Executive summary
Today over 15,000 Ugandan children are living in the streets, about 34% of the girl child population are married off before their 18th birthday, and over 7.5% before their 15th birthday, over 64% of the child population go through child labor and abuse annually as disclosed by the Uganda Child and Family Protection Unit.
The highlighted issues result due to lack of knowledge and insufficient parental involvement in child development which consequently has contributed to poor parent-child relationships and low self-esteem in children, especially targeting marginalized children of Uganda.
Bold Child Uganda Prototyped and launched its first parenting Training program to acquaint a small group of parents with basic and practical Knowledge on proper parenting practices in Eastern Uganda in a small community called Adacar Village, Usuk sub-county in Katakwi District.
A group of 12 out of the originally 16 registered parents attended fully and completed a three month Parenting Training that was taught in curriculum based modules and delivered twice a week where they learnt basics of child rearing and child development.
We are happy to have prepared and trained these young energetic and promising parents to catalyze their children's development needs.
About Us
We are a locally-led Ugandan Nonprofit Organization that partners with Marginalized communities, particularly parents, to implement a human-centric approach, Equipping them with basic and practical skills, strategies and Knowledge they need to respond to issues disturbing child development.
Bold Child Uganda started and launched in 2022 in Uganda to help vulnerable children thrive and catalyze their potential through their own parents by promoting Positive Parenting and complete parental involvement in sexuality Education, Issues our team had seen and experienced firsthand. We are looking at transforming parental involvement in child development by impacting over 8 million young and becoming parents with basic and practical skills, tools, and knowledge on child development. As a result, we hope to drive and use parents as amplifiers to leverage systematic and sustainable approaches to child Development.
Our mission
To promote parental involvement in child development while amplifying parent-child relationships.
Our Vision
We Envision an Empowered Parent-child Environment that unlocks the potential, well-being and opportunities for Vulnerable Children.
Our governing Objectives
To build strong, healthy, and justifiable relationships between Marginalized parents and children by Empowering parents with skills and knowledge of child development
To safeguard and promote the well-being of marginalized children.
To provide for the social, Educational, and economic adversity of Vulnerable Children.
To Endorse, promote, and advocate for children’s rights, especially for children vulnerable to all forms of abuse.
To continuously design research-based solutions to issues affecting child development in Marginalized communities.
To associate, partner, and collaborate with stakeholders, institutions, and organizations having objectives wholly, or in part, or similar to those of this society.
To promote Education and Talents among Marginalized children and link them to such opportunities for nurturing.
To promote and work for social development, capacity Building, and Entrepreneurship skilling of Marginalized parents and children.
To promote and work with Parents to support Menstrual Hygiene and sexual Reproductive health & information, especially in Marginalized communities.
To campaign for awareness on the aforesaid issues by disseminating among the general public.
To conduct various studies on issues disturbing the social, Emotional, and physical abilities of Marginalized children to thrive from time to time.
To mentor and provide guidance that will enhance the capacity of Vulnerable Children to succeed.
To Encourage and popularize voluntary work
To generate awareness and sensitize Marginalized communities to embrace government programs for the development of their communities and most importantly provide any other kind of assistance possible for their wellbeing
Introduction to the program and Training Objectives
Bold Child Uganda headquartered in Kampala works with Marginalized communities across Uganda prototyped and launched the first ever Parenting Training in Eastern Uganda in a small community called Adacar Village, Usuk County in Katakwi District located in the far north of Teso region and successfully registered interest of 16 parents aged between 18-35.
The Parents are peasants who depend on farming particularly to sustain and provide for their small families. Their farming is dependent on occasional rains that occur in two seasons annually in Early February March, April and then August, September and October.
While 4 of the 16 parents were single mothers, 2 were caregivers, and 10 were couples. All the training was conducted at the programs community coordinators home.
Parenting Training Objectives & Goals.
To help parents understand their children's individual needs and development, as well as their own roles and responsibilities
To help parents promote positive parenting practices and help children do well in life
To motivate and encourage parents to support child development.
Overview of Program Activities and Initiatives
Here is the breakdown of the program that was run across the three months.
Date | Activities/ Initiatives | Responsible Person | Comments |
02th-11th /8/2023 | Announcements and Recruitment of young and Becoming Parents between ages of 19-35 | Gabriel Okou, a community coordinator |
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12th/8/2023 | We started by asking parents their training expectations before Launching off the Parenting Training with the first session on Parenting science ( 2 hrs) | Isaac ,Joseph & Caroline |
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26th/8/2023 | Returned to the community and conducted the second session Leadership at home | Isaac, Joseph & Caroline |
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27th/8/2023 | Ran through the third session communication at home | Isaac, Joseph & Caroline |
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9th/9/2023 | Traveled back to the community and conducted the fourth session Parent and Child Roles and Responsibilities | Isaac, Joseph & Caroline |
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10th/9/2023 | Conducted session Five Learning styles of children | Caroline, Isaac & Joseph |
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30th/9/2023 | Returned to the community and conducted session six Naming and understanding Emotions of children. | Isaac, Caroline & Joseph |
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1st/09/2023 | Ran through session seven self esteem, self awareness and cultivating Resilience | Isaac, Joseph & Caroline |
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7th/09/2023 | Returned to the community and conducted session Eight Stress Management and conflict resolution | Caroline & Isaac |
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8th/09/2023 | Conducted session Nine, cultivating Respect | Isaac & Caroline |
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9th/11/2023 | Conducted session Ten, Developing interpersonal relationships | Joseph, Isaac & Caroline |
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10th/11/2023 | Conducted session Eleven, Discipline and Punishment at home | Isaac, Joseph & Caroline |
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11th/11/2023 | Concluded the training with distribution of organization T-shirts to all the participants Thanked all the participants for their time and agreeing to attend the course. Shared with them exciting upcoming opportunities. | Isaac, Caroline & Joseph |
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Program Costs
Bold Child Uganda entirely depends on membership contributions as a source of income to run the Organization expenses.
As the founding Members, We made a commitment to contribute Uganda Shilling 120,000/= approximating to $30 US Dollars monthly which goes to support the project budget plans and activities for the organization.
Below is the break down of the expenses during the three month training
S/N | Item/ Activity | Unit cost | Quantity | Total Amount |
01. | Training Materials, Notebooks, pens, paper, markers. | 30,000ugx per person the whole training | 16 parents | 480,000ugx |
02. | Training Refreshments ( soda+biscuits) | 40,000ugx per day | 2 cartons of 1 box of biscuits per training day | 410,000ugx |
03. | Transport facilitation | 80,000ugx per weekend per staff member | 3 staff members | 1,480,000ugx |
04. | Staff Meals | 15,000ugx per staff member, per day | 3 staff members | 495,000ugx |
05. | Accomodation | 30, 000ugx per day | 3 staff members | 900,000ugx |
06. | Printing of T-shirts | 21,000 | 16 | 336,000ugx |
07. | Airtime for the community coordinator | 30,000ugx for the whole training time | 1 | 30, 000ugx |
4,161,022ugx | ||||
Total. | 1,155 US dollars |
Successful Stories and Case Studies
While 12 participants made 100% attendance of the program, All the 16 originally registered parents had a lot to thank Bold child Uganda for.
We documented exciting progress and impactful stories which the parents were able to talk about as follows:
They realized an increase in confidence in handling their children and responding positively to their needs.
They had become complete leaders and better parents to hand their childrens growth.
They could easily find engaging ways to talk and connect with their children and be bonded friends.
They got to know a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities in child development
They understood how to manage their stress levels and keep on track better parenting techniques
They learnt better disciplinary measures to adopt and desist child abuse that interferes child abilities to thrive.
They were ready to catalyze and identify the Unique abilities in their children and avail the necessary support they would need.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Strength and Achievements
The Training program was delivered in curriculum based modules that tackle basics of child development. The team put up their resources, Resilience and passion to have the program completed.
There was an overwhelming reception from the community by complete embracement of the program, we witnessed first hand demand for the program by the communities around and beyond after prior understanding and knowledge about the program.
Overwhelming impact stories from the parents documented during the training.
We impacted 16 young parents with basic and practical Knowledge on child rearing, knowledge they will use throughout their lifetime to catalyze an Empowered Parent-child Environment for their children.
Over 39 children well connected with their parents stirring strong Parent-child relationships and building high self-esteem that will leverage opportunities for them.
All the 16 parents will receive certificates of completion of Parenting Training from the organization.
The Organization availed necessary funding of the activities throughout the three month Parenting training program.
Weakness and Challenges
Distant Marginalized communities where the training are conducted, the trainers had to travel long distances with higher travel cost to the communities each time for the training.
Inconsistent documentation of data and impact analysis due to insufficient man power and personnel especially Monitoring and Evaluation department.
Lack of funds for Motivation and Insufficient facilitation to meet the needs of the trainers and trainees versus high expectations from communities
Loss of interest in the process of Learning due to other personal demands for example four parents failed to attend 100% of classes.
Insufficient training Materials like billboard's, projectors, stationery and manual books that would make the training simpler and clearer to the parents.
Failure to award certificates of completion in time to the parents due to financial constraints.
Opportunities
Overwhelming need and demand for the program by nearby communities and need to respond and formulate foundational Parent-child relationships.
The first and only Organization conducting parent Empowerment and child care in the region.
Strong mentality and Willingness to study and help children thrive and reach their potentialities by parents and Caregivers
Introduction of the MoU and collaboration in the government, subcounties and District level to authorize the organization to conduct numerous trainings.
Board chairs motivational message is a huge boost going forward for the parents, they were eager to meet and speak to her.
Threats
Inadequate technical Expertise and support to handle technical work eg on curriculums
Marketing especially social media and websites
Failure to raise Funds and Resources for the program activities and initiatives in communities the organization is intending to work with.
Rising travel costs and accommodation facilities in the communities.
Future Goals and Plans
We hope to impact over a million parents in the next four years and the market readiness is assured. Our 2024-2025 priority points state that we will be tackling community by community and we intend to train between 50-100 parents in every community in Teso and Karamoja Regions in 2024-2025 work plan
Our 12 parents that we have trained will be critical in our plans for next year's, we hope to work with them in various ways possible, therefore they will remain our key point of contact in the community.
In particular we will be looking forward to seeing and hearing their transformation in the next 2 or more years with the practical Knowledge they have acquired to handle child development, providing long term feedback so we can improve our program.
Our curriculums will be taught within 4 weeks in a very community which makes up a cohort of 1 month where 3 weeks occupy Parenting Training and the other week Parent-Led Puberty and Menstrual Education.
Acknowledgement.
While it's important to note that, the data provided in this report is wholy compiled by Bold Child Uganda.
We want to thank Adacar community and particularly parents that collaborated with us to attend the trainings and provide us with any other information of importance for the program.
We will not forget to thank our Board chair Anh Nguyen for continued support, guidance, mentorship and oversight throughout the program. The message she dedicated to the Parents and the Bold Child Uganda team lifted every one up and synergized Parents even more. They assured us that they would be happy to receive and host you one day.
Bold Child Uganda Team
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