Human Trafficking is Silent Evil targeting vulnerable Children in Bududa, Uganda
Human Trafficking is Silent Evil targeting vulnerable Children in Bududa, Uganda
Uganda has an orphan crisis with over 2.5 million orphans according to a UNICEF study. An orphaned child is often alone in an adult world. The effects of a child becoming an orphan are terrible, including:
No education or poor education - in other words no hope for tomorrow. Without a proper education, there is little hope to improve their lot in life.
Improper nutrition-orphans often do not have the means to properly feed themselves.
Lack of shelter - many of these children live homeless in the streets or with other family members that do not provide adequately for them.
Lack of health care - simple food and shelter needs come first, and often orphans are rarely concerned with their own heath. Their living conditions and daily activities are highly dangerous to their health.
Child labor - some orphans look for a job to escape their dire situations. All too often, they are exploited through all kinds of degrading and dangerous work. The International Labour Organization reports that more orphans work in commercial agriculture, as street vendors and housekeepers, and in the sex industry, than other children.
So why are there so many orphans? It is estimated that 1.2 million children are orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. That leaves 1.3 million children that are orphaned due to preventable diseases, food security, and poverty. The increasing rate of early pregnancies and human trafficking is targeting the vulnerable and orphans and needy children in Bududa who have no one to care or to look after. Therefore, Hands of Action Uganda(FICE membership applicant) has started Peer club, free education with feeding program, sewing center to offer free skills and gardening to offer nutrition to our orphans and vulnerable children in the Bududa Community.
Hands of Action Uganda, beliefs that Peer educators can communicate and understand in a way that the best-intentioned adults can't, and can serve as role models for change in the community.
The club comprises of 30 young teens between the age of 12 and 18 years who will receive a one week training course in providing information and life skills and they also impart the same life skills to their fellow teenagers at school and in the surrounding community.
The teens are trained to present their work in form of Drama, Brochures, Photos, Video Clips, etc. Using a highly interactive approach, the program focuses on life skills training specifically for teen pregnancy reduction, HIV/AIDS prevention, substance abuse, children's rights and rape.