ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN

  ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN  UGANDA

 

Throughout our time in Uganda we have found several things that have sparked our attention to our topic of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) as we traveled around Kampala and later Rakai.  As we began our first days touring Kampala, we were exposed to two great youth programs including Musana Music Centre, a full brass band that practices frequently.  While we are fond of the program’s developmental aspects, we also noticed haggles of children running after us or around a corner, often without parental observation. While walking down to the Centre it was concerning to see a baby squatting on the front porch of a house and defecating while sitting in it. We were startled by the unsanitary situation of youths throughout the village. Young children around 5 years old carrying another two year old on their back seemed to be the norm as kids were looking after each other.  We thought this excessive responsibility robbed the children of their right to play and be a child. However, given the fact that Ugandan culture seems to emphasize the importance of the family and the community over the individual, the kids may not see this as a burden but rather as a natural part of being in a family.

 

 

Perhaps one of the most informative and interesting experiences that allowed us to dive into our study more in depth, was the time we spent Friday morning with Joseph Rutaraka, a Rakai Health Sciences Center employee and founder of the Rakai Orphans Hope Projects (ROHP). Through Joseph’s lecture we learned much more about Uganda and specifically Rakai related to OVC.  There were things that we expected to hear that contributed to the burden of the issue in Rakai including the high rates of poverty, abuse, malnourishment, disease and disability. We found that one common way a child might be orphaned is if their parents cannot support their basic needs due to economic hardship, shame, or cultural issues. 

We were surprised to find some of the other conditions surrounding a child’s entry into OVC. It’s shocking to hear of parents having to abandon their children due to complications in relationships and other controversial topics. Armed conflict also resulted in OVC whom may have been involved with groups condoning murder or cannibalism. In Rakai specifically, HIV is the leading cause of orphaned children. In Uganda there are 2.5 million orphans and of them 1.2 million are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. We also learned about some of the positive interventions and programs targeted at OVCs. Compassion International is one of the leading organizations supporting child programs in Uganda and throughout the world. We had the opportunity to visit one of the Compassion International sites in Rakai. The place was beautiful; the church was painted very colorfully with scenes from the Bible around the outside. As the program directors gave us a tour of the office, we could hear the children singing gospel songs inside the church as part of Compassion’s day program.

 

After opening our eyes more to the situation and state of orphans in Rakai district, Joseph shared with us the driving force behind his passion for working with orphans. At the age of 10, after his parents died of HIV/AIDS, Joseph became the head of his household and became responsible for his younger siblings. Thankfully, Joseph and his two siblings were all born HIV-negative, and they were able to enter a child sponsorship program through Compassion International, which gave Joseph the opportunity to attend not only primary and secondary school, but university as well. After university, Joseph moved to Rakai District to do research at the Rakai Health Sciences Center and has continued supporting ROPH.  We were so honored to hear this story and though it truly encompassed the success and benefit we so deeply hope orphans and vulnerable children can achieve.

In conclusion, the major cause of orphans in Rakai district and Uganda generally is death of parents as a result of being infected with HIV/AIDS, but it’s a relief to know that many approaches are being put in place to reduce the incidence of the disease in Rakai district. For example, the Stylish Living campaign by the Rakai Health Sciences Center, in which a van is used for “edutainment” (educational entertainment) and people of both sexes are encouraged and advised to make better, healthier choices, for example through circumcision, avoiding multi-sexual partners, use of condoms, and testing to know one’s HIV status. We were so excited to hear about and see all the efforts on behalf of the local people of Rakai to improve the lives of its children, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS, and feel blessed to have been able to see these incredible initiatives firsthand!