Success Story
“Even when everyone doubted me, I kept going” — The Strength Behind Josephine’s Second Chance.
Josephine Raleo
At 19, Josephine Raleo feared that pregnancy would end her education. Once a respected head girl, she faced stigma, lost family support, and was initially denied readmission to school. Refusing to surrender, Josephine appealed to the District Education Officer, whose intervention helped her return to class. Through the SAY Programme, peer educators from Naguru Teenage Centre and members of the Morning Star Youth Club provided reproductive health information, mentorship, and encouragement. Despite financial hardship and community judgment, she completed her examinations and remains determined to continue her education after giving birth. Josephine’s journey demonstrates the power of resilience and compassionate support, reminding young girls that pregnancy does not have to end their education, dignity, or dreams.
Across Uganda, teenage girls face challenges that can threaten their education, health, and future, but the SAY Program is changing that. SAY (Supporting Adolescents and Youth) empowers young girls with guidance, mentorship, and knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, helping them stay in school and navigate life’s toughest moments. Naguru Teenage Centre (NTC), in partnership with UNFPA and with support from the Danish Embassy, reaches young people who might otherwise be left behind, giving them hope, encouragement, and a second chance.
It was through this support that Josephine Raleo, a 19-year-old Senior Four student, found the courage to continue her education after discovering she was pregnant, a moment that could have ended everything.
When she found out, her entire world came crashing down. “Everyone trusted me,” she said softly. “I was the head girl. People looked up to me.” But suddenly, admiration turned into whispers and judgment. “Many people lost trust in me. They ignored me. I was no longer the person they believed in.”
At home, life became even harder. Having lost both parents, Raleo lived with her brother, who had been paying her school fees. But when he learned about the pregnancy, he gave up on her. “He stopped paying my school fees and left me alone,” she said quietly. Alone, heartbroken, and unsure what to do next, she recalled, “I was left in misery and sorrow. But I told myself that everything happens for a reason. I did not give up.”
Her brother eventually took her to the home of the boy who had made her pregnant. He had finished Senior Four but was unemployed and unable to provide. Life was difficult. “Even getting money for the baby’s needs was difficult,” she said. “I had to harvest the maize I had planted early in my pregnancy to buy baby clothes.” Yet his mother showed kindness by promising to pay her school fees so Josephine could continue studying. That small act gave her a glimmer of hope.
Determined to go back to school, she returned to her former school, only to be turned away. “They told me to go and find another school,” she said. “But I couldn’t. The other schools were too far, and walking long distances while pregnant was not easy.”
Refusing to give up, she begged teachers, neighbours, and community members to speak on her behalf. “Some people, even if you wrong them, can still forgive you,” she said. “They knew I had made a mistake, but they also knew I could still do better.” When that failed, she took a bold step and went to the District Education Officer herself. “I begged him to help me. I told him to please call the head teacher and ask him to allow me back. It was the only nearby school I could attend.”
The DEO intervened. After several discussions, the school finally readmitted her. It was a small victory, but for Josephine, it felt like the world had opened up again.
Returning to school while pregnant was not easy. Stares, whispers, and silent judgment accompanied her every day. “Some people said I had spoiled my life. They laughed and talked behind my back,” she said. But she refused to let their words break her. “I told myself that pregnancy is not the end of life. After giving birth, I can still go back to where I left off.”
Along the way, peer educators from Naguru Teenage Centre and members of the Morning Star Youth Club became her lifeline. They educated her about reproductive health, guided her through tough days, encouraged her to stay in school, and reminded her that her dreams were still possible. “They advised me not to abort,” she said. “They told me that I could still achieve my dreams.”
Even though the boy’s family could only partially pay her school fees, the school allowed her to sit for exams with the balance outstanding. “They told me I could pay when I needed my results,” she said.
As she prepares to welcome her baby this month, with little support from the father, Josephine looks back on her journey with quiet pride. She has already proven that she can stand tall, even when the world turns its back. “After giving birth, I will go to my brother and apologize so he can support my studies, but if he persists, I will get a loan and start a business to support myself through school,” she said.
Her message to young girls is clear and compassionate: “Abstain until the right time. Finish your education first. There’s nothing that runs away. Don’t rush. You might think you’re chasing love, but you’re walking into fire.”
Josephine Raleo’s story is one of courage, resilience, and hope. She turned rejection into determination, heartbreak into strength, and is living proof that with guidance, support, and faith, no challenge is too big to overcome.