OUR LATEST NEWS TEAM UPDATES
Find out more about all things WeSeeHope and what our team have been up to over the past few months.
INTRODUCING OUR NEW CEO, STEVE MURIGI
In case you missed the news, we recently announced the appointment of Steve Murigi as our new CEO! Steve brings vast experience and thoughtful insight having worked across the international development sector for nearly two decades. He is a passionate advocate for nurturing localized and peoplecentred ways of working, and we are thrilled to have him join the team.
Following our announcement of this exciting news, Steve penned an open letter for all of our supporters to get to know him a little better, as well as sitting down for a short video interview!
MONITORING OUR PROGRESS IN UGANDA
In July, our Uganda Manager Sheila headed to the Northern Region to check in with our local NGO partners ACET Gulu and Oasis Pader. During these trips, Sheila visits many of the children and community members we are working with to listen and learn about their successes and challenges.
Reflecting on her trip, Sheila said: “It was promising to see that many community banking groups set up through our Village Investors Program were directly accessible to child-headed households. Training in financial literacy and business skills is a crucial step in building the independence and resilience of this extremely vulnerable young population.”
VISITING OUR PARTNERS ACROSS KENYA
Throughout the past month, Shadrack and Oswald - our Kenya Manager and Africa Director - have been traveling across Kenya to visit four of our partners. Pictured here is Oswald checking in with a new community banking group set up through our Village Investors Program (VIP) in Loitokitok.
This is one of six new groups that has introduced 126 parents and guardians to finance and business training. We are delighted that 85% of the new members are women, many of whom will be able to access loans and business-support for the first time.
SHARING OUR LATEST PROGRESS REPORT
In August, we published our latest Progress Report outlining the impact and achievements of our Child Headed Households Program in 2023. Across the year, we worked with 670 of the most vulnerable children in the communities we work with - those living without the support, care and guidance of a parent or guardian.
During the year, 40 households made up of 124 children completed their final year of training. By this point, the households’ average annual income was equivalent to $750 and 83% of school-aged children were back attending school full-time, up from 51% when they joined the program.
PARTNER UPDATES
LEARNING NEW SKILLS
Here’s a snapshot of some of the incredible work you have made possible over the past few months.
HARNESSING CREATIVITY IN UGANDA
Creating Kids’ Clubs at the heart of communities is a key part of our work to improve child protection. Not only are the clubs a safe space where vulnerable children can access social and emotional support, the clubs take a direct role in generating an income to provide financial assistance too.
In northern Uganda, eight Kids’ Clubs are taking a unique approach to their enterprise. Having recently completed training on how to design and craft sandals using old tyres, members of the clubs have been working hard to produce as many sandals as they can which they sell on for a profit, generating over $800 so far!
PASSING ON SKILLS IN MALAWI
In August, 48 young people who had dropped out of school in central Malawi completed pass-on training through our Vocational Training Program with the support of our partner MPC Nkhoma. Learning trades such as carpentry, tailoring and bricklaying, the recent cohort were in fact all trained by previous graduates of the program who have now entered the world of work.
Passing on skills creates a ripple effect across communities. Taking what they have learnt, all graduates of the program are more likely to find work and access opportunities to earn a sustainable income for themselves and their families.
PRIORITIZING EDUCATION IN TANZANIA
Our partner Fanisi Tanzania recently updated us on the progress of the 10 Child Rights Clubs we are supporting together in schools across the Mwanza region. One impact that we are delighted to share is that there have not been any cases of children dropping out of the 10 schools since January!
Crucial to the success of the clubs are the Matrons and Patrons - trained teachers in each school who are responsible for educating students on their rights, handling cases of abuse alongside Child Help Desk Officers, and ensuring that children who may be at risk of leaving school can access the care and support that they need.
LAUNCHING EXCITING NEW PARTNERSHIPS IN KENYA AND MALAWI
We are delighted to announce that we have begun working with two more local organizations, Undugu Kilifi and Y-Malawi, over the last few months.
Joining our current network of 13 incredible in-country partners, our work with both organizations will provide vital support to children living in extreme poverty and those who are at risk in communities across Kenya and Malawi.
Click the button below to find out more about both of our new partners, where we will be working together and the difference we will make.
DELIVERING OUR CHILD RIGHTS PROGRAM IN NORTHERN UGANDA
PROTECTING CHILDREN’S
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Today, 38% of school-aged children in Uganda are living in poverty and are deprived of many of their fundamental rights, such as access to quality education and protection from violence and abuse.
With our partner Oasis Pader, we are tackling this issue head on. In the past year, we have set up eight new Child Rights Clubs in schools in the Latanya and Porogali communities, where around 240 children have learnt about their rights and responsibilities and taken part in outreach activities such as dance and drama performances to spread awareness throughout their communities.
Together with trained teachers and safeguarding bodies, the clubs ensure that children who are at an increased risk of emotional, sexual and physical abuse have a network around them who
stand up for and protect their rights.
In just one year, the members of the clubs have run more than 40 campaigns in their communities to raise awareness and start conversations about the issues children are facing. As a result, 132 cases of abuse have been reported, and there has been an increase in enrolment at all eight schools.
Each of the clubs have also started their own Income Generating Activities (IGAs). From food gardens to making and selling soap, IGAs are business ideas that enable the clubs to financially support their most vulnerable peers.
CLUB MEMBER IN NORTHERN UGANDA
“I AM EXCITED TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION” SAMUEL, A CHILD RIGHTS
Meet Samuel, a 10-year-old student at Latanya Primary School.
Throughout his time at school Samuel often felt like he didn’t fit in with other children in his class.
At home, Samuel lives with his four siblings and their mother who runs a small farming business. The income from her business is rarely enough to meet their needs and so Samuel used to go to school without a uniform like his classmates. Sometimes he would even miss school altogether when she could not afford the fees.
After a Child Rights Club was set up in his school, Samuel became a member and was encouraged to take part in all the different games and activities. He found himself particularly enjoying the
drama performances as well as getting stuck in with his club’s soap making-andselling IGA.
Recognizing his difficult situation at home, his teacher who is involved in running the club identified Samuel as one of four children that their IGA could support by paying for his school fees and a new uniform. This has made a big difference to his confidence and feeling of belonging at school, and ensures he won’t miss out on any more of his education.
