Seventh Day Adventist Leaders Pledge to End Violence Against Children

The Bishop of Seventh Day Adventist Church, Rwenzori Field Area has asked all leaders of the SDA faith to work towards ending violence against children in the area. This was at a colorful education conference on 23^rd June 2016 that took place at the SDA headquarters in Kasese. The Bishop and 40 other field church leaders participated in the conference and were drawn from different districts of Bundibujyo, Kasese, Kabarole and Ntoroko. 

The leaders discussed the various issues covering the causes of violence in the religious context, forms of violence and the SDA church’s approach on the prevention of violence against children in homes, schools and communities. The field leaders from different districts shared their experiences on issues of domestic violence, poverty, ignorance about child rights and responsibilities (education & laws) and myth leading to violence and how they have handled these issues. 

Thereafter, the Bishop emphasized counseling, use of alternatives measures of punishing children, involvement of religious morals in the up bring of the child, use of the probation officer  to solve domestic challenges and encouraged a strong relationships between the parents and the children in order to prevent violence against children in different districts.

Prepared by:
Asiimwe Pamella
Project Officer
VAC Project
23^rd June 2016

CHILD ABUSE COMING TO AN END IN KYENJOJO DISTRICT

RIDE AFRICA held a 04 days training of 26 Human Rights Ambassadors in basic legal practices and human rights. The training was held from 24^th-29^th April 2016 at Impression One in Kyenjojo District.  The HRAs were drawn from the sub counties of Bugaaki and Nyantungo Kyenjojo District.

1. The training was meant to equip the Human Rights Ambassadors with knowledge and skills in human rights promotion and protection with emphasis on children’s rights.
2. It was further meant to orient HRAs on their roles and responsibilities in human rights promotion with emphasis on children’s rights.

The four days training ended with participants coming up with a way forward and some of the action points therein included; HRASs introducing themselves to the LC I chair persons, school head teachers, visiting homes with school drop outs and ensure they go back to school, community sensitization on children’s rights and responsibilities, reporting any cases of child abuse to relevant authorities, counselling and guidance, mediation and referral among others.

Prepared by

Kahunde Erina

Program Officer/Dep ED

RIDE AFRICA

Teachers Sensitized on Violence against Children

On 12th April 2016, RIDE AFRICA conducted a sensitization meeting on violence against Children for teachers from four target schools of Kitswamba, Kyanya, Nkaiga and Ibuga. This aimed at building capacity of teachers in prevention of violence against children skills in line with their continuous capacity development.

The sensitization targeted all the teachers in each of the project schools and the discussions were based on the baseline survey report findings that were conducted by the project at its inception in November 2015.

Reference was also made to the National Guidelines on prevention of Violence against Children in Schools as well as the Children’s Act and Domestic Violence Act.

This also offered an opportunity to highlight the increasing acts of violence against children in schools, particularly bullying, administration of corporal punishment (caning), sexual abuse such as defilement and rape, use of and distribution of pornographic materials, sexual harassment, emotional violence, neglect and negligent treatment.

It was further noted that violence against children undermines the security and safety of children in schools, inflicts pain and fear among children in schools, reduces children’s retention and performance in schools, undermines their right to educations, right to protection and a right to development.

The schools resolved to utilize alternative disciplinary methods and do away with any form of violence against children.

Households in Kasese Rewarded for Keeping Proper Hygiene and Sanitation

Maliba and Kitswamba sub-counties in Kasese district located on the slopes of Mt. Rwenzori experience extreme poverty levels. This area is characterized by food insecurity, poorly constructed homes, limited access to basic services like medical care, education and clean water among others. 

RIDEAFRICA on 22^nd and 23^rd April 2014 organized household competitions for Maliba and Kitswamba sub-counties to determine the best homestead. This process was guided by an assessment tool that considered the number of people in a household, sanitation facilities like state of the main house, kitchen, latrine, refuse pit among others.

It was all joy and excitement as RIDE AFRICA staff came together with the Assistant Health Officers, Parish Chiefs, Community Development Officers, and Chairpersons LCIs of these areas as they visited every competing household.

After this rigorous exercise, the following were declared winners;

The three best households in Kyanya were;

1.      Mukirania Yonia

2.      Muthabinga Maliza

3.      Kighoma Muswa

These were each awarded a goat to improve their household incomes.

The three best households in Kitswamba were;

1.      Zawadi Mariam Zungu

2.      Tushabeomwe Evelyn

3.      Asiimwe Sharon

These were each awarded a piglet to improve their household incomes.

All the competing households were also given seeds for planting in their homes. The seeds included carrots, cabbages, water melon, beetroot, green pepper, egg plants and tomatoes. This aimed at improving the economic status of women, strengthening household food security and also enabling the provision of three meals a day to their children. Over 60 households participated and were drawn from DOLICA women, Bikoni youth and Tweterane Group.

There were however some crosscutting shortcomings that were identified across majority of the competing households which included lack of rubbish pits, absence of food stores, no kitchen gardens, unprotected water sources, all of which especially affect the general well-being of the children and women. In Kitswamba, there was particularly scarcity of water and children get just a single mean a day.

Ibuga Primary Schools Triumphs in Violence against Children Schools Debate

Kansiime Rehemah confidently moved to submit that violence against children has no place in a good school environment which is an aspiration for every child. Rehema a Primary Four pupil at Ibuga Primary School was at a schools debate competition that was organized by RIDE AFRICA at Mubuku CCT and intended to empower children with skills on prevention of violence against children in schools of the project area (Kitswamba, Kyanya, Ibuga and Nkaiga primary schools).

This debate that was organized on the theme ‘violence against children affects the performance of pupils in school’ saw the participation of over 60 children and teachers. It enabled children to conceptualize violence against children within their schools and communities and how it affects their academic performance through debates and drawing. It also led to the mobilization of VAC clubs members to be able to respond to cases of violence against children in their schools and communities.

The main adjudicator, Ms. Medrace Balira, a College Tutor steadily and impartially guided the debates. Overall, Ibuga Primary School emerged winner followed by Nkaiga, Kyanya and Kitswamba. The winners walked away with a trophy and all the competing schools were given different prizes ranging from books, pens, rulers, mathematical sets among others. The Area Inspector of Schools Ms. Masika Harriet later handed over the presents to the winners.

Women in Kasese District Gain Skills of Reusable Sanitary Pads Making

As the world marked the International Women’s Day on 8^th March 2016, RIDE AFRICA a not-for-profit organization that operates in the Rwenzori region organized a training of Reusable Sanitary Pads making for women in Kasese district at Nkaiga Primary School grounds, Maliba sub-county. More than 200 women and girls were trained on how to make reusable sanitary pads by Kakindo Women and Youth Groups with support of RIDE AFRICA.

Over 500 community members and leaders participated in the celebrations where information about the existence of violence against children and possible solutions were shared through poems, play skits, songs and neighborhood assembly demos by Nkaiga Primary School Child Rights Club.

This project under the theme ‘community-led mechanisms to prevent violence against children and adolescents in Kasese District, Rwenzori Region’ is supported by the East African Children’s Fund and is implemented by RIDE AFRICA in partnership with RWECO.

PARENT'S RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE LUNCH TO CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

RIDE AFRICA in partnership with RWECO is implementing a one year pilot project under the theme ‘community-led mechanisms to prevent violence against children and adolescents in Kasese District, Rwenzori Region’ with support from East African Children’s Fund.

On 20th January 2016, RIDE AFRICA organized a meeting for Parents-Teachers Associations and the School Management Committees on dangers of violence against children and adolescents in four primary schools, namely; Kyanya SDA, Ibuga, Kitswamba and Nkaiga. Community Development Officers, Sub-county Chiefs and other community members also participated.

The meeting provided information to the schools’ management about the prevalence of violence against children in their schools, communities and homes.

In addition, the meeting mobilized the schools’ management committees of the targeted schools to respond to cases of violence against children in their schools.

The participants thereafter drew an action plan on the next steps of addressing violence against children in their respective schools and communities.

One of the actions agreed upon was for schools to work with parents to provide lunch to their pupils. In addition, schools should open gardens from which food to the children will be obtained and parents may only provide additional or supplementary items.