HA! Hosts Child Protection Training for Staff & Community

Three out of every four children in Uganda experience violence during childhood. Among those children, 57% of girls and 54% of boys experience sexual violence before the age of 16. In a country where over 50% of children have experienced violence, Hope Alive! seeks to work with its staff, caregivers, mentors and local leaders to end the wickedness that is eating up the majority of the young people in Uganda. We at Hope Alive! believe that every child deserves a right to grow up in a healthy and safe environment. In April, our Koro site hosted a child protection training for mentors, staff caregivers and local community leaders. They developed a child protection policy that was signed by all who attended: Hope Alive! is committed to the prevention of child abuse and the wellbeing of the children, staff members, volunteers and caregivers.

The training educated and sensitized attendees to the danger signs of abuse, ranging from emotional mistreatment to sexual exploitation. Due to the fact that most Ugandan children face physical, mental, emotional and/or sexual violence from the people and institutions that are meant to protect them, we were determined to work hand in hand with the caregivers, mentors and local leaders to serve as watch-dogs in the communities where our children are living and attending school. In doing so, we hope to achieve a domestic violence free community and create an environment where our children can thrive and grow holistically because all forms of abuse come to an end.  

We stand together saying NO to child abuse, and YES to unconditional love and safety!