Uganda Women Efforts to Save Orphans

We target OVCs aged 0-18 years and their caregivers. These include orphans, childheaded households, chronically ill and the elderly household heads with young children as well as children on the streets.

Our Vision

A society where all children live a full life.

Our Mission

UWESO exists to promote the survival, development, participation and protection of OVC in Uganda.

In Mbale district we are implementing programs geared towards improving livelihoods of OVC households and child protection and in particular elimination of children from worst forms of child labour .

This programme runs in the sub counties of Busiu, Bungokho Mutoto, Wanale Division, Busoba, Bukonde, Nyondo and other catchment areas in Wanale and Bufumbo sub counties.

With financial support from International Labour Organization / International Program on Elimination of children from worst forms of child Labour, ILO/IPEC and UWESO have reached out to 1,200 children affected by child labour.

Children who are at risk of joining child labour have been prevented from entering child labour , 7,000 Children involved in worst forms of child labour including trafficked children, children involved in commercial sex, stone quarry, petty trade and those involved in brewing and selling of alcohol have been withdrawn , rehabilitated, counseled and enrolled either in school or for vocational skills training.

With support from the International Labour Organization/International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 112 children 55 of them girls have been equipped with vocational skills in hair dressing, carpentry, brick lying, mechanical repairs, catering and concrete practice.

With acquired skills and tool kits given, children are expected to support themselves and their siblings thus preventing them from returning to child labour.

Child labour is very complex that many stakeholders need to be brought on board, apart from awareness raising through radio talk shows and children clubs in schools; UWESO is using Village savings and loan associations to improve incomes of households of OVCs.

We encourage communities to form child protection committees to monitor in communities and schools through sensitization. We discourage corporal punishments and we support children’s rights through education, art and media (SCREAM).

Under the component of livelihood, UWESO empowers communities economically by instilling a culture of savings and investment among the women.

UWESO provides capacity for improving income generation for OVC care givers mainly through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) and business management skills. UWESO builds its capacity through training in VSLA methodology.

Its good system that helps vulnerable household at community level. These are composed of only 30 members of particular locality. On average in each group members save 150,000/ and have loan capital on average of 5,000,000/= unlike in SACCOs in this region. Apart from group savings, UWESO uses such groups that meet on weekly basis to discuss issues affecting children.