For some children not even school feels safe. Edwin, a children’s ministry leader in Kampala, Uganda knows this only too well. He works closely with children in disadvantaged areas of Kampala where they face violence at home and school. “Due to ignorance, many of these children don’t even know it is violence. (It is just part of their daily lives),”Edwin said.
Student Involvement
Spurred on to do something, Edwin and others have been visiting 9000 children in 30 schools. Working with groups of children to find solutions to ending violence in schools. They have looked at the various forms of violence in schools – caning, verbal, sexual, emotional & physical abuse. The workshops advocate a culture of zero tolerance of all forms of violence in schools. Instead promoting positive alternatives such as mentoring, guidance and counselling as a way of encouraging children to learn and strive in schools.
Gala Day for Hope
20 students from each school will attend a special Gala Day of Hope on November 14th. Workshops and activities will help them look at the topic of violence against children. The students will present their ideas at the workshop through writing, song, dance, drama and games.
Edwin wrote, “#ChildrenGala2017 aims to create safe schools in which children in Uganda can learn, play, thrive and develop into productive, self-driven adults. It is to ensure that teachers, fellow children or people they trust, do not trample upon their right to peaceful, secure and enabling school.”
Joseph’s life in the Bible will be used as an example of someone violated by his own brothers and God’s redemptive story that resulted.
Get Involved
Edwin would love your help. Each year Edwin shares messages of hope written or recorded by others around the world to encourage the children who attend. So get involved and share a message of love and hope. If you run a children’s program, you could video your group’s message on your phone or write a message together. Edwin would love your responses by Thu 9 Nov via Whatsapp (if you know him) or email: [email protected]
And check out the KidsHubTV facebook page for an inspiring video of what a group in Kenya are doing to address violence against children.