Youth Rehabilitation Center, Gulu

More than half of the population in Uganda is younger than 15 years. Although both primary and secondary education are free of charge, the high population growth rate poses great challenges for the school infrastructure. In particular, children whose parents cannot afford the costs of private schools have few chances of obtaining a good school leaving certificate and vocational training. Thus, everyday life in state educational institutions is characterized by overcrowded classes and poorly trained teaching staff. In addition, there is a very high rate of school drop-outs even before the transition to secondary school.

Together with the organisation Children Care Uganda, help alliance supports socially disadvantaged young people without school-leaving qualifications in the region of Gulu, in the northwest of Uganda, to gain access to education. Through workshops and training sessions in a safe home, the children are given hope and future prospects.

The project is aimed at young people aged between 12 and 20 who have dropped out of school due to poverty, homelessness or health restrictions. About 50 young people are expected to benefit from the various measures in the project every year.

Besides the young people themselves, their families and friends also benefit from the project. The city of Gulu benefits from the reduction of crime and the increase in qualified workers. In addition, the trainers and teachers can generate income by working in the youth centre.

As a result of the frequent early school leaving, the young people lack all basic competences in the school, but also in the social and technical areas. The lack of training leads in most cases to unemployment. Poverty, physical limitations or homelessness ultimately result in a lack of prospects for young people on the one hand, and force many of them into crime in order to ensure their daily survival on the other hand.

In order to be able to support the young people even better in the future, a number of improvement measures are planned for the coming years:

By building a library, which will contain a range of books (e.g. school books from primary to university level, but also history books, novels, comics, cultural books, etc.), the center aims to create an open space for learning and enjoyment. This should motivate children and young people to continue their education, but also to read and discuss more. The place will be powered by a solar system to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. There is no public library in the area of Bungatira (Northern Uganda) and this will be of great benefit to the children and young people of the local community.

In addition, a soccer pitch is to be built. So far, the soccer pitch of a nearby elementary school can be used. However, this makes the center dependent on the opening hours of the elementary school and deprives them of the flexibility to hold training sessions. With their own soccer pitch, a space can finally be created for the children and young people in the community to meet and learn social, stress-relieving (mental health) and physical skills.

Your donation will help us to build and equip the youth center, the library and the soccer pitch, as well as provide food for the young people.