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.