Shining a Light on Education and Empowerment in Rural Uganda

Access to light and menstrual health products is often overlooked and taken for granted, yet these seemingly basic needs can be life-changing.  For the girls and young women in Uganda’s rural Mityana District, they’re transformative. Growing Up Uganda, a community organization dedicated to improving the lives of girls and young women, recently teamed up with Unite to Light to make a profound impact on these communities.

The Challenge
​In Uganda, many rural areas lack access to electricity, leaving families reliant on kerosene lamps. These lamps not only pose health risks but also limit opportunities for education and economic activity after sunset. Girls, in particular, face additional barriers: without proper menstrual hygiene products, many are forced to miss school, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.

A Collaborative Solution
​Earlier this year, Growing Up Uganda submitted a grant application to Unite to Light, a U.S.-based nonprofit committed to providing solar lights to underserved communities. The request was simple yet ambitious: 100 solar-powered Luke Lights to distribute to students and young women in Mityana District. These lights would allow girls to study after dark and women to extend their work hours safely.

Unite to Light answered the call, supplying solar lamps with transport support from faculty friends from​Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Growing Up Uganda added their own vital contribution by integrating menstrual health education into the project and distributing Imperial Washable Pads alongside the lights.

Impact on the Ground
The lights and pads were distributed across five rural schools, with teachers and community leaders helping identify students and families most in need. These tools have already begun changing lives. For students, the solar lights mean more study time, improved academic performance, and a renewed motivation to stay in school. For women, the lights offer safer evenings and opportunities to enhance their income. The washable pads, paired with menstrual health education sessions, have given girls newfound confidence to attend school regularly, even during their periods.

A Brighter Future
This project has empowered rural Ugandan communities in a tangible way. With access to clean energy and essential health resources, girls and women are stepping into a brighter, safer, and more hopeful future. Growing Up Uganda’s efforts show how partnerships and simple tools can ignite lasting change.
Together with organizations like Unite to Light, they’re proving that a light in the darkness can be more than illumination—it can be a beacon of opportunity.
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For more updates on Growing Up Uganda’s initiatives, visit their Facebook page.