AFRICHILD MONTHLY MONITOR - AUGUST | | | Dear Esteemed Reader,
As we move into the second half of the year, August has reignited our purpose and momentum. Through impactful partnerships and community engagements, our collective efforts continue to showcase the power of collaboration. Let's stay inspired and keep driving forward with enthusiasm and dedication. Here’s to another month of meaningful progress!
| | | PILOTING SOCIAL WORK IN SCHOOLS - GULU DISTRICT | | | AfriChild is advancing the Decolonising Social Work Research to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls and Promote Good Education Outcomes" project at Latwong Primary School in Gulu District. This school social work pilot addresses the challenges of low educational outcomes for girls and violence against women and girls in post-conflict northern Uganda. By partnering social work researchers with a rural school community, we aim to create sustainable improvements in girls' education and safety through a social work-informed approach. | | | ADDRESSING CHILD EXPLOITATION IN THE KARAMOJA REGION | | | | | The AfriChild Centre is expanding its research to Moroto and Napak districts to investigate child exploitation in Karamoja. This participatory study, in collaboration with local organisations and Survivor Advisory Boards, will focus on the experiences of children, youth, and their parents. Initial visits to local administrative structures have set the stage for the project's implementation. Child exploitation remains a critical issue globally and in Uganda, where children as young as seven face threats like forced labor and trafficking, particularly in the Karamoja region. | | | ASSESSING ECCE SERVICES IN UGANDA | This month, our STRYIDE project team engaged with stakeholders across Terego, Madi Okollo, and Isingiro Districts, gathering valuable insights to enhance Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Services. The positive feedback received highlighted key areas for improvement and underscored the district offices' eagerness to support these initiatives. Additionally, the possibility of establishing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the districts was discussed, promising to streamline future project activities and strengthen collaboration. | | ECCD ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT WITH MPS | The AfriChild participated in an engagement with the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children (UPFC) on 19th August 2024 in Entebbe with the aim of making a case to the government to invest in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD). We presented an issues paper with evidence from different studies and discussed with parliamentarians deeply on the subject coming up with several actions. What has followed is revising the issues paper and sharing with parliamentarians, follow up on actions including meeting the Minister for Education is also an ongoing process. | | | KULEA WATOTO PARTNERS ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT | | | | | Kulea Watoto implementing partners gathered to review and advance key action plans from the Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) Policy review meeting, emphasising the vital roles of duty bearers and champions in implementing the two-generation approach for a brighter future. Their collaborative efforts continue to empower communities, ensuring sustainable development for children and caregivers across Uganda. The dialogue also highlighted the importance of adapting strategies to local contexts, fostering stronger, more resilient communities. | | | DEVELOPING AN OPEN-ACCESS COURSE AND TOOLKIT ON VAC | | | | | In August, the Centre welcomed a team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Oxford University, and the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development. They are collaborating on developing course content for a new, openly accessible toolkit designed to utilise Violence Against Children Surveys datasets for research, policy, advocacy, and programming focused on violence against children. This initiative, led by Oxford University, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Together for Girls, and the AfriChild Centre, is aimed at researchers interested in applying VACS data across various contexts. We are working towards launching this toolkit at the SVRI conference in October this year. | | | RETHINKING VIOLENCE RESEARCH IN SCHOOL CONTEXTS | | | A recent meeting on the Context of Violence in Adolescence Cohort Study (CoVAC) brought together experts to explore the complexities of violence in schools. The discussions emphasised the need to consider social and cultural factors like power dynamics, social norms, and parenting styles, noting that the context of data collection plays a crucial role in understanding these influences. | | CoVAC is a 5-year study investigating how violence experienced during adolescence can increase the risk of intimate partner violence, poor mental health, and other negative health outcomes in early adulthood. The study is led by a collaboration between epidemiologists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), social scientists from University College London - Institute of Education (UCL-IoE), and intervention developers at the Ugandan charity Raising Voices. | | | CBLI TRAINING IN KISUMU: EMPOWERING CSO LEADERS | | | | | Six AfriChild team members took part in the CBLI Leadership Training in Kisumu, aimed at boosting the skills of mid-to senior-level staff from East African CSOs. Cohort 5 included representatives from AfriChild and Vijana Corps (Uganda), ICS (Kenya), Jami Forums (Tanzania), and Zafayco (Zanzibar). This training is vital for enhancing leadership abilities and the effectiveness of CSOs in the region, with our staff fully engaged in this transformative opportunity. | | | ISPCAN CONFERENCE: SHOWCASING OUR COMMITMENT TO CHILD PROTECTION | | | Between August 18-21, our team attended the ISPCAN conference in Uppsala, Sweden, focused on "Working Together in Times of Crisis." We presented five abstracts on key topics like trust-building, the EVAC study on Measuring the Impact and Sustainability of A Community Based Child Protection Approach in Prevention of Violence Against Children and research findings on a Pilot Study on Children with Developmental Delay and Disability, along with two poster presentations. Beyond sharing our work, we had productive discussions with collaborators and funders, including Wellsprings. Participating in global events like this strengthens AfriChild’s position as a leader in child protection and deepens our commitment to safeguarding children. | | | | HOSTING THE 2-GEN PARTNERS CONVENING | | | | | The AfriChild Centre recently hosted a quarterly convening for partners implementing two-generation (2-Gen) initiatives in Uganda. The focus was on reviewing progress in building resilient families by addressing the needs of both parents and children. Discussions covered improving Early Childhood Development (ECD), promoting responsive caregiving, and boosting household income. This collaboration is essential for the success of the Kulea Watoto model in supporting families and strengthening communities. | | | AFRICHILD AT THE UGANDA EVALUATION WEEK | | | The Centre joined the 8th Uganda Evaluation Week, August 19-23, at the Uganda Management Institute. Our Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Jude Omondi, presented on "Community Engagement as a Pathway for Local Participation and Utilisation of Evaluation Evidence," highlighting our experience with involving children and stakeholders in research. The event, organised by the Uganda Evaluation Association and the Office of the Prime Minister, focused on "Development with Purpose: Empowering Accountable Learning for Achieving Development Goals and Enhancing Climate Resilience. | | | | PARENTING: AGENDA CONSORTIUM: COLLABORATING FOR FAMILY STRENGTHENING | | | | | The AfriChild Centre was honoured to participate in the Parenting Agenda Consortium meeting, spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. This quarterly gathering brought together key stakeholders to tackle parenting challenges, support family strengthening, and prevent violence against children and women. Our discussions centred on standardising parenting initiatives across Uganda and developing sustainable systems to scale up evidence-based models, ensuring that our collective efforts make a lasting impact on families nationwide. | | | | | The AfriChild Centre was honoured to participate in the Parenting Agenda Consortium meeting, spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. This quarterly gathering brought together key stakeholders to tackle parenting challenges, support family strengthening, and prevent violence against children and women. Our discussions centred on standardising parenting initiatives across Uganda and developing sustainable systems to scale up evidence-based models, ensuring that our collective efforts make a lasting impact on families nationwide. | | | AFRICHILD STAFF HIGHLIGHT | | | Follow us on social media: | | | |
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