A DETAILED MEDIA REPORT FROM CAMPAIGN LAUNCH ON MAY 29, 2021 IN KIREKA-BANDA ZONE
Drive: The band led the day's activities with a sensitization walk in Kireka-Banda.
The last weekend of the month of May will go down in the folklore of ALIGUMA Foundation (AF)’s annals as a day when a new page was flipped for the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to extend its charitable works beyond sports and women empowerment.
After several forgettable events that happened when the coronavirus pandemic struck in February 2020 with many juveniles, call them the girl-child – being taken advantage of because of the lack of basic needs like food and home essentials as the lockdown meant that they were incapacitated to do any casual work for a little income since they were fully staying home.
The Covid-19 pandemic and its after effects were and are still tough on everyone. But for the slum dwellers especially in areas where The ALIGUMA Foundation is primarily involved like the Acholi Quarters in Kireka-Banda Zone, Nakawa Division life was and is still extremely hard.
Let's Play: Sport for all remains an integral part of the ALIGUMA Foundation activities.
For starters, the return of elite sport remains a mystical myth but the foundation found it more than relevant to engage the natives of the refugee camp on the pertinent issue of the ‘Girl-Child’ where many young girls were falling victims to the prying and permissive eyes and mannerisms of the male species in the underprivileged homesteads.
The ‘Girl-Child’ has been abused in every true meaning of the phrase with child labour, violence and sexual abuse on top of the evil list. Fathers, step-fathers, uncles, guardians and step-brothers have crossed the line and forcefully slept with their ‘little ones’ with the ploy of death threats to scare them from reporting to concerned authorities.
Positive: LC II chairman Banda Parish Alex Omony was intent on protecting the young ones.
Not tens but hundreds have fallen victims and attracted several contagious and vulnerable diseases because they thought rendering their bodies to their ‘masters’ would help successfully continue to be breadwinners of their households. And that is where the foundation and elders intervened to curb the growing bad vices in the community.
Alex Omony, the LC II chairman Banda Parish, blamed the situation on parents who are no longer close to their children.
“We have a high number of single mothers who are busy on petty businesses which has given rise to cases of defilement, rape, early marriages and teen pregnancies,” Omony said at the launch where the community received sanitary pads from the ALIGUMA Foundation in partnership with the UNHCR, the world’s refugee body and UEFA Foundation.
Local leaders were worried with an increasing number of children working in the quarry and those hawking stuff in the community. UNHCR Representative in Uganda Joel Boutroue stressed that poverty should not be an excuse to abuse children rights.
Partnerships: The community together with the foundation's partners united for a cause.
“What matters is minding about the future of these children,” Boutroue said.
The ALIGUMA Foundation served sanitary pads to the girls under theme “Ndi Mwana” to enable vulnerable girls avoid being tempted for lack of basics.
“Getting UGX 3,000 for pads is hard in this area. With this opportunity, we can help the children avoid temptations from the men,” Ritah Aliguma, the founder, said.
The emotional but extremely satisfying day saw the community fully participate in an hour’s walk drive with; “Say No To Rape” banners among others as well dance performances from the foundation’s mothers’ body and youths as a way to instill discipline and show their togetherness in the fight against the abuse of the ‘girl-child’.
Helping The Needy: The foundation's partners provided Sanitary Pads and home essentials.
The launch campaign was slowly initiated on the foundation’s page with tales of previous incidences and experiences that had been witnessed by AF’s officials.
The links;
Kids Favourite: What's a memorable day without cake for the little ones!
The local media, including the leading daily newspapers and sports websites, who have been priceless partners for the foundation since its inception also rendered their unwavering support to the cause with a handful of articles after covering the monumental event that is currently seeking more partners to ensure sustainability for eternity.
The links;
Sports Ocean: https://sportsoceanuganda.com/2021/05/30/aliguma-foundation-preaches-girl-child-protection-to-acholi-quarters-dwellers/
Kawowo Sports: https://kawowo.com/2021/05/31/ndi-mwana-aliguma-foundation-fronts-social-inclusion-of-girl-child-in-acholi-quarters/
Chimp Reports: https://chimpreports.com/unhcr-aliguma-foundation-team-up-to-end-child-abuse-in-slums/
New Vision: See JPEG file below
Daily Monitor: See JPEG file below
RADIOS & TELEVISIONS COVERAGE:
Several national televisions including NTV Uganda, NBS, Baba TV and Channel 44, to mention but a few, gave prominence to the new initiative that still stands as reiterated by our CEO.
Break A Leg: The Acholi Quarters children entertained guests to seal the campaign launch.
Channel 44 Links:
Full Media Report - Downloadable Version