‘Vulnerable’ girls,education and non-governmental organisation sponsorship programmes in Kampala

Abstract

Many non-governmental organisations exclusively sponsor education of ‘vulnerable’ girls who are seen as poor, oppressed and sexually abused. Based on fieldwork conducted in Kampala, Uganda, in 2012, we explore the views of sponsored girls, non-governmental organisation staff and educators on ‘vulnerability’ and scholarship programmes. Educators and non-governmental organisation staff agreed the sponsored girls were at risk of having relationships with ‘sugar daddies’ and becoming pregnant. Although the girls acknowledged their lives had been tough, they did not see themselves as ‘vulnerable’. While western representations of Third World women identified by Mohanty mostly apply for ‘vulnerable’ girls, the sponsorship programmes might change the girls’ self-image.