“Empowering Youth, Protecting Nature, Preserving Culture”
Justus Muhwezi
Growing up in Kabale District, southwestern Uganda, Kigezi region. I experienced the harsh reality of generational poverty. I walked 10 kilometers to school on an empty stomach. I watched my siblings and friends drop out, many ending up in early marriages, addiction, and child labor. Those experiences gave me more than scars, they gave me purpose.
After struggling to find employment, I worked in Rwanda and Burundi, where I was inspired by community-driven solutions. I launched my first initiative in 2018, giving piglets to families. It showed me what was possible when people are empowered, but it also taught me how fragile hope is without sustainable systems.
That realization led me to kanthari’s leadership program in India, where I transformed my personal story into a social vision. Out of this came Jacana, a movement that equips school dropouts with skills, confidence, and resilience to rewrite their own futures.
Jacana is a unique colorful bird that walks on water lilies, symbolizing resilience and adaptability. This is exactly what I want for the youth in my community: to become “water walkers,” who overcome challenges and thrive despite obstacles.
Because I am not leading from theory, I am leading from lived experience. I carry the stories of forgotten youth in my heart, and I refuse to accept that poverty must define their destiny. With Jacana, and with your partnership, we can create a generation that is no longer trapped by circumstances but empowered to thrive.
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My passion for skills made me pursue Food and Nutrition at my secondary level, which ignited my love for hands-on learning. After when I joined college, I advanced into Hotel Management and Catering, a field I embraced with energy and passion. To strengthen my vision, I studied Accounts, blending financial literacy with hospitality. Today, I find fulfillment in empowering school dropouts and women especially teen mothers with practical skills, ensuring they can build sustainable livelihoods and transform their futures with dignity and confidence.