Uganda

Sustainable Community Support for Orphans and Vulnerable
Children in Uganda and Tanzania
April 2005 - April 2010

In Tanzania and Uganda Pact has joined with Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), in an integrated program of community counseling, psycho-social support and income generation and empowerment for female caregivers of orphans and other vulnerable children through WORTH.

With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Pact's WORTH program is helping reduce the great impact that HIV/AIDS has on affected households and children. The project goal is to increase the income and entrepreneurial skills of 12,500 women caring for orphans or vulnerable children. In Tanzania, 5,000 caregivers are being reached in the Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Kagera regions, while in Uganda 4,000 women in Mbale district caring for vulnerable children are currently participating in WORTH and 3,500 more will begin the program shortly. In both countries, high HIV prevalence rates and a growing number of deaths challenge extended family and communities to cope with the increasing demand on resources.

Emerging results

There are a total of 177 women groups in Mbale. This quarter, over 4,000 women received the second book in the WORTH series, Road to Wealth, which women will use to strengthen their group and business management skills and expand their micro-businesses.