Child Abuse Programme Grants (2008)

Eastern Africa

• Action for Self Reliance Organization

  To contribute to the reduction of child sexual abuse and exploitation through the initiation of community and school-led child protection mechanisms. The incidence of sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the project area in Ethiopia is quite high and if the community ignores the current situation, there will be long-term negative effects, primarily on the lives of children and the development of the entire community. (Over three years)

• Action Professionals’ Association for the People (APAP)

  To encourage the active engagement of legal professionals and community institutions in prevention work and to facilitate friendly legal services for child victims of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. APAP will work with legal professionals, law faculty, students and community paralegals to develop child-friendly legal services in selected towns such as Kaliti, Awasa, Debre Berhan and Nazareth. (Over three years)

• ANPPCAN Ethiopia Chapter

  To contribute towards the reduction and eventual elimination of child sexual abuse and exploitation through preventive and rehabilitative programmes implemented both in selected schools and the ANPPCAN community recreation centre. Through this project, ANPPCAN proposes to continue the operation of its child helpline service coupled with the provision of medical, legal and counselling support to child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. (Over three years)

• Emmanuel Development Association

  To ensure the well-being of children through a community-based child-care development programme in Ethiopia. The programme will empower abused and vulnerable children economically and psycho-socially, so as to enable them to become self-reliant and self-supporting. Furthermore, it will build the capacity of children, allowing them to take on increased responsibilities and to report cases of abuse to the authorities and other responsible bodies. The programme will enable community stakeholders to involve themselves in the prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation by strengthening links with local government bodies, schools, courts, police, hospitals and NGOs in a sustainable way. (Over three years)

• Ethiopian Association Against Harmful Traditional Practices (EGLDAM)

  To promote the civil and human rights of girls and women in the Bassona Werana district by reducing the incidence of interlinked and harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation, abduction/rape and early marriage. EGLDAM is an indigenous NGO established for the purpose of promoting and encouraging traditional practices that have a positive impact and discouraging those that adversely affect the health and well-being of Ethiopian people in general, and women and female children in particular. (Over three years)

• Hiwot Ethiopia

  To increase the involvement of men and boys in the fight against child abuse in general, and sexual abuse and sexual exploitation more specifically, through a city-wide radio campaign and through community level work. Since a large number of abuses are perpetrated by men and boys, their involvement in preventing child abuse and sexual exploitation is pivotal to sustaining change.

• Mkombozi Center for Street Children

  To establish protection services for child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. This project aims to provide a range of services to victims in Arusha Town which include setting up child protection desks at selected police stations; a help-line service for case reporting; a local medical unit where evidence can be collected in a safe and caring environment and counselling can be offered; a system of pro bono legal support for children; a child-friendly court; a programme of family and/or community care for victims; and an awareness-raising campaign to mobilise the community to take concrete action to prevent such abuses.

• OPRIFS

  To provide temporary shelter, basic services and reunification assistance to sexually abused and exploited children. Sexually abused and exploited children in particular are also provided with training on child rights and basic business skills which they can use upon their eventual return to their families. As part of its prevention efforts, OPRIFS will also work in close partnership with selected schools and communities to create an informal child protection mechanism which will facilitate the reporting of cases, investigation, and the provision of support to victims and their families. (Over three years)

• Pact Ethiopia

  To support the integration of child protection issues into WORTH, a women’s empowerment and literacy-led saving and credit programme in Ethiopia and Tanzania, and to enhance the protection of children from abuse in general and sexual abuse in particular. (Over two years)

• PANOS Eastern Africa

  To create positive media coverage about vulnerable children in order to encourage their protection from sexual abuse and exploitation. PANOS will work in Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya to develop effective and positive media programmes and documentary films, and will closely involve journalists and media owners in this prevention and protection project. (Over three years)

• Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN)

  To ensure the protection and respect of children’s rights in Kampala district. To achieve this, a multi-sectoral approach will be adopted. The core implementing partners of this joint programme will provide services including: healthcare (Uganda Reproductive Health Bureau); shelter (Dwelling Places, Action For Children, Kampala Central Police Station, Women And Youth Services); legal assistance (FIDA); and awareness-raising, advocacy and capacity building (ANPPCAN-Uganda Chapter). UCRNN is the host agency and manages and coordinates the programme.

• Uganda Youth Development Link

  To create a strong referral network that brings together communities, law enforcement officers, teachers and service providers to protect children from sexual abuse and sexual exploitation especially, and which facilitates the timely delivery of services to abused children. (Over two years)

• University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Jane Adams College

  To build the capacity of community workers working with children, families and communities with the ultimate aim of protecting children from sexual abuse and sexual exploitation in particular. This training programme is the first of its kind in the US and will be directed towards people already involved in community work. The UIC will collaborate with the Addis Ababa University, School of Social Work and the Ethiopian Society of Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology. The programme will have theoretical and practical components and will give trainees the opportunity to practise what they have learned.

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