AMECEA/CCC: Catholic Care for Children in Uganda Reintegrate 1,443 Children to Family
Rose Achiego Ande
Since its inception in 2016, Catholic Care for Children in Uganda (CCCU), founded under Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU) has been able to reintegrate 1,443 children into families and community-based care.
In her presentation during Catholic Care for Children Convening in Nairobi, Kenya, the Director for CCCU Sr. Euphrasia Masika DST said that transition from residential child care to family and community-based care is posible though a gradual process done in the best interest of children.
Sr Masika said that a proactive programme approach was necessitated by reading the “Signs of the Times” that triggered the need for adherence and compliance to care reform.
“The emerging legal framework for taking care of children posed significant implications for those in the child protection sector including the Catholic Sisters and Brothers,” she said.
She added that charisms of the religious congregations as a foundation to care for vulnerable children need child safeguarding policy to guide their ministry.
The sharp increase of ‘orphanages’ from 36 to 600 in two decades and need for transitioning to family and community care also contributed to the desire for a robust child care program.
“CCCU set off with 17 Institutes of the Religious whose Charisms are geared towards Child Care. The Institutes registered 43 Child Care Programs under ARU-CCCU on the following categories: seven homes for babies, eight children’s homes, four rehabilitation centres. Seven community-based programs.17 school annexes of children with disabilities and special needs,” said Sr Euphrasia.
Sr. Masika said initially, Religious Sisters and Brothers were offering care to children guided by love and charism as opposed to following the international standards and national laws hence they needed to operate above minimum standards of child care.
“CCCU is a program of ARU born as a response to the expectations of Protocols of Child care practices in lieu of the international standards as set in (UN and UNCRC Guidelines on Alternative Care of Children, 2009). Key national laws, policies, and standards dates back to (2011/2012) like, Children (approved) home rules, 2013, Children Act (amended) 2016,” she said.
She added that there was more desire in case management processes and procedures keeping children in CCIs on a long-term basis, citing that the emerging legal framework for taking care of children posed significant implications for those in the child protection sector including the Catholic Sisters and Brothers.
CCCU maps and collaborates with other Partners in childcare to support reintegrated children under security and economic stability, child survival and health, education and development and childcare and protection.
