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It is estimated that there are more than 2 million orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) in Uganda, and they face multifaceted challenges in their lives including poverty, family conflicts, poor health, lack of food, housing, sanitation, and education.

Out of the over 400 registered children, CHAIN in partnership with GOAF (Global Orphans Assistance Fund) is currently supporting 80 children in terms of school fees, scholastic materials, clothing and basic needs.

Aims & objectives of the program

CHAIN aims to improve the quality of life for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Uganda.

Objectives

To provide education and enrichment of orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda.
To provide support and care that lead to improved quality of life for girl and boy OVCs.

Currently the fund is benefiting orphans (primary school) in Wakiso district and Kampala suburb, this being the area neighbouring the CHAIN office. This is aimed at creating impact in the project area.

Secondary school students, who meet the criteria, come from all parts of the country, namely Central, Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Regions.

Criteria used to select students
The selection considers three categories of students: universal / primary school students and / secondary (boarding) school students and university student.

Universal / Primary , Secondary School Scholarship Awards
In order to qualify for a scholarship the primary school student has to be an orphan or vulnerable child lacking the fees to attend school. Preference is given to children who have lost both parents and are in the care of:

Elderly guardians (70 + years old) with no dependable income
Child-headed households
Chronically ill head of household / caregiver - households where the care givers are chronically ill or living with HIV and AIDS and the poverty status of the household is in the needy category of the community in which they live
Children affected by conflict or war especially Northern part of Uganda, and
Households where the caregivers are healthy but with the number of orphans taken in so large that family food security becomes a serious problem.

University student.
In order to qualify for a scholarship the university student has to be an orphan or vulnerable child lacking the fees to attend school. Preference was given to student who comes from war torn areas in the Northern Uganda.

The holiday program for the orphans and vulnerable children is one of the major activities at the Ladd Children’s Centre. Over 85 children between the ages of 6 to 18 years attend this programme for one month during their holiday break. They enjoy it very much.
The children get the opportunity to acquire skills which include reading, drawing, painting, sports, handicrafts, leadership skills, self esteem, communication, story telling, singing, dancing and drama. Counselling and psychosocial support is also offered to the OVC from traumatized families and those going through adolescence.

In partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation, an inter governmental organisation, CHAIN has recently implemented a six months project to improve the social and economic wellbeing of OVC and their guardians affected by HIV in Kawempe division, Kampala district(Project report).The project provided support to traumatised OVC, Life skills, respite care, outreach session to bedridden clients and economic empowerment to older OVC and their guardians. In total 126 people (including children and their households) benefitted from the project.