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A Girl Returned: Mariam’s Fight for Her Future
Rising above abuse, rejection, and stigma through education and courage
Prepared for educators, advocates, donors, policymakers, and anyone passionate about empowering girls and women.
True story, inspired by real events.
How I Reclaimed My Life Through Education
My name is Mariam Mujoma, a former school dropout, and victim of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
I am now a Master student, holding a Bachelor of Arts with Education, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation of the prestigious Makerere University, a Head Teacher with over ten years experience in education service ,an entrepreneur and a co-founder of Hindu Asha Foundation.
I am sharing my life story to inspire and encourage young girls and women out there encountering challenges in attaining quality education and socio - economic mobility.
From a school dropout to a Head Teacher
I dropped out of school after having been sexually abused and become a mother at the age of 12 just after i had completed primary seven (P7). A child taking care of another child at such a tender age was difficult and even then i did not see the possibility of going back to school. I thought that marriage was the only option i had left and i never saw any girl going back to school once they got pregnant and gave birth anyway. After dropping out,
“By the age of 15, I was a mother of three and stuck in a marriage I thought was my only path.”— Mariam Mujoma
But I was deeply unhappy. I became a victim of domestic violence. The man I called my husband beat me and denied me access to the family income I helped earn through farming.
“You’re a school dropout — you can’t even count the money.” — My husband, before I walked away.
That moment broke something in me — but it also pushed me to act.
I made the hardest decision of my life: I left. I walked away and returned to my father’s house. He already had eleven school-going children, but I pleaded for another chance to go back to school. He was happy to help — I was the only child who had not completed their education.
Back in the Classroom
Re-enrolling into formal education was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I was older than my classmates. They knew my past.
Many of my younger siblings had already graduated, and one of them — my younger sister — was now my class teacher.
**Imagine sitting in a class of over 150 students, being the oldest, a mother, once married, and now being taught by your little sister. You must be courageous to sit in that room and still believe in your future.**
But going back to school was the best decision I ever made. Education gave me something I had lost — hope. I could now see myself in the future again.
"There is no life for a girl without education in the world. With education, a girl child is a fully empowered child."
With everything I went through after dropping out,
“I could not imagine a future without education. That vision gave me the strength to stand against all odds and make education my top priority.”
A Message to Parents and Girls
My appeal to parents and guardians, especially those raising girls, is this:
- Keep a close eye on your children. Never assume they are safe in someone else’s home — whether it’s a neighbor’s or a friend’s.
- Often, the abuser is not a stranger, but someone familiar. When abuse happens, your desire for justice may be compromised by your loyalty to the abuser.
- Support your daughters no matter the challenges they face. The barriers to girls’ education are many. Just when she escapes one, another might appear. Had my father given up on me, my story would have ended in silence — not in strength.
- It takes extraordinary courage to return to school after dropping out — but it is not impossible.
“It is never too late for anyone to study. We may not be able to empower every woman, but every empowered woman can empower another.”
💬 Inspired by this story?
Share it with someone who needs a reminder that it’s never too late to rise.
45 Comments
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