Human Rights & Democracy Link Africa is a grassroots organisation that works mainly in remote villages in the rural districts around Fort Portal. Although Fort Portal is known as the tourism capital of Uganda, the people in these villages do not benefit at all from tourism.
Poverty, lack of information and access to information lead to a number of serious social problems. These villages have a high number of orphans (mainly due to HIV) and child-headed households, where a teenager is the sole caregiver for younger siblings. Many children drop out of school before completing primary education because they cannot afford the school fees. Child marriages are still common! Lack of awareness leads to a high number of teenage pregnancies and a high HIV prevalence rate. Poverty and lack of vocational training contribute to gender-based violence.
RIDE Africa is trying to break the cycle of poverty, lack of education and violence through a series of programmes that provide orphans with schooling or vocational training, permanent housing and the involvement of relatives. They provide families with chickens and goats to secure their livelihoods. They train communities and families in conflict resolution and empower people to participate in democratic processes by providing information about their civil rights. The Village Loan and Savings Associations (VLSAs) established with the support of RIDE Africa strengthen the economic base of individuals and the sense of belonging and solidarity in the community.
Poverty, lack of information and access to information lead to a number of serious social problems. These villages have a high number of orphans (mainly due to HIV) and child-headed households, where a teenager is the sole caregiver for younger siblings. Many children drop out of school before completing primary education because they cannot afford the school fees. Child marriages are still common! Lack of awareness leads to a high number of teenage pregnancies and a high HIV prevalence rate. Poverty and lack of vocational training contribute to gender-based violence.
RIDE Africa is trying to break the cycle of poverty, lack of education and violence through a series of programmes that provide orphans with schooling or vocational training, permanent housing and the involvement of relatives. They provide families with chickens and goats to secure their livelihoods. They train communities and families in conflict resolution and empower people to participate in democratic processes by providing information about their civil rights. The Village Loan and Savings Associations (VLSAs) established with the support of RIDE Africa strengthen the economic base of individuals and the sense of belonging and solidarity in the community.
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