development, and the importance of community-led prevention and response mechanisms.
As a result of the engagement, more than 180 participants made a formal public commitment to actively support initiatives aimed at ending child marriage within their families and communities. Additionally, over 60 church leaders participated in the activity, reinforcing the role of faith-based institutions in promoting child protection, advocacy, and behavior change at the community level.
The activity contributed to strengthened community awareness, increased stakeholder commitment, and enhanced collaboration between community members and religious leaders in addressing child marriage. This engagement aligns with Desk of Hope’s broader mission to safeguard children’s rights and promote sustainable, community-driven solutions to child protection challenges.
