Budaka – Orphans and Vulnerable Children

As part of the 12 month partnership, indigo supported:

• Education: provision of educational supplies, including books, pens and uniforms to 2,100 vulnerable children.
• • • While primary education is free in Uganda, many disadvantaged children are excluded because they lack basic school materials. indigo foundation worked with the CBO’s, who work with schools, to track the children’s attendance at school and support their progress through psychosocial support.
    • This support also had a particular eye to girls and women, including creating safe after-schools spaces for girls and supplying reusable pads so girls do not have to stay home from school during their periods.

• Counseling: counseling training for CBO’s and school teachers on how to support vulnerable children and in particular those grieving or traumatised through HIV.
• Training and income generation: support training in vocational skills (such as sewing, knitting and baking) and ongoing funding for successful pilot initiatives established with indigo foundation support including:
  •    a sewing training school for women widowed by HIV
  •    a livestock ‘bank’ with chickens, pigs and goats that increases food security
  •    distribution of improved strains of cassava and peanuts resulting in increased agricultural production.

These activities combined provide a pathway for children to access education, and become confident and contributing members of their community. The investment in schemes for production and income generation, and the vocational skills of older adolescents, serve to foster well-being and community sustainability.