We promote the rights of children, women and other vulnerable groups. Our work strengthens child protection, prevents and responds to gender-based violence (GBV), and promotes social and economic empowerment. RIDE-AFRICA promotes human rights focusing more on 2nd and 3rd generation rights.
Projects Under Human and Gender Equality
1) Promotion and Protection of Children’s Rights
RIDE-AFRICA supports the promotion and protection of children’s rights and responsibilities in Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Bunyangabu and Kamwenge Districts. We build and strengthen capacities of orphans and vulnerable children to advocate for the promotion and protection of children’s rights. This is done through child rights clubs in schools. We further work with community structures such as the Human Rights Ambassadors to intensify mobilization and sensitization of communities on children’s rights and responsibilities as well as the need to end domestic violence. We further work with child rights monitoring committees that support child rights clubs in the management, diversification and sustainability of income generating activities.
RIDE-AFRICA has established and trained 130 Children’s Rights Clubs in children’s rights promotion and protection where thousands of children are now able to voice out their concerns/issues and standing against abuse, and believing in their potential.
Through these clubs, more than 4,000 children have returned to school with the our support of scholastic material.
Through OutReach Programs , the child rights clubs have increased awareness among pupils, teachers, parents and the general community on the need for the promotion and protection of children’s and responsibilities.
2) Vocational skills training
Human Rights and Democracy Link Africa supports Orphans and Vulnerable Youth with skills for employability in the Green Economy.
So far in Kyenjojo and Ntoroko districts, RIDE-AFRICA has supported 130 OVC in carpentry, mechanics, tailoring and hair dressing. Each one of them earns a monthly income ranging from (USD 55) 200,000= to (USD 110) 400,000= Uganda shillings which enables them to meet their basic necessities of life thus able to avoid some of the abuses arising from high levels of poverty.
3) Economic and Social Empowerment for Child-Headed Households
RIDE-AFRICA supports child-headed households (CHHs) in Kyenjojo and Ntoroko districts, enabling children rebuild their lives with dignity. Such households are increasing as children lose both parents to HIV/AIDS, and civil conflict. With extended family systems weakening, safety nets are thin, leaving children, especially girls, highly vulnerable. Our program strengthens livelihoods through provision of income generating projects, farming, vocational training and construction of houses for the most vulnerable children.
107 households have been supported to improve food security, while 10 families with risky housing structures were supported to build safer semi-permanent houses with solar lighting and rainwater harvesting tanks. Yet many more child headed house-holds remain in insecure housing conditions. Each new semi-permanent structure costs about USD 2,800.
4) Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)
RIDE-AFRICA has long promoted Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to build economic resilience among rural, vulnerable women and youth in Kyenjojo, Bunyangabu, Kabarole and Ntoroko Districts. Across four districts, over 196 groups with 25-30 members of which each group have saved an average of UGX 4,350,0000 million Ugandan shillings (USD 1,175), enabling households to invest in farming, education, small businesses, and healthcare. While VSLAs foster solidarity and self-reliance, they cannot meet the growing demand for affordable finance. Plans are underway to federate these groups into a community-based digital SACCO, paving the way for broader, inclusive, and sustainable economic empowerment.
5) Equipping Women and Youth to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism (PVE)
Preventing violent Extremism project (PVE) in Kabarole is empowering women especially young women to actively engage in preventing violent extremism which is a proven catalyst for lasting peace. By building their knowledge on radicalization drivers, conflict resolution and community based protection tools. Women become trusted messengers who can spot early warning signs and steer a risk youth a way from extremist narratives.
The engagement is providing women with knowledge in conducting dialogues and mediation skills with an outcome to rise in communities reporting of radicalization risks and increase in women’s participation in local PVE committees.
The project aligns well with the SDG 5 and 16 which emphasizes Gender equality and creating safer spaces for women’s participation and leadership respectively.
Hence the project promotes gender equality and peaceful co-existence enabling youth to thrive and live responsible lives.