Global Care Uganda

The Context

Northern Uganda has experienced years of violence and instability at the hands of the rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Around 25,000 children have been abducted and forced to become child soldiers or sex slaves. Villages have been burnt down, crops and wells destroyed and over a million people forced to flee to Internally Displaced People camps. Peace talks in 2006 brought some improvements and people have started returning to their villages, but the region remains insecure. Rebuilding infrastructure, re-establishing income and food sources and re-settling traumatised children present considerable challenges.

The Project

BCT partners with Global Care Uganda, a branch of international UK-based Christian charity Global Care. Global Care Uganda has been helping children and their families return to their villages in Abeko Parish, assisting the community to rebuild houses, restore wells, build pit latrines and re-establish family and community life.

Under the guidance of a Child Support Worker, children's groups offer counselling for traumatised children, play activities and learning life skills such as personal healthcare. 6 children's groups have started cultivating vegetable gardens.

 As child labour, enforced early marriage and physical abuse are not uncommon,  a group of adults in the villages have been trained as Child Protection Volunteers. They create awareness of how and why children should be protected and facilitate a process for dealing with cases of abuse.

The Results

• Through clean water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education, children’s health and physical development is improving.
• Children are becoming less vulnerable to abuse and have a better system in place that will uphold their rights.
• An environment is being restored where children can live with greater health, security and prospects for the future.

BCT’s Involvement

• Information resources. Advice and training in project management and development.
• Financial support for: Child Support Worker and children's groups; Child Protection Volunteer activities; vegetable gardens; training in child protection and counselling.
• Already funded: materials for rebuilding houses; 250 pit latrines; 7 wells.