DREAMS Initiative restores hope for adolescents and young women in Northern Uganda

In the small northern Ugandan village of Tedam in Gulu district, a group of adolescent girls and young women sing, dance, and ululate with joy! They are members of the Tedam DREAMS Group that was selected to host U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac during her recent visit to Gulu.

Most of the girls in the group dropped out of school. Some are married, some are single mothers, and some are pregnant. Despite the challenges in their lives, they are determined to overcome the barriers of social isolation, economic insecurity, gender-based violence, forced marriage, and HIV infection. They are empowered and their lives are thriving.

DREAMS, which stands for the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe initiative and is supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), aims to reduce HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women by empowering them with life skills to take control of their lives regardless of their circumstances.

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