About us
Born From Lived Experience. Built for Every Young Person.
The Founding Story
AYOHRI’s journey begins with a 19-year-old girl whose life was suddenly transformed. After she fell pregnant, lost her scholarship and dropped out of school. During that time, she faced isolation, stigma, a lack of support and access to accurate health information.
Her experience was not unique. Across Uganda, many young people especially girls face similar challenges such as unintended pregnancies, early marriage, gender-based violence, school dropout and strong social stigma. Many of them have nowhere to turn for reliable information, support and services.
Over the following years, the founder worked hard to rebuild her life. She became involved in community and non-profit work, gaining experience in youth empowerment, grassroots programs and right based advocacy. Inspired by her own journey and the shared stories of peers who had survived similar struggles, she envisioned a safe, supportive space for young people.
In 2020, AYOHRI was officially registered in Uganda as a youth led initiative rooted in dignity, equity and rights. Its mission to ensure that young people can access trusted information, supportive services and real opportunities to transform their future.
Today, AYOHRI works hand in hand with communities across Uganda. We have reached more than 10,000 young people, trained peer educators and youth champions, planted thousands of trees and supported many young mothers in regaining confidence, improving their health and rebuilding their lives.
AYOHRI is more than an organisation, it is a growing movement led by young people who are working together to create positive change for themselves and their communities.
Our Mission
To empower and equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and platforms to claim their rights, improve their health, protect the planet and build resilient livelihoods through inclusive education, advocacy and youth-led innovation.
Our Vision
A Uganda where every young person regardless of gender, identity or circumstance has the power, health and opportunity to shape their own future and drive sustainable change in their community.
| Our Values | |
|---|---|
| Young people at the centre | Young people lead every step of the way. They help design, guide and shape our work. They are not just beneficiaries of our programs, they are changemakers driving the future of their communities |
| Reaching those often left behind | We prioritize young people who are most often excluded especially adolescent mothers, rural youth, young people with disabilities and those in marginalized, hard to reach and informal communities. By reaching them first, we ensure that no young person is left behind |
| Rights not Favors | Health, education, safety and opportunity are not Favors, they are fundamental rights. We work to ensure these rights are recognized, protected and made real for every young person. |
| Community led change | Lasting change comes from within communities. We strengthen local leadership and support communities to design and lead their own solutions through building empowerment, resilience and long-term sustainability. |
| Creative and innovative approaches | We embrace creative, digital and locally rooted approaches to connect with young people in meaningful ways, expand access to information and services and deepen impact. |