Endemic poverty in the slums surrounding Jinja puts thousands of
children at risk of abuse, trafficking, neglect and exploitation.
Children on the Edge work with six slum communities in the suburbs of Jinja to create protective environments for their children; transforming them into safe spaces where children are protected from harm and are able to thrive.
BUDESITA attends our preschool (Early Childhood Development Centre) in Loco. When she started, she was unhappy and struggled to make friends but has since made a remarkable transformation.
Her teachers tried a number of things to help her, including plenty of one-to-one teaching, but despite some progress in her school work, she was still isolated and lonely. A turning point came during Sports Day, when her classmates were encouraged to cheer her on. This sparked a change in Budesita and she is now thriving at school, with lots of friends and actively participating in activities. |
"TO US, THIS IS A BIG ACHIEVEMENT, BECAUSE TRANSFORMING HER FROM BEING SO RESERVED AND ISOLATED TO HER CURRENT SITUATION OF HAVING FRIENDS AND PERFORMING WELL, WASN'T EASY! WE ARE THANKFUL WE WERE ABLE TO HELP HER. SHE IS NOW A VERY PROMISING GIRL IN CLASS"
Esther - Teacher
Esther - Teacher
WORKING ON 'THE EDGE' IN JINJA, UGANDA
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WHAT WE DO TO HELP
We work closely with Children on the Edge Africa, our sister organisation, to support six slum communities around Jinja (Masese I, II & III, Loco,Wandago and Mafubira). We work with community members to help them transform their areas and make them safer for their children, creating a protective environment where children can safely live, play, learn and grow.
Six voluntary Child Protection Teams work with community members and families to keep children safe from harm and small business loans are offered to ensure families can earn enough money to send their children to school.
Two Early Childhood Development Centres in Loco and Wandago provide education and support for 150 of the the youngest children from the most vulnerable families at a vital time in their development. Three Child Rights Clubs in Loco, Masese I and Wandago empower children to change their communities for the better.
At the national level we have been lobbying for a change in the law to protect children from Child Sacrifice. The Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Bill 2020 was finally passed into law by the Ugandan President on the 14th July 2021.
Six voluntary Child Protection Teams work with community members and families to keep children safe from harm and small business loans are offered to ensure families can earn enough money to send their children to school.
Two Early Childhood Development Centres in Loco and Wandago provide education and support for 150 of the the youngest children from the most vulnerable families at a vital time in their development. Three Child Rights Clubs in Loco, Masese I and Wandago empower children to change their communities for the better.
At the national level we have been lobbying for a change in the law to protect children from Child Sacrifice. The Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Bill 2020 was finally passed into law by the Ugandan President on the 14th July 2021.
CHILD PROTECTION TEAMS
Since 2012 Child Protection Teams, set up, trained and supported by Children on the Edge, have been working successfully across slum communities in Jinja to make them safer for children.
Child Protection Teams are made up of local volunteers, men and women, elected by their communities, who understand the problems that need to be tackled. They receive training on child protection and child rights, how to deal with emerging community issues and serve as a voice for the children. They are supported to uphold children’s rights and tackle child abuse and neglect.
Their regular physical presence in the community acts as a deterrent for crimes including child trafficking and because they are trained to intervene and advise in situations where children are at risk, communities see a reduction in child abuse, child sacrifice and child labour.
Child Protection Teams are made up of local volunteers, men and women, elected by their communities, who understand the problems that need to be tackled. They receive training on child protection and child rights, how to deal with emerging community issues and serve as a voice for the children. They are supported to uphold children’s rights and tackle child abuse and neglect.
Their regular physical presence in the community acts as a deterrent for crimes including child trafficking and because they are trained to intervene and advise in situations where children are at risk, communities see a reduction in child abuse, child sacrifice and child labour.
“WE DIDN’T BELIEVE THE CHILD PROTECTION TEAM AT FIRST, WHEN THEY KEPT ON TELLING US THAT CHANGE WAS COMING, BUT THE AREA REALLY HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.”
Justine, Masese II
The Teams become ambassadors for the welfare of children and their communities look to them for support and advice. The Child Protection Teams build better relationships between communities and the police, meaning more crimes are reported and dealt with effectively.
Team members work with the community by facilitating workshops to around 4,000 people each year on a range of children's issues and social problems, to change mindsets and culture. Here, families learn how to care for their children and make their homes safer, so we see a reduction in domestic violence and abuse. Parents become more aware of the risks to their children and why it’s important to keep them safe. Workshops also focus on hygiene, health and sanitation and encourage people to change habits to keep their communities clean.
NABIRYE, aged 15 got pregnant whilst schools were closed during lockdown. Her mother contacted their local Child Protection Team, who provided vital support and connected Nabirye with vital services. After giving birth to a healthy baby boy, she and the baby's father returned to school whilst Nabirye looked after the baby.
Nabirye was thrilled to be back in class but one teacher constantly shamed her and told her she was a bad example to other children and shouldn't be in school. The Child Protection Team reported the issue and the teacher received a warning and apologised to Nabiyre. She now received regular counselling from the Team and our social workers. She told us: "I will give school my all and would like to be a medic or a social worker in the future". |
EDUCATION LOANS
Households facing the greatest challenges are resourced with sustainable, safe incomes through a small business loan scheme.
The Child Protection Teams manage the scheme, identifying those households most in need and offering a series of workshops on saving and basic business training to support recipients. Small loans of around £20 are given to recipients which are used to help set up small businesses, enabling parents to build a source of income which covers the costs of providing for their children and sending them to school.
Prospective business owners make a business plan and write an application with support from their Child Protection Team. They are given a timeframe within which to pay it back, by which time they have a thriving business, a child in school and a good knowledge of how to manage their own finances.
Repaid loans are then available to be passed on to someone else in need. With recipients paying a little interest, the loan pot can gradually grow, in order to help an increasing number of households. The repayment of the loan with a little interest also teaches business and budgeting skills, rather than dependency, and makes the fund itself sustainable.
LUKONDO JOLLY is 29 years old and lives in Masese III with two young children. He was plunged into debt after a number of failed attempts building a food stall business and struggled to support his family.
He was introduced to our loan scheme by a local Child Protection Team Member and received business training before taking a small loan. He invested in a charcoal stove and now with his new equipment and knowledge, has a thriving business. He has enough income to support his family and their relatives and is looking to grow the business further. |
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRES
To support younger children from the hardest pressed families we have built two Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in two slum communities, Loco and Wandago.
These centres provide 140 children aged 3-6 with bright and colourful classrooms and an outdoor playspace in which to learn, play and grow. The children benefit from a high quality curriculum developed within the Ugandan ECD framework; learning and developing through songs, dances, crafts and games.
The children learn in their own language and are helped to deal with routines, learn about health and hygiene, build friendships and improve their behaviour so they can transition well to primary school. Regular health checks pick up on any concerns, and nutritious snacks and porridge are provided to help combat malnutrition.
The ECD Centres focus on creating a protective environment for the children at the most vital time in their development, ensuring they have the best possible start in life and are enabled to thrive.
Read more about the importance of Early Childhood Development >>
These centres provide 140 children aged 3-6 with bright and colourful classrooms and an outdoor playspace in which to learn, play and grow. The children benefit from a high quality curriculum developed within the Ugandan ECD framework; learning and developing through songs, dances, crafts and games.
The children learn in their own language and are helped to deal with routines, learn about health and hygiene, build friendships and improve their behaviour so they can transition well to primary school. Regular health checks pick up on any concerns, and nutritious snacks and porridge are provided to help combat malnutrition.
The ECD Centres focus on creating a protective environment for the children at the most vital time in their development, ensuring they have the best possible start in life and are enabled to thrive.
Read more about the importance of Early Childhood Development >>
ELIJAH is four years old and started at our Early Childhood Development Centre in Loco in 2022. Elijah had a reputation in his community for being very disruptive and aggressive, and many parents were concerned about him enrolling.
His teachers knew that his behaviour was due to his difficult home life, so warmly welcomed him into class. Elijah started hitting classmates on his first day, so the teachers spent time with his mother and encouraged her to set a better example at home. With no change in his behaviour, Elijah's teachers persevered and tried different approaches to help Elijah behave more kindly in class. They spent lots of one on one time with him and positively encouraged him when he showed improvements. Slowly he began to change. He has now graduated to 'Middle Class' and his teachers say his behaviour is so much better and he has many friends. |
Our Early Childhood Development work in Jinja is generously supported by funds raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery, and awarded by Postcode Education Trust, who are committed to improving the quality of education through innovation.
CHILD RIGHTS CLUBS
Child Rights Clubs have been developed in Loco, Masese I, and Wandago enabling children to learn about their rights, express their views and shape their communities. The Clubs are given regular workshops on rights, responsibilities, how to work hand-in-hand with local Child Protection Teams and how to prevent instances of child labour, exploitation and abuse.
The children then use what they have learned to train their friends on staying safe. The Club members are often so well known that other children go straight to them with any problems. The children also come together to campaign for change in their communities, organise cleaning days, or advocate for other children who need support.
"I HAVE LEARNT THAT IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GO TO SCHOOL, HELP WITH GENERAL CLEANING AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES CONCERNING OUR WELL-BEING AS CHILDREN. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE 'NEW ME' BECAUSE THROUGH THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHILD RIGHTS CLUB I HAVE HELPED CHILDREN KNOW THEIR RIGHTS"
Nassali - Child Rights Club member
Nassali - Child Rights Club member
CAMPAIGN TO END CHILD SACRIFICE
Child sacrifice is startlingly common in Uganda, with more abductions, mutilations and killings than the authorities acknowledge. After our pilot scheme eradicated child sacrifice incidents in one slum area, all six Child Protection Teams in Uganda are now employing the same prevention methods and we are currently working to expand the model to other areas of Uganda.
On a national level, after lobbying for five years, The Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Bill was finally passed into law by the Ugandan President on the 14th July 2021. Communities now have the backing of the law to protect their children.
Watch the highlights from our panel event, where we tell the inside story of the fight to change the law in Uganda.
YOU MIGHT LIKE
READ ABOUT OUR FIVE STORYTELLERS IN UGANDA AND HOW THEY ARE MAKING CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
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READ WHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT IS SO IMPORTANT
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READ AN UPDATE FROM OUR TWO ECD CENTRES IN LOCO & WANDAGO
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