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 Child Protection Teams

A low-cost, community-owned model that transforms children’s safety and wellbeing

For over a decade, Child Protection Teams, set up, trained and supported by Children on the Edge, have been working with communities in Uganda, where children are at risk of abuse, trafficking, neglect and exploitation. 

Formed with around 10 local volunteers each, Child Protection Team members are elected by their communities who best understand the problems that need to be tackled in their area. 

They receive support, basic resources and training from Children on the Edge, along with training from other local services, like police, social workers and counsellors, who they network with on behalf of their communities. 

They then deliver community workshops, link local people with service providers, provide small business loans to improve financial resilience, and become the ‘go-to’ people in the community for child protection. They serve as a voice for the children and are trained to uphold rights and tackle abuse and neglect. 

Originating in one Jinja community in 2012, Child Protection Teams saw such success they were replicated to five more local areas and then further afield to the northern district of Karamoja by 2022. 

The model has consistently transformed communities by creating safer environments for children. Teams achieve this by strengthening families and local relationships, creating access to education, improving sanitation, increasing household income and reducing crime, including the horrendous practice of child sacrifice.

Child Protection Teams are effective and sustainable because people are trained and resourced to make the changes they want to see in ​their own communities.

Meet Joyce

Joyce is from a slum community outside Jinja, Uganda. She has three children and her grain drink business was not making enough to look after them, pay the rent or send them to school.

After advice from her Child Protection Team she applied for a small business loan. ​​

She was supported to make a business plan, write an application and learn about saving and managing finances.

She now has a successful business cooking and selling fish, and can afford to send her children to school. 

Your donation can help parents like Joyce grow a sustainable income to provide for their children

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