Alcohol is an often invisible cause of child vulnerability. Now we are strengthening the work for 10,000 children in Uganda with support from Radiohjälpen.
We have been notified that our application to Radiohjälpen has been approved. This means support of 2,04 million SEK for a two-year project in Arua and Yumbe in Uganda's West Nile region.
The Children Education for a Bright Future project is being implemented together with our local partner Uganda Girl Guides Association and builds on our long-term work in the area.
The West Nile region is characterized by poverty, overcrowding and a large refugee population, factors that increase the vulnerability of all children. At the same time, alcohol is an often overlooked risk factor that contributes to domestic violence, neglect and school dropout, especially among girls.
Through the project, we address these challenges through three focus areas:
- preventive work against alcohol-related harm
- support for children's schooling
- psychosocial support and strengthened child protection The work includes training, student clubs and local safety committees, as well as broad information efforts to strengthen knowledge and change norms regarding the consequences of alcohol.
– This project enables us to both strengthen children's rights here and now, and at the same time address an often overlooked cause of children's vulnerability. In the areas where we work, we clearly see how alcohol contributes to violence, neglect and that children, not least girls, are forced to leave school. By working preventively together with local actors, we can create more long-term change, says Johanna Davén, Secretary General.
By both preventing problems and providing direct support to children and families, we strengthen the protection that exists around children in the local community. This way, the change can last over time. In total, approximately 10,000 children will be reached by the project.
The project is part of Radiohjälpen's Children of the World campaign and is made possible by the strong non-profit commitment that exists around Sweden, not least within the sobriety movement. Every autumn, people come together to raise money, through everything from scout bonfires and races to other local initiatives. It is a commitment that actually reaches all the way to children in other parts of the world.
We are proud of the trust from Radiohjälpen and look forward to continuing our work together with our partners for children's right to a safe upbringing. An upbringing free from alcohol-related harm.
