Water pumps for refugee camp victims in Uganda.

Uganda is a country in East Africa with a population of around 46 million, of which 1.1 million are refugees from neighboring countries. Most refugees come from countries in the African Great Lakes region, particularly South Sudan and Congo. The majority of the refugees are women and children, many of whom flee across the border alone. 

Sexual assault and violence are all far too common with young girls living in the refugee camps. Our researchers who visited the camps were told that the children and women who have already faced enough trauma constantly live in fear of violence, including rape. The water available at the camps is not suitable for consumption and when their women and children go out to fetch water from the nearby wells, the powerful men in the surrounding communities take the young girls away and rape them. 

The local authorities and other non-profits have taken measures to cater to this by putting strict punishment against the act but the culprits usually get away with it. Another organization is trying to teach the young children self-defense so that they can defend themself against the violence but due to the social stigma around it, girls are not allowed to go out and learn any skills. Those girls are around 15 years of age and they have no access to medical aid once they become pregnant. What future lies in store for those young girls who should have been in schools instead of bearing children at an age this young? 

We believe every child deserves access to a safe and healthy environment to grow in. The situation requires support, adequate resources and funds so that effective protection can be delivered to the refugees. Our goal is to install water pumps at the refugee camps so that they do not have to go far away from the camps and be exposed to danger. We need your generosity to continue the fight and help the refugees have access to the basic needs of life. Donate today to ensure that we have enough resources to end this violence.