SOS CEO calls for collaboration

WAKISO- The Chief Executive officer SOS Children’s Villages International, Norbert Meder, has called for joint collaborations to handle child rights issues.

Meder pointed out that partnering with other organisations will ease the role of tackling issues affecting children.

“It has been long overdue to come up with this decision of joining hands together to take care of the children who form a bigger population in the World today,” Meder said.

The Chief Executive officer SOS Children’s Villages International, Norbert Meder  shares a moment with Children of Hermann Gmeiner Primary School in Wakis o district. Photo by Wilfred Sanya

He made the remarks during his visit to the SOS Children’s Village and communities in Kakiri, Wakiso district on Monday.

He said working together as a bigger force creates more opportunities in resource mobilisations because it involves more expertise in negotiating with different donors.

Meder added that today many youth are faced with various challenges with the population increase, the resource envelope also becomes very small that new strategies should be planned to counter the problem.

He noted that with a bigger group they expect to come with entrepreneur skills that will support the youth at the time they reach age of leaving the children’s villages. Meder emphasised that the skills they will have acquired at that time will enable them to have a meaningful life.

The National Director SOS Children’s Villages, Olive Lumonya thanked the mothers who contribute to the children’s smiling faces by giving their love to them.

“Over 60, 000 lives have been touched since SOS started its operation in  Uganda in 1991. Currently they are taking care of over 13, 000 orphans in Entebbe, Kakiri, Gulu and Fort- Portal and today they are supporting the communities to improve their livelihood.

Lumonya said these children do not only need financial support but also continued love from time to time. She said  the support given to them has enabled them to reach out  to more children in society.

Maria Ngobi a mother who has been taking care of children for the last 12 years, said one of the challenges they face is the youth who depend on the care takers.

She said this impacts on the resource that is met for the young group.