Community Empowerment to Reduce Vulnerability of Children and Youth in the Fishing Communities of Wakiso District

Funded by Cordaid

Beneficiaries: Children aged 7-18yrs and Youths 15-25yrs.

Duration: January 2010 – December 2012 (3yrs)

The overall project objective was “To contribute to an environment conducive for the survival growth, development and participation of vulnerable Children and Youths in the fishing communities of Wakiso District”.

As such,

150 members from OVC and youth led households were trained in modern small-scale farming and supported to start and maintain subsistence and commercial garden.

150 OVC and youths household heads trained in income generation activities and basic business management skills with emphasis on saving. 100 of those who came up with creative busuiness ideas, legal, viable, sustainable and environmentally friendly were supported financially to start. Other 50 youths including child mothers, those withdrawn from prostitution, and those who headed families were enrolled and equipped with vocational skills like welding, hairdressing, tailoring, knitting, chalk making, liquid soap making, etc. as a mean for survival.  Trained staff from 40 childcare institution in OVC policy and legislation, standards, as well as resource mobilization for their functionality and sustainability of their work.

Taught 120 community volunteers and teachers from selected community primary and secondary schools in psychosocial support and care for OVC.

Skilled 120 selected local leaders in child related policies, inheritance laws and will writing; community sensitization on children rights and responsibilities,

Developed and disseminated guidelines for mainstreaming OVC in various sector programmes, and worked with Wakiso District in developing the district OVC strategic plan.

Developed and published a Wakiso District OVC service provider’s inventory/ directory.

Sensitised 80 sub-county leaders on the concept of Community Health Insurance and initiated a number of health insurance schemes at health centre level e.g. at Kisubi Hospital, Ndejje Health Centre IV, Kajjansi Health centre IV, among others

Reached and sensitized over 4,800 members of the community on the importance of community Health Insurance Schemes.

By and large, the project helped in:

• strengthening the capacities of local institutions and communities to promote and protect the rights of OVC and youths from in the fishing communities of Wakiso District
• strengthening the capacity of HUYSLINCI and its local partners to reach more vulnerable groups particularly those in the fishing communities of Wakiso District with well coordinated and effective mitigation programmes.
• raising the level of awareness on Community Health Insurance Scheme in the fishing communities of Katabi and Kasnje Sub-counties, Wakiso District by the end of the project.