Our Work
We are providing the blueprint for sustainable alternatives to orphanages: truly social services run by and for communities to strengthen families.
The Challenge
Orphanages are separating families, fracturing communities, and ultimately harming children. Orphanages are standing in the way of a thriving society yet they are still being set-up and run, in spite of the huge cost to children’s wellbeing and Uganda as a whole. We know change is hard and scary. There are too many orphanages and too few alternatives. They can feel necessary, and seem like the ‘obvious’ solution, when families are in need.
It doesn't have to be this way.
We believe that most people ultimately want what’s best for children. We’ve all felt the desire to want to protect children – regular donations to orphanages demonstrate just how many of us do. We believe it is possible to redirect funding and support towards family based care rather than institutional care, knowing that there are more cost-effective alternatives to orphanages that need to be better understood and promoted.
There is a better way.
Our Approach
We believe that most people ultimately want what’s best for children. We’ve all felt the desire to want to protect children – regular donations to orphanages demonstrate just how many of us do. We believe it is possible to redirect funding and support towards family based care rather than institutional care, knowing that there are more cost-effective alternatives to orphanages that need to be better understood and promoted.
Systemic change through District & Division transformation
Strengthening the community response and Social Service Workforce
Influencing change by advocating and changing hearts and minds
Meet Salma
From a young age, Salma has always had a desire to help people. Through her community volunteer work, Salma supports families to take care of their children. “I have two daughters who are in their teenage years, I grew up with my grandmother, and I know how hard it can be to grow without a mother so I encourage parents in my community to take care of their children,” Salma tells us.
Where We Work
Child’s i Foundation works in Uganda. We work in partnership with the Government, in Tororo and Mpigi district and the Makindye division of Kampala Capital City Authority. We have piloted a youth led care leavers wellbeing project in Masaka and Jinja district, and have also developed a local government led alternative families project in Wakiso district. By working in both rural and urban settings, we are providing a holistic blueprint to make sure that eventually, across all the 135 districts in Uganda, no child ever has to spend a night in an orphanage.
Since 2018, no child has entered an orphanage in the District of Tororo
Children come first,
in everything we do.
We are a child-focused organisation. It is important to us that children’s rights are protected and their voices are heard. We work with the government, to empower communities to put children first and to create systems and structures that prevent the unnecessary separation of children
We cannot do this alone
child in Uganda grows up in a safe and loving family.
