Uganda: FRO
What is the aim of your program? To reintegrate former child soldiers and orphans back into the community using sport and work skills
How many coaches/volunteers work for your program? We always have both international and local volunteers, in a year on average we get between 8 to 10 international volunteers. And many local volunteers plus 180 children leaders at our orphanage.
What social problems does your program address? (e.g. health, conflict etc) Friends of Orphans is a specialist in rehabilitating, reintegrating and empowerment of former child soldiers, orphans, abductees, former abducted child mothers, children heading vulnerable house holds and vulnerable women affected by war and HIV/AIDS.We promote our vision of a society in which the vulnerable are empowered to achieve their full potential and contribute to the development of their community.
FRO addresses both short term and long term development needs of the most vulnerable people in the communities through the following activities: vocational training, education, peace building, games and sports, music dances and cultural activities, human rights, HIV/AIDS, livelihood support activities, and income generating activities
The above programs and activities are run under our mission of empowering, rehabilitating and reintegrating of former abducted child soldiers, former abducted child mothers, abductees, child mothers, orphans, widows, women heading vulnerable house holds and to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Tell us some of the things that you would do in a normal soccer education session with the children?
To use sporting activities to strengthen psychosocial well-being and improve the social integration of former child soldiers, abductees, child mothers, orphans and youth in the IDP camps of Pader district, Northern Uganda.
To use games and sports in improving coping mechanisms and self reliance’s of former abductees, orphans, child mothers and war victims in supporting their social reintegration in to the communities.
To use games and sports as a strong tool in peace building, conflict management and resolution leads to reconciliation.
Training the children to develop their soccer talent, training the children on how soccer promotes good health through exercises.
FRO will support people living with HIV/AIDS through games and sports activities to educate themselves and share information with the broader community on prevention, treatment, care and the elimination of stigma. Games and sports activities also will help people who are dying of HIV/AIDS so that their last weeks, days, hours are free from pain, humiliation and indignity.
To helps different community teams/groups in games and sports activities and to hold competitions to bring different communities together. Games and sports activities are very powerful tools for peace building and reconciliation.
FRO will hold games and sports competitions, which will draws local groups from many different IDP camps – this will encourage interaction and engenders a sense of community. The process will also helps in furthering the rehabilitation and social reintegration of former abducted children, child mothers and orphans in to the community hence peace and harmony in the society.
How many children take part in your program? We are supporting more than 5,000 children in our programs
