RWECO over the years has done a number of projects in the bid to fulfill her mandate. These have been successful projects that have seen the communities civic competence and well being improve. Some of these projects include but not limited to;

  1. Community Driven Mechanisms to Prevent Violence against Children and Adolescents in Kasese District, supported by CRVP-F 2015-2022.

This was implemented in 08 sub counties of Maliba, Kitswamba, Karambi, Kitholhu, Nyakiyumbu, Kisinga, Karusandara and Katwe Kabatooro Town Council of Kasese District with two major approaches that included; parenting for respectability which was mainly in parents’ groups with an aspect of economic empowerment through encouragement of savings and lending through SILC methodology and safe school environment that was implemented in 32 schools in partnership with parents. The project was aimed at preventing the increased violence against children cases in Kasese District.

  1. INSPIRE Awareness Promotional Package

This project was implemented in 2019 supported by CRVPF. INSPIRE package are the recommendations given by Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development in the VACs national survey report, 2018 on ending Violence Against Children in Uganda. INSPIRE stands for Implementation and Enforcement of Laws, Norms and Values, Safe Environments, Parents and Care Giver Support, Income and Economic Strengthening, Response and Support Services, Education and Life skills. INSPIRE package emphasizes a multi-sectorial coordination approach, monitoring and evaluation as well as political will as key pillars in ending VAC in Uganda.

Some of the activities under the CRVP –F projects included;

  • Training of Community Facilitators in parenting and facilitating them to engage with members of the groups on a weekly basis.
  • Supported CBO initiatives geared towards poverty reduction and prevention of VAC in the community.
  • Bi-weekly child friendly radio talk shows that offer an opportunity for children and other stakeholders to give their message on prevention of VAC.
  • Quarterly engagements meetings with religious leaders on issues related to prevention of violence against children in the community.
  • Trainings for teachers in safe school environment.
  • Termly PTA/SMC engagement meetings to enable parents and teachers review and mainstream safe school issues in the school plans.
  • Engagement of the cultural, religious, political and technical leaders in understanding INSPIRE package for preventing Violence against Children.
  1. Community Action to Prevent and Manage Conflict and Human Rights Violations in the Rwenzori Region of Uganda- supported by Hivos &EU- 2015-2018.

Some of the activities implemented under EU-Hivos funded project included;

  • Training of members of CBOs as Foot Peace Ambassadors (FPAs), who in turn became trainers of trainees thus realized a multiplier effect down-stream in the communities.
  • Peaceful co-existence-oriented activities that included peace caravan/torch, cultural evenings and joint sports for peace/ galas/rally/ marathon.
  • Information, Communication and ICT platforms were developed for mapping and monitoring of conflicts in the region (using sms4 peace platform)
  • Engaging youth in and out of schools in activities like sports for peace, school debates and community sensitization.
  • Empowerment of vulnerable groups- women, youth, PLWDs, minority groups at district and community levels to enable them advocate for their rights and come up with community-based approaches to end conflict in their respective communities.
  • Participatory policy documentation aimed at influencing decision making through lobby meetings with district and sub county leaders.
  • Facilitating members of the CBOs to sensitize communities through testimony sharing, music dance and drama.
  • Interface and dialogue meetings with local government, Uganda Human Rights Commission, security agencies, religious and opinion leaders on conflict prevention on human rights prevention in the district.

Some of our the key achievements in 2018 included;

  • Establishment of the district security committees on peace and human rights in Bundibugyo and Ntoroko.
  • A strong working relationship between RWECO members and district local governments, evidenced from the CBOs trained by RWECO members benefited from Youth Livelihood program and Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program.
  • Mass movement of foot peace ambassadors  trained in the Rwenzori region and championing peaceful conflict resolution and peaceful co-existence.
  • Increased RWECOs visibility in the region in prevention of violence against children and enhancing peaceful co-existence.
  • 600 parents and care givers were trained and adopted the parenting for respectability approach as a means of preventing VAC at family level.
  • CBOs with over 1200 members were trained in savings and internal lending communities (SILC) with an aim of preventing violence against children at family level and empowering the families to fight poverty and engage in productive work. The groups were further supported with seed capital to boost their loan capital and improve on the incomes of their households.
  • 369 religious leaders were trained in promoting positive cultural practices and norms aimed at prevention of VAC and were also able to sensitize 2104 parents about prevention of violence against children. This was done through preaching, other monthly and quarterly sharing meetings in different departments of the four religious sects (Roman Catholic, Anglican, SDA and the Muslim). This led to a reduction in corporal punishments (parents are adopting alternative ways of punishment) among parents, teachers and the community in general.
  • Over 40 radio talk shows were conducted with over 100 panelists including the Community Facilitators, community leaders (LCIII, Inspector of schools, and religious leaders), head teachers and children. The purpose of the radio talks shows was to enable the children, community facilitators, religious leaders and community leaders to share messages on Prevention of Violence against Children to a wider community. This has continued to stimulate debate on VAC on the public discourse among others.

 

  4. Enhancing Civic Competence for Social Accountability and Governance in the Rwenzori Region being supported by Hivos, and EU. This was later expanded to cover the 4 regions of Uganda reaching out to 25 Districts in West Nile, Central Uganda, Eastern Uganda and Western Uganda in phase II of the project.

5. Citizens Manifesto in Action, supported by Oxfam Novib and EU, this was through CEW-IT, in 2011. RWECO actively participated in the monitoring of the 2011 general elections in Uganda.

6. Improving English literacy in 30 Primary Schools in the Rwenzori Region being implemented by RWECO as Lead Agency and Computers for Schools.