Uganda
Save the Children in Uganda
Emerging from the devastation of civil war in the 1970s and 1980s, Uganda has made significant steps in economic and social development, yet still contends with major challenges to improve health and education services as well as food security. In the fight against HIV/AIDS, Uganda is earning international recognition for its achievements; however, the epidemic has left an estimated 2.1 million orphaned children in its wake and remains a serious threat to the country's youth.
Save the Children implements a broad range of programs in the Nakasongola, Luwero, Nakaseke and Wakiso districts to help bring relief and hope to these poorest, underserved people.
Challenges for Children in Uganda
HIV/AIDS continues to be one of the most significant challenges for Uganda. Since the epidemic started, Uganda has lost about 1 million lives, leaving behind an estimated 2.1 million orphans — some 20 percent of the country's children and youth ages six to 17. Uganda's health indicators are among the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high prevalence of illness and temporary or permanent disability. Preventable diseases, including prenatal and maternal illnesses, malaria and diarrhea, represent 75 percent of life years lost due to premature death. Malaria, intestinal worms and micronutrient deficiencies are the major health/nutrition problems affecting primary school-age children and are responsible for high rates of school absenteeism.
Numbers at a Glance
- Infant mortality rate is 67 for every 1,000 live births;
- Average life expectancy is 52 years;
- Literacy rate is 67 percent and;
- Two in five preschool children suffer stunted growth due to malnutrition.
Our Response
Save the Children has implemented a number of programs to achieve our overall goal in Uganda: to improve the protection, health, education, food security and livelihood status of marginalized children and their families by building the capacity of communities and local authorities. At the national level, we aim to support policy and advocacy initiatives towards these objectives. Some of our programs include health, HIV/AIDS, education, food security, hunger prevention, economic opportunities and emergency response.
Health:
One of Save the Children's primary goals is to improve the nutritional status of all children under age five by increasing their food intake and adopting and supporting key health practices and services. We've established a community-based Growth Monitoring Program (GMP), where malnourished children are referred to Save the Children's supplementary feeding program to regain weight. Their caretakers are then provided with nutritional education and counseling on good practices, as well as education on prevention, control and care-seeking behaviors for malaria and diarrhea diseases, the importance of immunizations, hygiene/sanitation and appropriate breastfeeding and weaning practices.HIV/AIDS: Uganda has the highest proportion of children orphaned by AIDS worldwide. Save the Children has addressed the often forgotten needs of orphans and other AIDS-affected children by establishing several non-formal, community-based schools in isolated pastoralist villages, which specialize in providing emotional support to children. We've also established numerous youth clubs and have trained peer educators so youths can get reproductive health information and services in a "youth-friendly" environment. Additionally, we provide training in livelihood strategies for orphans, youth-headed households or youth at risk of losing a parent to an AIDS-related illness. We also provide HIV-affected households with monthly food rations when needed.
Sources: CIA World Factbook, World Bank, UNDP |
Education: Through CHANCE, our community-based education project, Save the Children reaches some of the most disadvantaged children in Uganda, providing them with non-formal schools. Currently, CHANCE schools are serving over 5,000 children. CHANCE schools welcome children from poor pastoralist and fishing families who do not have access to traditional schools. The program is based on the principle that education should fit the needs of students: schools have small class sizes, use child-centered, participatory teaching methods and adapt their flexible hours and school calendars to the needs of each community. In addition, at the request of parents in CHANCE school communities, adult literacy circles have been created to empower youth and adults with literacy skills while also developing important life skills. Participants learn how to read, write and do math through lessons that have relevance to their daily lives.
Food Security/Hunger Prevention: Save the Children implements activities to improve access, production and utilization of food among vulnerable families in Nakasongola. Through this program, Key Farmer Coordinators (KFC's) mobilize groups of 15 to 30 farmers to work at demonstration sites that serve as a source for improved seeds and agricultural practices. In addition, interested KFC's will establish marketing and processing groups to focus on issues such as post-harvest crop loss and new seed varieties. Working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Save the Children has identified three KFC groups to participate in a program to develop the production, processing and marketing of cassava. Our Food for Work program enables families to receive food during the "hungry season" while rehabilitating roads.
Economic Opportunities/Livelihoods: Our Livelihood Support Group program, designed specifically for HIV/AIDS-affected families, trains participants in livelihood strategies such as veterinary skills and animal husbandry. In addition, an innovative mentorship program was launched for orphans, youth-headed households or youth at risk of losing a parent to HIV/AIDS to train them in livelihood strategies, small business management and life skills related to HIV/AIDS and reproductive health.
Emergency Response: In the northern Pader District of Uganda, which has been devastated by years of civil conflict between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Uganda People's Defense Force, Save the Children conducts emergency education, protection and clean water/sanitation programs for displaced children and women.
Plans for the Future
Save the Children is constantly seeking to improve the quality of and accessibility to key social services by involving communities, governments and other private service provider in program planning and monitoring. One of our core strategies is to empower needy communities to build their capacity to address their developmental challenges and provide better and more services to their children.
Life in Uganda
Today, there is no one ethnic group that forms the majority, and about 40 different languages are regularly in use. The official language is English and Luganda is the language most widely spoken. Uganda's climate is tropical and generally rainy, with two dry seasons. The country is slightly smaller than Oregon, made up of mainly plateau with a rim of mountains. It is a fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers. Uganda is bordered by The Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan and Tanzania.
