Every child deserves to grow up free from harm. Yet Gender-Based Violence continues, effectively ending their childhoods and risking their futures. Gender-based violence occurs in every part of the country and across all economic and social groups. Sadly, one in three women and girls will experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetimes.
The devastating and compounded impacts of COVID-19, Climate change, Conflict, have created a triple threat for women and children, pushing them further to the margins of society and exposing them to physical and psychological harm.
Joy for Children-Uganda with support from Girls First Fund (GFF) is implementing a two year
project “Enhancing coordination and learning to end child marriage in Uganda.
Joy for children helps with my school fees, and they also mentor us on how to go through life. I have also made friends through them.
My happiest moment was when Joy for children increased our kids’ academic sponsorship from primary level to secondary. This meant that my kids would actualize their dreams. I personally wanted to be a nurse but that dream wasn’t realized because of financial challenges.
I’m happy that I can now eat and sleep in peace without having to worry about my grand kids’ school fees because Joy for children has helped with their school fees and scholastic materials.
My father has a lot of kids from other women so because of that he only paid school fees for a few. My mother was the one paying for me and my brother. We struggled so much with finances at home, then one day my brother said he was going to drop out of school just to let me continue. That’s about the same time Joy for children came and we are now both in school.
Life was so hard, and I think that’s the time when Joy for children came in and introduced savings groups to us. Then, they later helped with one of my children’s school fees and they would also give us food supplies. We are not doing so well but things are much better than they used to be, at least my children go to school and I can afford to pay rent for my kiosk which also doubles as our home.
Joy for Children taught me how to save and these savings have helped me a lot. I used to keep my money in the house and it would get stolen because I shared the room with five other friends of mine.
Joy for Children counseled us on how to protect ourselves from sexual harassment and also the steps we can take in case we or someone we know has been harassed sexually. They also taught us about our body changes as girls. It was the first time someone was telling me that what was happening to my body was normal. I remember at the end of the session they gave us reusable sanitary towels and showed us how to use them
