FROM JUNIOR LEADER TO COMMUNITY HEALER: DAPHINE’S STORY

At a primary school in Kampala, Uganda, Nurse Daphine speaks gently with a group of teenage girls about their health concerns. Her voice carries the confidence of someone who has spent years helping others find their voice. As she leads a health education session, the same leadership skills she started to develop as a young girl in Right To Play programs shine through.

Twenty years ago, Daphine was a primary school student herself, struggling to find her place in a community where girls’ education was often seen as unnecessary. Her natural inclination was to stay quiet, avoid attention, and follow others’ lead. And, like many girls in her community, she faced the prospect of early marriage rather than schooling.

“I was not confident. I was very shy. I could not speak to people. And I was unmotivated to go to school because there was nothing much interesting in school,” Daphine says.

Everything changed when she joined Right To Play programs. Through the power of play-based learning, Daphine discovered a confidence that not only transformed her life but enabled her to become a powerful advocate for girls’ health and education in her community. Her journey from a timid student to a respected healthcare professional exemplifies the lasting impact of early empowerment.

COMMITTED TO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Today, Daphine works as a comprehensive nurse in Kampala, combining both nursing and midwifery skills in her practice. Her choice to pursue one of the most challenging nursing specialties speaks to her determination to make the greatest possible impact on her community’s health. “I chose comprehensive nursing because I wanted to be able to help people in every way possible,” she explains. “Some people said it would be too difficult, but I knew I could do it.”

The confidence and leadership skills Daphine developed through Right To Play have become essential tools in her medical practice. Whether she’s conducting health education sessions or providing one-on-one patient care, she draws on the same abilities to connect with and empower others that she first learned through play-based activities.

Her passion for health education stems from her own experiences seeing how lack of information can impact young lives. “In some areas, girls do not go to school during their menstrual periods because they lack what to use and even have no ideas about menstruation. They see it as something strange, as a disease, yet it is manageable,” she explains.

“Right To Play molded me into the person I am today. Because of them, I know my worth and I am empowered to make a difference.”

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

Daphine’s transformation began at age four when she first joined Right To Play programs. Though initially quiet and reserved, she found herself drawn to the inclusive energy of the games and activities.

Like many girls in her community, Daphine faced significant barriers. “Girls were not taken to school. Parents used to consider that a waste of money because they were girls,” she explains. Even when girls did attend school, they were often ignored by teachers and denied equal opportunities.

The games and activities in Right To Play programs helped change this dynamic. Through health-focused games like ‘Blind Gorilla,’ Daphine learned to lead discussions about complex issues like HIV/AIDS stigma. These experiences built her confidence and taught her that everyone in the community is equal, regardless of gender. The impact was profound – she became more engaged in school, developed critical thinking skills, and discovered her passion for health education. By the time she was 10, she’d become a Junior Leader, helping to guide other children through the same activities that had once helped her find her voice.

A defining moment came in 2012 when Right To Play’s founder, Johann Olav Koss, visited Uganda. “I was the Right To Play rising star in Uganda,” Daphine recalls with pride. “Out of all the groups, Johann chose to join mine. He even visited my home and met my family. I remember him asking me what I wanted to be in the future. Without hesitation, I proudly replied, ‘President of Uganda.’”

PLAYING IT FORWARD

Today, Daphine is a passionate advocate who speaks with conviction about children’s rights and gender equality. She believes that she and other health professionals should challenge harmful practices like child marriage to ensuring girls have access to proper menstrual health resources. Her advocacy is informed by both her medical training and her lived experience.

Looking ahead, she continues to dream big – she still holds onto her childhood ambition of becoming Uganda’s president, channeling the same determination that helped her succeed in her nursing career despite those who doubted her ability to complete the challenging comprehensive program.

“We should make schools and communities a safe place for all children,” she says. “We need to prevent child marriages, promote menstrual hygiene in schools, and ensure there is quality education that includes play-based learning.”

Her message to young girls is clear and powerful: “Believe in yourself because you can become whatever you want to become. If you want to be a nurse, you can become one. If you want to be a doctor, you can make it, regardless of your gender. We are all capable of doing everything.”

“Without confidence, you cannot speak about your problems, you cannot speak your mind, you cannot make decisions. But you should always believe in yourself and be confident in this life.