Helping to heal wounds of sexually exploited children

Uganda has been described as the Pearl of Africa. However, in this beautiful land, there are a number of harmful cultural practices that make it a place no child would want to live in. As the third series ofthe Tumaini Awards is launched, Shami lla Kara explores how Uganda Youth Development Link, a nongovernmental organisation, is helping youth find meaningful ways of earning a living as a means of fighting commercial sexual exploitation of children.
 
Commercial sexual exploitation of children is an insidious cancer that is stealthily spreading and eating deep into the fabric of our society. Cited in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention 1999 (No.182) that ILO member states must eliminate without delay, this practice violates the rights of the sexually exploited children, scarring their psychological, physical and social status, thereby relegating them to sub-human living.

ILO defines commercial sexual exploitation of children as “the exploitation by an adult with respect to a child or an adolescent, female or male, under 18 years; accompanied by a payment in money or in kind to the child or adolescent (male or female) or to one or more third parties.

” According to a 2011 study by the Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL), an organisation that is involved in fighting and increasing awareness about this practice, commercial sexual exploitation in Uganda is on the increase, with statistics revealing that there are 18,000 children affected, from 12,000 in 2004.

Another study, carried out by the Jinja Network for the Marginalised Child and Youth in 2011, revealed thatcommercial sexual exploitation in Jinja was rampant, with young girls being exploited by trailer drivers, tourists and businessmen, among other abusers

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The UYDEL report, titled, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Uganda, further shows that the helpless children, who fall in the 14-17 age bracket, endure sexual exploitation for a pittance and risk their lives to earn between sh2,500 and sh5,000 per client.

This exposes them to a high likelihood of unwanted pregnancies, being beaten by the clients or gang-raped and contracting sexually transmitted diseases that include HIV/AIDS.

According to ILO, victims of this practice include “runaways, children from dysfunctional families, children of sex workers, homeless children, AIDS orphans, migrant children, children from ethnic minorities and out-of-school children.

” In Uganda, the UYDEL 2011 report reveals that children, who did not attend school and were engaged in economic activities such as bartending and working in lodges were also vulnerable to being sexually exploited for money.

The report further disclosesthat the practice is prevalent in urban areas such as Kampala and it has even infiltrated schools.

It adds that victims of the practice are usually trafficked children, orphans, and children coming from economically underprivileged situations

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What the NGO does
Rescuing children from commercial sexual exploitation is one project under the child rights protection programme of the NGO. The programme also covers child trafficking and child labour.

The NGO is involved in other programmes that include HIV prevention among children and a youth programme; the alcohol and substance abuse programme and the adolescent, sexual and reproductive health programme.

The NGO is also involved in social research and has published several publications covering childrelated topics.

Founded in 1993 by Rogers Kasirye, who is also its executive director, the NGO’s mission is “to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable youth with cognitive life and livelihood skills so as to make them useful citizens of Uganda.”
UYDEL’s areas of operation include Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso, Busia and Kalangala.

It employs 57 personnel that include psychologists, social workers, instructors and artisans.

UYDEL’s target beneficiaries are disadvantaged and vulnerable youth aged between 10 and 30 years found living on the streets, in slums, teenage mothers, youth who have dropped out of school and those from poor families.

The organisation also works with parents and other community members for the wellbeing of the youth. In 2011 alone, UYDEL admitted 1,812 vulnerable youth to its programmes

The programmes are implemented through the NGO’s outreach post in Bwaise and its five drop-in centres, four of which are in Kampala and include, Nakulabye, Nateete, Makindye and Kamwokya, as well as one in Mukono district.

Additionally, UYDEL also has a rehabilitation and vocational centre at Masooli parish in Wakiso district, where youth who have no where to live are given temporary accommodation

The centre also trains the youth in skills that include plumbing, hairdressing, catering, welding and metal fabrication and tailoring.

The NGO further finds field placements for at least six months for the youth.

This approach has supported strong and sustained behavioural change and helped withdraw adolescents and youth who were engaged in child labour and other exploitative activities to find meaningful ways of earning a living

Besides vocational skills training, the youth also access psycho-social support services, counselling services, medical care such as the testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and therapy at the centre in Masooli.

Through performance therapy, rehabilitated children are empowered to tell their stories, an initiative that has reached out to over 1,000 youth in eight slum communities.

UYDEL also engages the youth in behavioural change communication sessions, which aim at encouraging sustained behavioural change.

These sessions cover topics such as drug abuse, children’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and life skills. These sessions are also conducted in the communities for youth, who cannot come to the centres through community outreach dialogues.

UYDEL is also involved in advocacy activities that include creating awareness about Article 33 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and work with parents, children and communities to support prevention programmes advocating for drug-free environments.

The NGO has, of recent, been included in a pilot campaign by the International Olympic Committee to help fight substance use in youth through sports.

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Kisenyi slum in Kampala. Some of UYDEL’s target beneficiaries are those living in slums