Our Child Protection Programme
- Kids Club Kampala
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
We are delighted to share that Kids Club Kampala has been named Leading Children's Empowerment Charity 2026 - East Africa at the Acquisition International Global Excellence Awards!
This recognition celebrates the impact of our work supporting children and families across East Africa. We are incredibly honoured to receive this award, which would not have been possible without the dedication of our supporters, teams, partners and volunteers.
One of the most vital aspects of our work is our Child Protection Programme, which combines a community-based abuse prevention approach with protection and advocacy to keep children safe in Kampala’s slums. In fact, an independent evaluation by Vashi Impact Group in 2022 found that, of all our programmes, our Child Protection Programme delivers the greatest impact.
In this blog post, we're shining a spotlight on the projects that make up our Child Protection Programme, and showcasing how they work together to create safer communities.
The need for community-based child protection
Research shows that 55% of Ugandan children under the age of five are deprived of at least two of their basic rights, including nutrition, healthcare, education, clean water, shelter and sanitation (United Nations Children’s Fund 2015). In Kampala, the situation is particularly concerning. The city’s multidimensional poverty rate is estimated to be five times higher than the monetary deprivation rate (UNICEF, 2019), which means that most children in Kampala are growing up without the resources and support they need to thrive.
For the past 17 years, we have been working alongside families in Kampala's slum communities, where we have seen first-hand how poverty and vulnerability place children at greater risk of abuse and exploitation. Through extensive consultation with local communities, we understand the complex challenges families face, including financial hardship, unsafe housing and limited access to essential services. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of child abandonment, abuse and neglect have risen significantly, with community leaders and parents increasingly asking for stronger safeguarding support.
These challenges highlight the need for a community-based approach to child protection that not only keeps children safe when they are at risk, but also tackles the root causes that put them at risk in the first place.
Our Child Protection Programme
Our Child Protection Programme responds by providing safe spaces, structured activities, emergency safeguarding, nutritious meals, counselling, legal representation and alternative care, helping to keep children safe while strengthening the communities around them. By investing in community-based child protection, we can respond quickly to safeguarding concerns, support families before crises escalate, and ensure more children grow up in a safe environment.
Our Child Protection Programme is made up of six projects:
Ewafe Project
We work closely with community leaders and local authorities to safeguard children at risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Our Ewafe Project is guided by a commitment to ensuring every child grows up in a safe, loving family. At our transitional home, children receive a secure place to stay, along with the care and support they need while our team works to reunite them with their families or find other suitable family-based care where it is in the child's best interests. Learn more.
Community Feeding Project
Our Community Feeding Project provides nutritious meals and stability to children of all ages during the school holidays. Learn more.
Football Project
Our Football Project gives young boys and girls a safe space to belong and support each other. Through weekly football coaching from trained volunteers, children are supported to improve their self-esteem, football skills, teamwork, and discipline. Learn more.
Saturday Kids Clubs
Our Saturday Kids Clubs provide children with a safe space and the chance to play and enjoy being children. Learn more.
Social Justice Project
Our team of trained safeguarding officers work across Kampala's slum communities, responding to child protection cases. We also provide guidance, advocacy and protection for young people in conflict with the law. Learn more.
Girls Support Groups
We run Girls Support Groups to provide safe spaces, tailored counselling, free resources, peer support, and education for teenage girls. Learn more.
Across all of these projects, children receive free meals, snacks, and drinks, helping to ensure they are well-nourished while taking part in our activities. Collectively, our projects provide joined-up, holistic support that responds to the diverse needs of children and families. For example, the volunteers at our Saturday Kids Clubs can identify children who may be at risk or in need of urgent safeguarding support. These children can then be referred to our other projects, ensuring they receive the protection and ongoing care they need.
What's next?
We are committed to expanding our Child Protection Programme, helping more young people grow up in communities where they can access the vital support they need.
With your help, we can reach more children and families with practical assistance and resources. Just £5 could provide a bespoke counselling session for a teenager facing a difficult situation.
Together, we can make sure more children have someone to turn to when they need it most.
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