Project Description

Children with Disabilities

Children with disabilities (CWDS) are a vital and valuable part of our society, yet the most marginalised and vulnerable group of persons in Uganda. They are abused, exploited and excluded by the societies they live in, denying them of their inalienable and recognised rights.

Uganda has broadly domesticated the rights of CWDS as enshrined in both the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which was ratified by Uganda in 1990 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) with its optional protocol ratified by Uganda on September 25, 2008 without reservations. By so doing, Uganda committed itself to accord all rights stated in the UN human rights instruments to PWDs like all other citizens.

The provisions are recognised in the constitution of 1995 and in most of the laws and policies establishing the rights PWDs and/or children including, but not limited to the Children’s Act and PWDs Act of 2006.

In spite of the fact that the rights of CWDS are acknowledged, some of the provisions to realise them do not meet the standards expected by the CRC and the UN CRPD and as a result, CWDS have suffered disproportionately. The data relating to CWDS are scarce and to some extent, unreliable. However, the research study conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) between November 2013 and February 2014, and also based on the estimates, the child disability prevalence is about 13% or 2.5 million people living with some form of disability in Uganda. Henceforth, CWDS are vulnerable to a number of challenging issues recognised as follows: Click on the below for additional details.

Community misconceptions and stigmas

Community misconceptions and stigmas remain associated with CWDS and this causes neglect, isolation, abuse and marginalisation of CWDS by communities and families leading to increased discrimination. CWDS are under looked by their fellow peers in the societies that they live. Some parents have had and continue to have negative attitudes towards CWDS. A study conducted by the African Child Policy Forum in 2009 revealed that parents of CWDS and the immediate family members are the most perpetrators of violence against CWDS. Parents often hide CWDS and deny them of their rights, thinking that they are totally helpless. Communities view CWDS as objects of charity worthy of no existence. This has, as a result, affected the ambitions of CWDS.

CWDS always underestimate themselves before others in society. They think they do not fit in the society like how other able bodied children do. This is visible in self pity, loss of self esteem and non- reporting of human rights violations against them. The situation is made worse by the service providers and the general public who do not appreciate that to accord CWDS their rights is an obligation. CWDS, therefore, have grown miserable and lack social networking skills.

Hunger is a painful reality that CWDS go through in their day to day lives. Inadequate nutrition at a young age prevents CWDS from developing properly both physically and cognitively. This leads to poor health due to lack of food security.

The enrollment rate of CWDS in pre-primary, primary and secondary school is very low. About 9% of CWDS attend school and only 6% of these children complete primary school and go to study in secondary schools according to a study conducted by UNICEF. The UBOS statistical abstract 2010 survey states that disability is one of the major factors for children not attending school and according to the figures, 30% of the children aged 7 gave disability as one of the reasons for not going to school.

The 2002 national census estimated that about 2.5 million Ugandans were PWDs with only 2.2% of these having gone beyond primary school. The 2009 Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) report cited rampant dropout rates of PWDs. It noted that many disabled children fall behind and discouraged by repeated failure, dropout of school. Denying CWDS their education is interpreted as denying their way of livelihood.

There is limited involvement or no involvement of CWDS, their parents or guardians in formulation, dissemination and implementation of the laws and policies that relates to them. Worse to that, even the relevant persons that take care of CWDS are also not engaged in the formulation, dissemination and implementation of such laws and policies. This has, as a result, led to ignorance and ineffective implementation of the existing laws and policies that could be enforced by CWDS and their parents or guardians to cause inclusiveness.

Weak institutional framework and a lack of coordination between government institutions and civil society organisations of persons with disabilities means there is little community mobilisation or advocacy for CWDS.

HOPE FOR SARAH

Sarah is one of the children with disabilities we have under the care of CCREP. She was born lame and for nine years struggled on the ground, as you can see in the pictures on the left.

Thanks to our generous donors, as of September 2019, Sarah now has a wheelchair and hope for a better future. (Please see the pictures on the right, Sarah with her father and CCREP staff.)

You can help Sarah further by sending her to school.

Monthly cost for primary school $35

Donate for Sarah

Sponsorship

In addition to Sarah, CCREP has other children with disabilities that need support. Our hope is that every child would have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

  A $35 monthly sponsorship provides school fees, medical care, meals and scholastic materials for pre-primary and primary school.
  A $50 monthly sponsorship provides for secondary school.
  A $65 monthly sponsorship provides for vocational training.

The need is overwhelming in our operating area, and a lot of children see themselves stuck where they’re at. Please consider sponsoring a child today.

CHANGE A LIFE TODAY

As long as poverty, injustice & inequality persist, none of us can truly rest. It doesn’t take much to change a life, Get in touch today and start making the difference.

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