PROJECTS | Uganda

Girl Soldiers and War Affected Children (GSWAC)

The Girl Soldiers and War Affected Children (GSWAC) project aims to promote the rights and reintegration of war affected girls soldiers and their children in Kitgum district Uganda.

The war between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda has been continuing for 21 years. In the past few years, many children have been abducted by the LRA to serve as child soldiers. Girls are given to rebel commanders as ‘wives’; they are sexually abused leading to early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. They work as cooks and carry heavy equipment during LRA operations.

Child mothers usually have very limited opportunities within their communities after their return from captivity; very few are able to resume formal education. The GSWAC project will provide educational support to girls (and any children born in captivity); provide income-generating opportunities to those that cannot continue with school; increase access to healthcare and reproductive health services; and facilitate reintegration and psychosocial activities in collaboration with the community.

The GSWAC project targets 200 beneficiaries (100 former girl soldiers and 100 children born to them while in captivity). In most cases, child mothers and their children born in captivity are the most vulnerable groups of people associated with armed conflict. In many cases they encounter rejection both at family and community level; they lack basic necessities like shelter, food, clothing and medical care. The project will provide them with competitive life sustaining skills to enable them meet their basic needs and those of their children. Those that can pursue formal education will be reintegrated into formal schools.