YOUTHS, LOCAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ADVISED TO BE SENSITIVE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ISSUES

Reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect can be addressed through the promotion of positive parenting and effective child management practices that would enhance the well-being and self-esteem of parents and children. This is possible through massive sensitization and engagement of community members, youths, households, opinion leaders, elders in the community as well as local leaders in constructive discussions on prevention of violence against children and adolescents. This is being achieved through working with both youth and women groups from the two sub counties of operation as change agents towards ending violence against children and adolescents as they organize massive sensitization events and engaging in initiatives that are geared towards prevention of violence against children and adolescents.

According to the reports obtained from the CDO’s and CFPU’s department on the extend of violence against children and adolescents in the respective sub counties of operation during our visit, it was reported that 16 cases of violence against children were reported in Kisinga sub county while in Karusandara were 21 for the months of May and June and the most reported cases were child neglect, child labor, domestic violence, and assault. Key issues around these figures that needs to be addressed according to the CDO and CFPU included; household poverty, domestic violence, building careers of the adolescents and youths, understanding children’s rights and the adolescents/youth responsibilities towards the prevention of violence against children and adolescents, parent child communication, as well as anger management, law levels of education among the youths which influence the youth’s behaviors and practices towards the prevention of violence against children and adolescents.

In regard to the above issues, on 31^st August and 01^st September 2017 Good Hope Foundation facilitated one youth CBO and one women group in two sub counties of operation to organize two sensitization meetings in the two sub counties.  

Rural Youth Initiative (RYID) a youth CBO operating in Kisinga was facilitated to organize a youth dialogue on education, career guidance and prevention of violence against children and adolescents at Kiburara primary school where over 60 (23 f and 37m) youths attended and among other people who attended included; Hamasi Assumani the chief administration officer (CAO) Kamwenge district who was the chief guest, Sibenda Godfrey the project director Rwensororo CDC from the children’s ministry, Issac Bwalhuma from Uganda Christian Lawyers fraternity, Masereka Zekayo from Kagando school of nursing, as well as councilors and other local leaders. The dialogue was mainly on empowering the youths with knowledge and skills on prevention of violence against children and adolescents and how they can excel in their lives regardless of several challenges they pass through at school, households and in the communities. It was to increase the youth’s sensitivity on issues of violence against children and adolescents since it’s the main cause to law attainment of education among the youth and children. Key topics handled included; career guidance, the concept of violence against children and adolescents and roles and responsibilities of the youths and adolescents towards prevention of violence against children and adolescents.

 Youth being trained on the concept of preventing violence against children and adolescent

While Kanamba women group a CBO located in Karusandara Sub County organized music dance and drama at Kabaka trading center karusandara Sub County which was intended to sensitize the community members on prevention of violence against children and adolescents. Over 134 (72f and 62m) people attended the event. Among other people who attended included; the district women councilor, parish councilors, religious leaders, assistant CDO as well as other local leaders. The group sensitized the community on how children are violated, the effects of violence against children and what the community, households, religious leaders, teachers, children, and local leaders are supposed to do in order to end violence against children and adolescents in the homes, communities and at school.

Suggestions

·     Families and community members should be sensitized on the use of family planning practices to reduce family burden

·         The youth and adolescents were called upon to have respect to themselves, to their parents, elders and to their young sisters and brothers in order for them not to be violated and not to cause violation to the youth ones.

·         The youths were also called upon to work closely with their parents in bringing about development in their homes.

·         They were also advised to be God fearing youths and adolescents as this will protect them from engaging in acts that increase violence against them and against the young ones.   

·         Creating opportunities for parents to talk with other parents

·         Efforts should be directed towards building peace and love in the families

·         Involving bodaboda riders in the prevention of violence

·         Religious leaders, teachers, paralegals  and the elders to be involved in mobilizing community members towards preventing violence against children and adolescents especially instilling good parenting skills as well as popularizing the bi-laws of the sub county.

RYID  members pose for  a  photo after  ameeting with the CAO Kamwenge,arole model and a son of the area

 

Adolescents pose for a photo with the CAO after a sharing meeting on how to do with career development

GOOD HOPE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE ROOFING OF CLASS ROOM BLOCK AND CONSTRUCTION OF A WASH ROOM

On 4^th and 5^th August 2017 good hope organized two (2) school management meetings at Kenyange primary school and Kisinga Vocation secondary school which aimed at share and discuss key issues that contribute to violence against children and adolescents in the respective schools and then to come up with initiatives that can address the identified issues to reduce children’s vulnerability to violence in the respective schools. The meetings involved members of parents-teachers association (PTA) and the school management committee members (SMC) of the sub county leadership from the two sub counties of Kisinga and Karusandara who included the CDOs, councilors, chiefs, and the secretary for production. 30 (10f and 20m) members attended the meeting.

Among the key issues identified and discussed during the meeting included; the lack of learning space for the pupils at Kenyange Muslim where the class room block was taken off by the strong winds that hit the sub county in 2016 and up to now the school has been un able to roof again the block. Currently pupils use the tapeline that was provided by save the children as the class room. This has made the learning environment for children unfavorable especially during the hot and rain season thereby affecting the learning capacity of children. 

Aclass room block at Kenyange muslim that was blown off by strong wind

 Members at Kenyange Muslim also raised another issue on limited engagement of children in co-curriculum activities such as sports, MDD which was attributed to the abscess of playground at the school, sports items such as balls, MDD kits such as drums to mention. This has always violated the children’s right to play and also increasing the chances of children not to stay and complete school.

Members also commended on the decreasing school enrolment which members attributed to un seriousness among the teachers, religion where the school has been treated to be only for the Muslims, and then the weak management.

At Kisinga vocation secondary school, members showed concern on the increasing behavior of alcoholism among the adolescents, students escaping in video halls at the trading center which increases the risk for them to be subjected to violence in and outside the school

Additionally member mentioned the issue of lack of suggestion box for the children which limits the platform for students to share with the administration what they pass through and their grievances for addressing by the administration.

The management also highlighted the need for the washing room for the girls at school mainly for the nonresident students where they said girls have been seen being chased from the hostels when they try to go and work on themselves during their menstruations and this has made some girls to always miss classes whenever they are on their menstruation

Key suggestions from the meetings

The management of Kenyange Muslim and the sub county leadership of Karusandara suggested that there is need to put up a playground for the children and strengthen the co-curriculum activities at school as a way motivating children to love the school, stay and complete school. It’s away also of managing psychological torture among the children.

The management also suggested organizing visits in churches to popularize the school among other religious faiths in order to mobilize for more children to join the school

The sub county leadership and the management also suggested that there is a need for an urgent work on the classroom block for the children. On this they suggested to approach the area member of parliament and the sub county for assistance.

Members Kisinga Vocation secondary school suggested that in order to address the issue of students engaging themselves in alcoholism and video halls, there is to procure a school video screen for the students to be used by the students during a specified day and time. This will help in occupying the student’s time thereby reducing the chances of them from engaging in risky behaviors and being violated. However they added that it should be used to watch educative items.

Members also suggested that there is a need to put up a suggestion box for the students to share their challenges and grievances the administration for quick response.

Key resolution

The supported PTA/SMC school initiatives included;

The management at Kenyange Muslim primary school agreed that the class room block should be roofed as soon as possible where members said by the end of the holiday it should have been roofed. Good Hope Foundation supported this management initiative both financially and in-kind

At Kisinga Vocation secondary school the PTA/SMC agreed that they will be procuring video set for the students. Good Hope Foundation also contributed financially towards this initiative.

Good Hope foundation staff with  Kenyange Muslim management committee after the management meeting to identify the school initiative

Good Hope Foundation Staff and  Kisinga Voc  Sec SMC& PTA in a meeting geared towards preventing Violence Against Children in Schools

STOP DIVIDING US”, KASESE POLITICIANS CALL ON GOVERNMENT.

A musongora artist,Master Kalenzi sensitizing local residents through Music

10^th September 2017 was a day when Bigando community in Kitswamba Sub County, Busongora North Constituency, Kasese District gathered for a sensitization campaign on Peaceful co-existence and human rights promotion. Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development in Partnership with local Artists who were led by Mr. Kahyana Jolly of Echoes Band Peace Ambassadors, and Master Kalenzi(From Basongora ethnic group), and Foot Peace ambassadors engaged people through Music dance and drama with key Peaceful co-existence messages.

From Different tribes, but one People

Averagely one thousand (approximately 550 Males and 450 Females) people attended the grass root sensitization event held at BigandoTrading Centre.

Among other participants included; Local residents of Bigando community with different ethnic group members including their leaders, Kitswamba Sub County Chairperson Mr. Magonya Chance, Kitswamba District Councilor Hon. Bukambi Jonald, Rugendabara Parish Councilor Hon. Nswere Mary, Mr. Bwambale Ramathan Mugisa, the Political assistant to the Busongora North Member of Parliament, FPAs of Kitswamba sub county, Media person from KGR, Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu Youth Council Speaker, Basongora Chairperson in Bigando-Ibuga Mr. Kyomya Stephen and many other local leaders.

Kitswamba Sub County Foot Peace Ambassadors sensitizing through Drama

 

The sensitization event aimed at;

·         Creating massive awareness about Peace building, conflict management and Human rights to local people of Kitswamba sub county and mainly Bigando area.

·         Mobilizing at least 200 local people as peace and human rights ambassadors in Kitswamba Sub County.

 

Kitswamba Sub County Chairperson, Mr. Magonya Chance making his remarks

Several issues were raised by different Speakers and among others included;

·         Search for easy early riches has deprived most Kasese and Rwenzori residents of human morals. Money has been used by Conflict Merchants in Rwenzori to manipulate people,

·         “Strategists are working tirelessly to divide ethnic groups in Kasese which have for long been living peacefully” said by Cattle keepers’ chairperson in Bigando Mr. Julius,

·         Ignorance among local people is aiding conflict escalation in Kasese and Rwenzori. Most people are still illiterate to a level of believing anything proposed by their leaders,

·         Competition for land whereby some people un fairly want to own big chunks of land on expenses of others has led to land conflicts,

·           Elders in Kasese who wasted their youthful time by not working for their future are currently being used by Conflicts to escalate conflicts in Kasese and Rwenzori region at large. These have misled the youths,

• “Ignorance of the law among local people is contributing to human rights violation” said by Sub County Chairperson,
• “Taking sides by Police and army in Kasese issues has caused more harm than good. Local communities have progressively lost confidence in Ugandan National forces especially Police which is dangerous for a Peaceful society”, said by District Councilor,
• Community members need to learn to dialogue in solving their local conflicts,
• Leaders also seriously criticized the way Electoral commission was planning to conduct the Local Council one elections. Voting by lining up to them is a human rights violation because it will promote hatred among people.

District Councilor, Hon Jonald making emphasis on Peaceful Co-Existence

The key recommendations below were suggested by Participants for sustainable Peace and human rights promotion in Bigando and Kasese at large;

• Facilitating more local engagement actions to build a strong grass root foundation against Conflict Merchants. Dialogue platforms need to be created for local citizens to always meet and analyze issues of development at their local levels.
• Respecting the independence of the different arms of Government is pertinent for human rights promotion and conflicts management. The courts of law for example made rulings about some Kasese land under conflicts but the rulings were not respected, allegedly by well connected people to the Executive arm,
• “Campaign for Peace seems to be championed by Bakonzo ethnic group members. There is need to uplift more people from other local ethnic groups to also champion the campaign, so that the campaign is taken as Kasese issue, not Bakonzo issue”, said by one of the Participants,
• Youth were asked to defy wrong advises that are anti-Peace and encouraged to work for their stable future.

The LCV Chairperson Representative, Hon.Bukambi Jonald closed the day’s event, calling on every one to keep law and order and remain vigilant on haters of Peace in Kasese and Rwenzori region.

Leaders summing up the event with a dance, led by LCIII Chairperson

YOUTHS CONVERGE FOR PEACE AND TOURISM PROMOTION

Teams praying for a Peaceful game

5^th and 8^th September 2017 were days Lake Katwe Youth organized Sports for Peace, bringing together people of different ethnic groups, and institutions to show the world that irrespective of physical differences, all humans are one. Institutions like Police and Uganda Wildlife Authority also attended and participated in the two day’s activities at Kinyateke primary school and Kikorongo play grounds.

Teams in action

Foot ball and netball competitions were organized and among the teams included; Delta Force FC-Kahokya, Ocean boys-Kinyateke, Firebase-Kinyateke, Uganda Police FC-Katwe Kabatoro town Council,Simba FC-Kikorongo,Rwentutu new Villa FC-Kabirizi, Super Crane FC-Rwebihungu, Kathika Fc-Murambi II, Katunguru FC, and girls teams that included; Simba Netballl club-Kikorongo, Kabirizi Netball club and Ocean Netball club-Kinyateke.

By the end of the day, Katunguru FC and Simba Netball club-Kikorongo emerged the victors.

Girls teams in action

Among other participants included; Inter-religious committee of Kasese, represented by its Secretary Rev Fr. Expedito, media from KGR and Messiah radio FM, Peace actors like Lucas Buhaka, District Police Commander of Katwe ASP Baganzi J, O/C Kikorongo Police C/ASP Nansereko S, Uganda Wild life Authority community conservation Warden, represented by Owomugisha Elinah, Lake Katwe Chairperson Mr. Cyprus Baluku who represented the Busongora South Constituency MP, and many other local Politicians.

Averagely 1500(1005 Males and 495 Females) people that included teams from Banyakitara Communities in the lower parts of the Sub county like Katunguru, Kikorongo, and PWDs attended and Participated.

Disability is not inability. No.10 of Uganda Police Force team.

 

Key issues were raised by different Speakers and the following were worth noting;

Inter-religious council and UWA

·         Creating massive awareness about Peace building, conflict management and Human rights to local people especially the youths is cardinal because they are the most influenced ones, and very active,

·         Politicians are exploiting the idleness of most youth to engage them in un necessary conflicts,

·         Extremism among some youth has also landed them into problems

·         Keeping law and order is not only to Security forces but also civilians through providing necessary intelligence information,

·         Poverty is largely leading to escalating conflicts in the Sub county and Kasese at large because people find no option than being aggressive for survival,

• Early marriages and polygamy as abuse of women’s rights are still common in Lake Katwe and therefore education on the same needs to be specifically organized too,
• The relationship between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kahokya/Lake Katwe Sub County is not good. Kahokya Parish for example has registered a big number of Poachers whereby others have lost their lives living behind Women headed families and orphans.
• Some Widows of deceased poachers have also left their homes and married other men, leaving their Children as Family heads,

DPC-Katwe(in uniform), interacting with Peace Actors

Key recommendations below were suggested by different Speakers;

• Facilitating a dialogue between the leadership of Queen Elizabeth National Park and frontline communities especially Kahokya Parish community for Peaceful Co-existence,
• Facilitating more engagement actions between Police and local people to positively refresh people’s attitudes towards the force (dialogues, debates, joint community policing).
• Organizing a youth conference where youth are given platform to exhaustively discuss Peace and human Rights,
• Educating people of Lake Katwe especially those from the upper side on the alternative survival mechanisms. Poaching has to be de-campaigned and made un popular among the frontline communities.

Inter-Religious Council-Kasese Secretary giving his remarks on Peace

The day was summed by leaders thanking Good Hope Foundation for bringing the youth, Police and UWA together for a common goal of Peaceful Co-existence. This according to the LCIII Chairperson is a practical means of bringing Peace and stability in Communities.

Vice Chairperson LCIII, Lake Katwe Sub County Hon Bwambale Moses handing over the trophy to the Captain of Katunguru FC

GOOD HOPE FOUNDATION MAPS AND TRAINS THE MODEL COUPLES

Good Hope foundation in implementing a community driven approach to prevent violence against children and adolescents in kasese district using the model couple approach to work as change agents as far as parenting is concerned through influencing and changing the parenting practices among the fellow couples and families in the neighborhoods through organizing sharing and discussion visits to the neighboring families and participating in radio talk shows on parenting. Good Hope Foundation mapped and identified four (4) model couples per sub county making Eight model couples from the two sub counties of Kisinga and Karusandara all neighboring the schools we are working with within the respective sub counties.

On 4^th and 5^th May 2017, Good Hope Foundation organized a training session for the model couples in the two sub counties of kisinga and Karusandara. Eight (8) model couples were trained on parent-child communication skills, parenting styles, guidance and counseling. The training was for the purposes of strengthening model couples positive parenting practices skills at family level targeting 8 couples in 2 sub-counties in Kasese district with the main objective of equipping model couples with knowledge and skill on positive parenting practices as well equipping them with skill on public speaking and media presentation.

Key areas of training included; understanding the concept of model couple looking at the characteristics of a model couple in relation to positive parenting. A model couple a family of man and woman living as husband and wife with their children, the couple that is recognized by the community as husband and wife living under the same roof, the family that has basic household needs like- main house, detached kitchen and latrine, bathroom, dry rake, hand washing facility with soap,  garden for food security in case of rural families, a couple that knows the value of education, a couple who is mindful of children’s basic needs, as well the couple that is able to share their experiences in child up-bringing, farming and community participation including any innovations that have enabled them to bring up children using the means available at their disposal.

Other training areas included; understanding the concept of violence against children and adolescents looking at the forms, causes, effects and how it can be prevented;  understanding the concept of positive parenting mainly looking at the aspects that can help in achieving positive parenting such as behavior control, respect for Individual autonomy, modeling appropriate behaviors, positive communication skills, provision and protection looking at the roles and responsibilities of parents/guardians. The participants were also skilled in media and public speaking were we concentrated on giving model couples tips on public speaking and radio presentation looking at how they can prepare themselves for the radio talk show before, during and after the radio talk show.

Key commitments

• Model couples committed themselves to reach out to 10 families each couple in their neighborhoods to share and discuss with them on the aspect of positive parenting of children and work with them to bring about change in those families in regard to reducing violence against children and adolescents.
• Model couples also committed themselves to always come for radio talk shows whenever they are called upon to share family experiences in parenting of children to the listeners.

 

Model couples being trained

 Model couples being trained in Kisinga Sub County
 

Model couples in training session on VAC prevention in Karusandara Sub County