Children Of Uganda

TO CONFRONT POVERTY & SOCIAL INJUSTICE IN UGANDA THROUGH THE EDUCATION & EMPOWERMENT OF ITS MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. TO REALIZE A FUTURE FOR UGANDA WHERE ALL HIV/AIDS ORPHANS AND OTHER VULNERABLE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION.

COU WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY BOARDING SCHOOLS IN UGANDA TO EDUCATE, FEED, AND CARE FOR STUDENTS AT THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL. MOREOVER, THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR SPONSORS, STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED IN VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, AND OTHER TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT GRADUATES OF OUR PROGRAM ARE NOW WORKING IN THE FIELDS OF ENGINEERING, MEDICINE, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AS WELL AS TRADES SUCH AS MECHANICS AND CARPENTRY.

OUR EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM FASTRACK ENSURES THAT SPONSORED STUDENTS AND THEIR GUARDIANS RISE TOGETHER - BECOMING SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SELF- SUFFICIENT, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTING TO POSITIVE AND LASTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHAINS OF POVERTY AND CYCLE OF DEPENDENCY CAN AND WILL BE BROKEN BY CREATING PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT RESULT IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRESS. FASTRACK PARTNERSHIPS PROVIDE HOLISTIC CARE AND INVESTMENTS FOR AN ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT INCLUDING INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY (IGA) TRAINING AND INPUTS, LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT, COUNSELING AND MEDICAL CARE AS NEEDED. IGA PROJECTS WE'VE INVESTED IN INCLUDE TAILORING, CROP FARMING, COFFEE TRADE, CHARCOAL STALL, PIGGERIES, POULTRY KEEPING, VEGETABLE STAND, BEAUTY SALON, RETAIL SHOP, MAT WEAVING AND MORE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO SEE FAMILIES ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES LONG-TERM AND WELL BEYOND COU'S SUPPORT.

TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES, COUNSELING AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALIVE MEDICAL SERVICES (AMS), GENERAL MEDICAL CHECK- UPS WERE PERFORMED FOR STUDENTS FROM THE KAMPALA/MUKONO OPERATIONAL AREAS. THE IMPACT ON THE CHILDREN WAS THAT THEY REMAIN STRONG AND HEALTHY AND THUS ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR STUDIES AND PERFORM AT THEIR BEST. WE ALSO PROVIDED LIFE-SAVING MOSQUITO NETS, DIGNITY KITS FOR THE STUDENTS AND ACCESS TO CARE FOR GIRLS IN OUR PROGRAM WHO HAD UNWANTED PREGNANCIES. DURING THE COVID PERIOD - UGANDA SAW A 30% INCREASE IN TEENAGE PREGNANCY.

TO DEVELOP CONSISTENT ADVOCACY AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS THAT RAISE COMMITMENT TO THE WELFARE OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN. WHEN COVID 19 SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY IN MARCH 2020 - WE HAD INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS ALREADY IN MOTION FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. THIS ENABLED OUR GUARDIANS WHO PARTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO EARN A LIVING IN MOST CASES AND PERFECT THEIR SKILLS THROUGH TRAINING. OUR VISIBILITY INCREASED AS WE WERE ABLE TO EMPOWER FAMILIES DURING A TIME WHEN MANY UGANDAN NGO'S WERE PAUSING SERVICES OR CLOSING DOWN ALL TOGETHER. OUR TEAM WORKED WITHIN TRAVEL AND CURFEW RESTRICTIONS TO ENSURE THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM CONTINUED TO GROW AND IMPACT THE LIVES OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN.