Project Activities

In March 2026, GITA-Africa partnered with Tripod Academy to organize a Content Creation Masterclass, themed "Girls In Creative". Being in the International women's month, it aimed at equipping girls and young women with practical skills in digital storytelling and content development. The session exposed participants to the theory and hands-on fundamentals of creating engaging and impactful content while exploring how storytelling can be leveraged to promote destinations, brands, and meaningful causes. Beyond the technical aspects of content creation, the masterclass encouraged participants to embrace their creativity, build confidence in sharing their perspectives, and understand the growing role of digital platforms within the tourism industry. The training marked one of GITA-Africa's earliest steps towards building the capacity of girls through practical, industry-relevant learning experiences.

The entrepreneurship training successfully took place at Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board at Lubiri Ring Road, bringing together young, ambitious ladies ready to turn their ideas into viable businesses. The session, led by Madam Aisha of Ewaffe Cultural Village, focused on building businesses with intention, clarity, and long-term sustainability. Madam Aisha guided participants through the foundational principles of entrepreneurship. Starting with defining one's "why", identifying the desired legacy, and understanding that passion alone is not enough without strategy. Participants were challenged to clearly define their target audience, create real value, and develop unique offerings that clients cannot easily replace. Emphasis was placed on consistency, understanding client behavior, and building businesses that solve real needs while remaining adaptable across seasons. She further highlighted the importance of positioning. How a product or service makes clients feel, how it is perceived, and the power of creating irresistible value through well-crafted offers. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to actively engage their networks, maintain daily outreach to potential clients, and stay focused on long-term growth beyond short-term survival. Mr. Lugya from Miss Tourism Uganda complemented this by encouraging participants to think beyond conventional business approaches. He emphasized tapping into unique perspectives, especially within tourism. Such as culture, lifestyle, history, and indigenous knowledge, to create distinctive and marketable experiences. He also stressed the importance of storytelling, understanding one's audience deeply, and identifying new niches that set businesses apart. Participants actively engaged in the session, sharing practical action plans that reflected immediate application of the knowledge gained. A clear indication of the training's impact. As we continue to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation, this marks just the beginning. More sessions are on the way as we build a community of empowered, purpose-driven entrepreneurs ready to create lasting impact.

Building on the relationships and regional partnerships established through GITA-Africa's engagements across Africa, the organization launched the Digital Tourism Masterclass to prepare the youth for the future of tourism. The six-week programme sought to broaden participants' understanding of tourism from a global perspective while equipping them with practical digital skills needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected and technology-driven industry. It ran from 20th June to 25th July 2026, every Saturday from 7am-9am EAT. About 200 participants from countries Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana showed up all through, consistently. To be continued with Intermediate, and Advanced cohorts, the programme combines theoretical learning with practical application. Participants undertake assessments at the end of each cohort and receive certificates of attendance upon completion. The programme is facilitated and organised by Madam Florah Sesera, Founder of MAEYA in South Africa, in collaboration with Irene Allen Namisango of Uncovered Travel Initiative, alongside other guest facilitators who contribute their expertise throughout the learning journey.

We were represented by our Founder and our Head of International Relations at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), Entebbe. We were invited to engage the incoming 2026-2027 queens on navigating the tourism sector, personal development and making meaningful use of the platforms that come with their titles. The engagement covered self-belief, character, education, skills development, professionalism, visibility, creativity and innovation. The girls were encouraged to show up, develop their expertise, transform ideas into action and position themselves intentionally within Uganda's growing tourism industry. The session also explored the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in tourism and culture, in line with this year's theme, as well as the importance of using social media to build visibility, communicate Uganda's tourism story and create professional opportunities. GITA-Africa also shared opportunities available through the association, particularly those centred on skills development, networking, mentorship and participation in the tourism sector.

As part of our collective commitment towards promoting regional tourism development, Girls in Tourism Association - Africa (GITA-Africa) in partnership with Utalii Hub Tanzania organised a Tourism Academy aimed at bringing together young tourism enthusiasts, professionals, and industry stakeholders across Africa on 5th September. Participants were from Uganda, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Sudan, Nigeria, Malawi, Botswana, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. This engagement followed the growing collaboration between youth-led tourism organizations across the region, with a shared goal of creating platforms for knowledge exchange, skills development, destination promotion, and youth participation in tourism growth. The webinar was also one of the activities that led and prepared us for the Zanzibar International Youth Tourism Summit which happened from 26th to 30th September in Stone Town.

Girls in Tourism Association - Africa believes that young people should not only benefit from tourism but actively contribute to shaping its future through innovation, collaboration, and leadership. One of the key highlights of GITA-Africa's participation at KILIFAIR in Arusha, Tanzania was the successful convening of the African Youth Tourism Confluence. The gathering brought together representatives from the organization, The Travel Specialists Community in Uganda, Utalii Hub Tanzania, Zanzibar Youth Tourism and International Summit, and Tourism Innovation Lab Africa from South Africa. Discussions focused on regional tourism development, destination marketing, youth participation, knowledge exchange, and how young people can collectively position themselves as drivers of tourism growth across Africa.

GITA-Africa partnered with Youngsters Love Africa Foundation in community outreach initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable learners. Through this collaboration, members contributed towards the donation of scholastic materials and sanitary pads. The initiative sought to promote dignity, improve access to basic educational necessities, and demonstrate the role tourism organizations can play in contributing to broader social development goals. By extending support beyond the tourism space, GITA-Africa continues to foster compassion, solidarity, and a culture of giving among young women.