Over the past three days, the Naguru Teenage Centre (NTC), in collaboration with UNFPA under the NOVO Project, successfully delivered a training on documentation, storytelling, and case reveal for FGM survivors and youth champions. This initiative brought together participants from Karamoja, Sebei, and also included young people from the refugee settlements in Kiryandongo, creating a rich platform for learning, experience-sharing, and empowerment.

The training aimed to equip participants with practical skills to document and share stories of FGM survivors, ensuring that their experiences are recorded accurately and respectfully. By building capacity in storytelling and case reveal, the program empowers youth champions to act as advocates for FGM prevention, protection of girls’ rights, and community awareness.

Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering story collection techniques, ethical reporting, case documentation, and data management. These skills are critical in enabling young people and survivors to communicate experiences effectively, amplify their voices, and contribute to evidence-based programming that addresses FGM at local, district, and national levels.

In addition to technical training, the sessions fostered peer support and healing. Survivors and youth champions shared experiences, reflected on challenges, and explored strategies to transform pain into advocacy. This collaborative environment nurtured confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose among participants, reinforcing their role as change agents within their communities.

The integration of participants from refugee settlements in Kiryandongo added another dimension to the training, highlighting the intersectionality of FGM and displacement challenges. By addressing these realities, the training promoted inclusivity and ensured that strategies for FGM prevention consider diverse community contexts.

As the training concluded, participants expressed renewed commitment to championing girls’ rights, documenting cases accurately, and mobilizing their communities for positive change. By combining skills development with advocacy, the NOVO Project is not only preventing harmful practices but also fostering a generation of young leaders equipped to influence social norms, policy, and community attitudes.

Through initiatives like this, NTC and its partners continue to demonstrate that knowledge, storytelling, and documentation are powerful tools in the fight against FGM, turning survivors’ voices into catalysts for systemic change and a safer, more equitable future for girls and young women.