Programmes

Our programmes run in three regions:

• National programmes We focus on capacity building of national partners, pushing for change at all levels of government, sharing & learning to encourage the uptake of our proven methodology amongst partners and building a generation of leaders through our ex-volunteer network.

• Youth Empowerment Programme (North)  Our work includes: direct delivery of integrated, volunteer-led livelihoods, peace building, sexual and reproductive health, life skill and youth leadership components; local and regional advocacy; and capacity building of service providers, government and local civil society organisations.

• Youth Empowerment Programme (East) Our work includes: direct delivery of integrated, volunteer-led livelihoods, sexual and reproductive health, life skill and youth leadership components; the dance4life campaign, local and regional advocacy; capacity building of service providers, government and local civil society organisations; and a sharing & learning network of local youth-serving organisations.

We will create change in Uganda in 3 major areas:

• Increasing young people’s leadership of development processes
• Strengthening youth livelihoods
• Improving youth sexual reproductive health

To create a lasting impact, we target change at two levels:

• Individual behavior change among young people and
• Societal change to increase decision-makers, service providers, leaders and adults support to young people.

To create this impact, we work through 5 approaches at the local, regional and national level: 

DIRECT DELIVERY

Our 145 Volunteer Peer Educators will reach over 50,000 people in 2011 through integrated peer education on youth livelihoods, youth sexual and reproductive health, life skills and young people leading development.  Working in communities in Eastern Uganda and the conflict-affected Karamoja region, our volunteers will create documented impact in behavior change, increased incomes, decreased HIV rates, strengthened peace building, improved access to youth friendly services and youth inclusion in community development processes. 

WORKING THROUGH PARTNERS

We build the capacity of hundreds of health workers, teachers, uniformed personnel, community entrepreneurs, local government officials and Civil Society Organisations to deliver youth-friendly services and to support our mission.  We will place our Ex-Volunteers as full time youth development experts with local Civil Society Organisations and develop networks of partners to provide resources and support to youth development.

PUSHING FOR CHANGE

We advocate for change in national plans and policies through National Youth Consultations, lobby meetings with decision makers, and the training and engagement of an Advocates4Action Network of young Ugandans.  We also push for change at the local level to ensure implementation of plans and disbursal of resources for youth development.  We run national campaigns, participate in advocacy coalitions and lead the dance4life campaign to raise awareness of youth development. 

SHARING AND LEARNING

We share our expertise in youth development and learn from partners through the creation of a national Youth Working Group, production and sharing of our research papers and evaluations, multi-stakeholder reviews of our work, and a local sharing & learning network of youth-serving organisations in Eastern Uganda.

A GENERATION OF LEADERS

We have over 1500 former volunteers who we support to become Uganda’s leaders of today through career development, leadership training, intern placements and our Ex-Volunteer Network activities. 

OUR VIEW FOR THE FUTURE 

We see young people leading development process and living healthy, productive lives fully supported by those around them.