Conflict affected girls trained in basket weaving

RIC-NET with support from the Global fund for children has been implementing a project “advancing the dignity of vulnerable children and youth in the Rwenzori region .The project targets both in and out of school conflict affected girls by providing psycho social support sessions, reproductive health knowledge ,scholastic and sanitary material ,home visits to encourage parents and guardians to support conflict affected girls education , engagements with school  management ,teachers and parents about supporting conflict affected girls for in school conflict affected girls but also trains  girls in vocational hands on skills , reproductive health knowledge , sanitary material , support to babies of the conflict affected girls , entrepreneurship skills and providing with startup kits for conflict affected girls out of school .

RIC-NET supported training of 5 conflicts affected girls from (Bwesumbu) one the most affected sub counties by the recent conflict in the Rwenzori region. The girls were trained in weaving of baskets that will enable them earn an income that will help them provide for their siblings and families  that were affected by conflict that claimed the lives of the family bread winners .The girls are trained how to weave but also how to market, save and manage their incomes.

The girls during training as the instructor looks on

The girls are training at Rural focus initiative a community based organization that aims at giving skills to the youth in Kasese  .

Sensitization of parents Conflict affected Girls in Bwesumbu and Buhuria in Kasese

conflict affected girls and windows at Kyatoka

On  1^st August 2017 RIC-NET team, local CBOs,  community Development officer and LC111 Chair person Visited  Kyatoka, Kasangali, and Bwesumbu Peas high school all in Bwesumbu and kithoma in Buhuhira sub counties to meet 12 conflict affected  girls (orphans) and 34 windows of the November 2016 armed attack  in to the Rwenzururu kingdom palace in Kasese.
At Kyatoka (sub county head quarters), majority of the affected families attended. The Executive director RICNET Mr. John Silco explained to them what all about the project and the expected beneficiaries.

meeting conflict affected girls and windows at Kyatoka Bwesumbu S/C Kasese.

Women especially widows who had attended the meeting requested to be supported as they were affected. John told them that the project was not for the widows but quickly advised them to form associations for them to be helped pledging his total support once an association is formed and he did mention his support to be in form of vocational skills training. A resolution was made to meet again on 22^ndaugust 2017. And the objective of the meeting will be identifying the skills these groups need to train in.

meeting at Kasangali

In Kasangali and kithoma, it was the same discussion of meetings on the date mentioned above but different time as 10:00 am for Kasangali and Kyatoka groups and 2:00pm for kithoma - Buhuhira group. During the kithoma meeting more two girls were identified as directly affected adding the number to seven. However, two girls and sisters were removed from the list of those to be trained as they were in school though chased for fees and they were advised to go back to school and complete school.

Mr. John promised to meet their mother and lay strategies of supporting them. these girls were Nyakato Rose and Asiimwe mackline and were replaced by Biira Nadia and Zuena Flavia who both lost their fathers in the last years attacks on the Rwenzururu palace meaning that the number of girls to train in saloon remains five as earlier identified.

Recommendations:

•   Support need to be more than material or training but also psycho-social support, sanitation, entrepreneurship skills training sensitization on diseases be integrated in the support.
•  A serious back ground check be made on families to really know those that need more support than others.
•   Families have to be encouraged to support their children in school as the support may not be continuous.
• There is need to design other projects to address the challenges other groups that are not part of the current project.

 

MODEL COUPLES ASSOCIATION HOLD THEIR FIRST MONTHLY MEETING

Under the project “community driven mechanisms to prevent violence against children in Kasese district as implemented by RWECO and its member organizations (RIDE-Africa, RIC-NET, KALI and GOOD HOPE) in partnership with Kasese guide radio with funding from the child rights and violence prevention –Fund (CRVP-FUND), the implementing partners work with couples who were identified as model couples through religious and local leaders as good examples in their communities as far good /positive parenting is concerned.

Model couples from the sub counties of Karambi and Kitholhu formed an association that will always bring them together to discuss on issues of good parenting, prevention of violence against children and also introduced saving scheme that will provide credit to its members at a low interest rate  that will help them improve the income levels of their homes.

The host Mr. Sebastian giving his welcoming remarks

 The couples on 29^th July 2017 had their first meeting and a number of issues were discussed which included:

Sharing experiences on Positive/good parenting; Prevention of violence against children and the common cases in their areas;The number of couples reached out by each model couple in their areas; Drafting the constitution of the saving scheme among other issues .

 

The couples during the meeting

The couples were happy as they said the meetings will enable  them build a strong force that will end  violence against children in their homes and communities through sharing about different issues in regard to child upbringing and protection .

Community members sensitized about prevention of Violence Against Children at Kisolholho primary school

This was during a  community sensitization session that was held on 27^th July 2017  at Kisolholho primary school  play ground ,Karambi sub county with the theme  “ Stop violence against children for quality education “.The session  was attended by over 125 community members  who included parents, sub county leaders (sub county chief , CDO ,OC Police ,councilor) ,religious leaders, school management committee members ,community opinion leaders ,youth and children  from Kisolholho parish.

Key activities of the day: Songs, poems and skits from school children and drama groups ,speeches from  parents' leaders , local  political leaders ,sub county chief , CDO , OC police ,child rights activists and RIC-NET staff all focusing on  prevention of Violence Against Children   ,the rights and responsibilities of children and parents and community efforts to support prevention and management of violence against  children . 

Children of Kisolholho primary school presenting a song about violence against children

 All the key speakers emphasized on the parents’ role of providing and protecting their children to prepare them for a bright future which will not only benefit the children but also their parents. 

CDO Karambi giving his speech

We believe that when the community is aware about violence against children and how it can be prevented it reduces on violence cases since some perpetrators realize that the acts they do on their children are  bad and some are able to report these cases .

OC station  Karambi giving her remarks

This is one of the activities of the community driven mechanisms to prevent violence and adolescents in Kasese district project as implemented by the four RWECO member organizations of KALI, RIC-NET, GOOD HOPE and RIDE-Africa in partnership with Kasese guide radio with support from the Child rights and violence prevention –Fund (CRVP).