Empower - To develop the capacity and skills of former child soldiers, victims of war, women returnees and children born in captivity in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
Rehabilitate- The prevention or relief of poverty of former child soldiers, victims of war, women returnees and children born in captivity by providing or assisting in the provision of education, training, healthcare projects and all the necessary support designed to enable them to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient.
Enhance - To enhance and advance the education for the public benefit by raising awareness about the impact of mental illness in Africa.
Relief - The relief of sickness and promotion of good health through provision of psychotherapy for rescued child soldiers still suffering from post-war trauma in Northern Uganda and to build rehabilitation centres for the continued provision of on-going psychotherapy given to rescued child soldiers and victims of war.
FIDA Uganda
So far the charity has successfully organised donation events in partnership with FIDA in Gulu, Northern Uganda, at which goods were donated to groups of formerly abducted women/child soldiers based on need. Previous donations included sewing machines, Bitenge (traditional material), food items and other materials necessary for making bags, dolls and elephants which enabled female victims of war/women returnees from Can Rwede Peke group to improve the quality and quantity of their locally sold products and rent a location for products to be made. At the second donation event in July 2016, the charity donated farming equipment, arts & crafts supplies and clothes to various groups of female victims of war /women returnees who had never received any form of help since escaping from the war. The women also performed cultural dances, singing heartfelt songs about their life experiences and were also able to engage in open therapeutic dialogue about mental healing and psychical well-being.
Laroo ADRA School in Gulu
which caters to over 800 pupils from the ages of 6-19, many of whom are rescued child soldiers and victims of war who come from backgrounds of extreme poverty. With their families being unable to afford to pay for their daily upkeep and feeding in their household, and the struggle of raising children with disabilities, the school is home to 43 hearing impaired pupils, providing food, shelter and an education.
We are currently working closely with the school to help improve the learning experience and living standards of their 43 hearing impaired pupils.
VAC- NET
In order to ensure that we are able to assist in the provision of education, training and healthcare projects, which will help our beneficiaries to generate sustainable income and be self-sufficient, I am Somebody's Child Soldier has partnered with a local Ugandan NGO, called Volunteer Action Network (VAC-NET) to help fund business skills/development training, money management training, leadership skills and micro-loans for the beneficiaries identified through FIDA.
IT HUB
IamSCS is in the process of setting up an IT hub which will benefit over 1000 people by the end of the project. IAMSCS believes that by empowering these children with digital skills, will have a wider positive effect on the community, as the children will pass on their training and knowledge to their families initially, and gradually children will be able to train other members of the community in exchange for a wage, thus promoting financial socialisation and community reintegration. The Hub will act as a central, communal space where interaction and collaboration can take place, thus strengthening community links in a previously unstable area. Moreover, the IT Hub will enable the children to integrate into external societies,creating new work capacities that will enable them to overcome barriers they currently face,especially from a global south perspective. IAMSCS is sensitive to establishing best practices, but ensuring they match the cultural identity of the local area.
