PARENTS VOW TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

The meeting with the parents was basically centered at mobilizing them to further support the education and learning environment for their children. We wanted parents to pledge full support to schools in terms preventing situations that violate the rights of children. During the meeting, parents were taken through the common forms of violence as shown from different reports (baseline and police reports)

 Objectives

The above activity was broken down under the following objectives

1. Tooling parents with knowledge about Violence Against Children in their areas
2. Remind ourselves of the previous commitment that was documented during the first sensitization meeting that was held in the 1^st quarter 
3. Schedule of the meetings

Name of School	Date of the meeting	Responsible person
Katwe Primary School	8th July 2016	Obed
Mundongo	11th July 2016	Gilbert
St John’s Bukangara	13th July 2016	Gilbert
Katwe Quran	20th July 2016	Gilbert

Parents of Katwe Quran, Katwe, Mundongo and St. John’s Bukangara primary schools enjoyed the counsel from the former District Education Officer, Mr. Katemba Douglas who assured parents that they need to save for their old age and that the investment for it should be in educating their children. ‘To feed on Ugandan cake, you use three knives which is a certificate, diploma and degree and that parents should invest in at least one of the above. Feed these children well, let them sleep comfortably, provide medical care, cloth them and above all, love them because they are gifts from God’ were the wise words from the retired DEO and a role parent. He gave his testimony that at the age of 65, he got his first car as a gift from his daughter.

 

Former DEO, Mr Katemba Deoglas talking to parents of St.Johns Bukangara

This was during the different parents meetings that were organized in all the four schools by the schools' administration and supported by KALI. Parents were reminded of all forms of violence that include beating, burning, verbal abuse, neglect, denial of food, sexual abuse, child labor, corporal punishments, isolation by teachers and parents and that all the above affect the child physically or emotionally and also socially. He strongly warned parents who cover up cases of defilement and encourage early marriages for their self interests that they will suffer both the wrath of the law of Uganda and the wrath of the children themselves. "children are not fools, they watch and see who is abusing them. that why at their later stage they neglect their parents and of course you will have forgotten what you did to them" said Katemba.

St. John's Bukangara Primary School with the help from KALI has picked up the intiative to train their pupils in making shopping basket. The skilling of pupils is intended to empower them economically so that when they drop from school, they can be able to make baskets and earn from the works of their hands. This KALI will scale to other schools

Senior woman auctioning pupils hand work

Rev Canon Kiryaghe Asa while addressing the parents of Mundongo Primary School assured parents that these children are not for the President of Uganda as they normally say. "Museveni did not come to your homes to have these children for you, stop saying that they are his children". He therefore advised them to take full responsility by providing mid day meals, clothing mostly a decent uniform with shoes. That good things don't come that easily so they should work hard to provide for their children. He told the parents that if you want to move in public, you first bathe your child,smear good oil, put good cloths and then everybody would wish to associate with your child. do the same as you invest in educations

Some parents during the sharing meeting at Mundongo Primary School

ACTION POINTS 

Parents agreed to provide mid day meals. Mundongo primary school parents decided that pupils from P1 to P6 a tleast be given porridge for the start at a fee of 3000/= per child. This was also agreed upon in St. John's Bukangara, Katwe and Katwe Quran primary Schools.

Mundongo and St. John's Bukangara Primary Schools agreed to construct wash rooms for their girl child and that by next term they will be in place.

Parents to provide all basic needs and improve the appearance of their children for them to be confidence in class

Parents to work on unity in the families to reduce on domestic violence that affect children both at schools and community

That parents to ensure children have love and also have enough and comfortable sleep in a clean environment

That parents to reduce on child labor mostly in Katwe Kabatooro Town Council. However, they were encouraged to give children some work just appropriate to their age for further development and initiation into a responsible and hard working elder. 

The meetings always ended with luncheon with parents

Compiled by 

GILBERT Masereka