yOGA FOR PROTECTION
Feed- back, 04/03/2025 Rhino camp
Who We Are: Yoga for Protection Program
UNCC’s Yoga for Protection Program is a safe, supportive, and empowering space for refugee girls across Rhino Camp, Eden, Arua, Terego District, and Kampala. This unique program uses yoga, mindfulness, and group dialogue to help girls share their experiences, express their emotions, and learn how to recognize and respond to red flags of sexual exploitation and abuse.
This movement was inspired by a breaking‑news investigation from Radio Pacis, which exposed the rising risks faced by girls in vulnerable communities. In response, UNCC launched this initiative to prevent harm before it occurs—by strengthening girls’ awareness, confidence, dignity, and self‑protection.
Our Purpose
The Yoga for Protection Program is designed to safeguard girls who face high risks, including:
• Girls who have dropped out of school
• Girls whose parents cannot advise or support them
• Girls who have run away from home
• Girls living in unstable or high‑risk environments
• Girls who carry shame or trauma with no safe place to talk
UNCC believes every girl deserves a voice, dignity, safety, and a future filled with opportunity.
How the Program Works
• A safe, female‑only yoga session held every two weeks
• Two-hour sessions led by trained UNCC senior women, volunteers, and youth mentors
• Gentle yoga and breathing exercises to help girls relax and feel secure
• Group sharing circles where girls speak openly about challenges, fears, and personal experiences
• Training on recognizing signs of sexual exploitation and abuse
• Guidance on where to seek help, including trusted adults and UNCC staff
• Confidence-building messages that help girls understand their value and potential
A key message of the program is honesty and openness. Girls are encouraged to speak the truth about any influence, pressure, or suspicious behavior they experience. Silence places them at risk—truth protects them.
What Girls Learn
UNCC centers the following values throughout the program:
• Education comes first—your long-term future matters
• Hard work leads to opportunity, independence, and dignity
• Respecting senior women and mentors builds strong community support
• Do not fear your current situation; it is too early in life to give up
• Your dreams are long‑term and worth fighting for
• Share personal challenges with a trusted person rather than carrying them alone
• Speak up early when you feel unsafe—UNCC is here to listen and protect
These teachings help girls build resilience, self-worth, and the courage to stand against exploitation.
What Girls Receive
To support dignity and wellbeing, every participant receives:
• Free sanitary pads
• Soap and hygiene items
• Body lotion
• Sugar and essential comfort supplies
These items help girls attend confidently and maintain personal care with dignity.
Why It Matters
Refugee girls often face isolation, limited guidance, and heightened exposure to exploitation. Many do not have trusted adults to share their struggles with. The Yoga for Protection Program creates a healing community led by UNCC senior women and dedicated volunteers, ensuring that every girl is protected, supported, and heard.
Through yoga and open dialogue, girls learn:
• Self-awareness
• Boundaries and body protection
• Stress reduction
• Warning signs of danger
• How to seek help early
• How to support peers
This program is both prevention and empowerment—creating strength before harm can occur.
Our Commitment
UNCC is deeply committed to ending all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse.
We stand with every girl, guiding her toward safety, confidence, education, and a hopeful future.
Partner With Us
The Yoga for Protection Program is ready for partnership and expansion.
Your support can help us:
• Reach more refugee settlements
• Train more senior women and youth mentors
• Provide additional hygiene kits
• Strengthen community protection systems
Together, we can protect girls, empower futures, and prevent exploitation before it begins.
Terms and Conditions for the UNCC Yoga for Protection Program, written to meet yoga‑practice rules, protection standards, Uganda law, and UNCC guidelines 2026.
UNCC Yoga for Protection Program
Terms and Conditions
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Purpose of the Program
The UNCC Yoga for Protection Program provides a safe, supportive space where girls can practice yoga, build confidence, share personal challenges, and learn how to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse.
The program operates in line with the Laws of Uganda, the Refugees Act (2006), the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (2009), and UNHCR Child Protection and PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) guidelines. -
Participation Eligibility
• The program is open only to girls and young women in the participating communities.
• Participation is voluntary, and girls may withdraw at any time.
• Parents or guardians may be asked to give consent where required. -
Respectful and Safe Environment
All girls must help create a safe and respectful yoga environment. Participants must:
• Respect themselves and others
• Respect UNCC staff, senior women, and volunteers
• Use clean language and maintain positive behavior
• Follow all instructions from yoga trainers and mentors
• Dress modestly and appropriately for yoga sessions -
Sharing Personal Experiences
The yoga sharing circle is a safe space, but with clear limits for protection:
• Each girl may share only her own personal story
• No participant may mention names or identify any person involved
• No participant may accuse another participant during the session
• No sharing of private information about someone who is not present
• All shared stories must be truthful
• Sharing is optional—no girl is forced to speak
These rules help protect girls’ dignity, privacy, and emotional wellbeing.
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Confidentiality
• Personal stories shared during yoga sessions must remain confidential
• Participants must not repeat or spread another girl’s story outside the program
• UNCC staff may only share information with authorities if required by law, or if a girl is at risk of harm
• Confidentiality follows Uganda child protection laws and UNHCR safe‑reporting standards -
Safety and Protection
UNCC is committed to preventing all forms of abuse.
Participants must:
• Report any suspicion of exploitation, pressure, or influence to UNCC staff
• Avoid harmful behavior toward themselves or others
• Never engage in violence, bullying, or discrimination
UNCC will take immediate action if a girl is at risk, following Uganda child protection procedures and UNHCR safeguarding guidelines.
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Limitations of the Program
• Yoga offers emotional support but is not a medical treatment
• Participants must not attempt advanced yoga poses without guidance
• UNCC is not responsible for injuries that occur when instructions are ignored
• Sessions are female‑only for safety and dignity -
Community Benefit and Positive Behavior
Participants agree to use the lessons from yoga to:
• Promote peace, unity, and respect in their communities
• Encourage other girls to stay strong, avoid exploitation, and seek help
• Practice discipline, hard work, and focus
• Build a positive future through education, skills, and confidence
• Uphold cultural values and respect for senior women -
Attendance
• Sessions are held every two weeks on Sunday
• Girls must arrive on time and stay for the full two hours
• Regular participation increases access to program benefits -
Distribution of Items
UNCC provides sanitary pads, soap, lotion, sugar, and other dignity items.
Conditions:
• Items are given only to attendees
• They must not be resold, misused, or exchanged
• They are intended to support hygiene, dignity, and participation -
Prohibited Actions
The following actions are strictly forbidden under Uganda law and UNHCR policy:
• Sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment
• Asking for gifts, money, or favors in exchange for participation
• Sharing false claims or harmful rumors
• Recording or photographing yoga sessions without permission
• Bringing drugs, alcohol, or harmful substances to the session -
Acceptance of Terms
By attending the UNCC Yoga for Protection Program, each participant agrees to follow these terms and conditions.
Failure to follow the rules may result in removal from the program for the safety of others.