Rachel Peace Kanyi

Rachel Peace Kanyi from eastern Uganda shares her journey as a Youth Peace Ambassador inspired by the challenges in her community, including teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and youth involvement in gambling and crime. 

Motivated by these issues, she stepped into leadership and began volunteering to support teenage mothers, encouraging them to return to education or learn vocational skills, while also mentoring young men to avoid destructive behaviors. Through her efforts, she has already supported 43 girls, many of whom have returned to school or gained skills for earning a living. She emphasizes that true leadership means bringing others along, reducing inequality in the community, and creating change at the grassroots level. 

After attending a leadership training, she reflects on the importance of unlearning, personal responsibility, and standing up as an individual to drive social transformation.