The realities of a Ugandan childhood
They say that to understand a person you must walk in their shoes. But can you really understand someone’s life if they live on the other side of the world, and in completely different circumstances? This sense of distance and unfamiliarity between those in the developed and developing world can make it difficult to really comprehend the day to day realities of those who live in true poverty.
One of the best ways to bridge this distance is through child sponsorship programs, which help give a human face to the circumstances in which many children live, as well as our ability to help.
– The realities of a Ugandan childhood.
Uganda has had a violent and tumultuous past. With brutal dictators and a ruthless and corrupt resistance movement that targeted young child soldiers, the statistics of death and suffering are astounding. It is estimated that since 1987 roughly 25,000 Ugandan children were abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and subjected to slavery, sexual exploits the violence and brutality of being a child soldier. Since then, the situation in Uganda has improved significantly, but after decades of suffering the situation remains dire for many Ugandan Children.
• Poor people, particularly children, are still the most disadvantaged.
• There are still more than 1.5 million displaced people living in camps. Of these, 80% are women and children.
• Children in Southern Uganda have no access to safe drinking water.
• Malaria remains a key cause of mortality for children under 5.
• There are over 2 million orphans in Uganda. Of these, approximately half are orphaned due to AIDS, and approximately 20,000 babies are infected with HIV by mother-to-child transmission annually.
– Sponsor a child and help
Child sponsorship is a form of aid that places particular importance on the improvement of the lives of impoverished children. A monthly donation goes towards the education, health, food and shelter of the child with the aim of creating a life for them with a brighter future. Child sponsorship donations generally go towards improving the situation of the whole community, so that changes are lasting and one child does not benefit over another.
While it may be impossible for a Westerner to ever truly understand the day-to-day life and conditions of a Ugandan child living in poverty, there is a real and tangible way to make a difference. Child sponsorship programs help support and foster a positive and bright future for Ugandan children.
Child sponsorship is a great way to help give Ugandan children a chance, and improve the disadvantages that face children living in poverty worldwide. Find out more on how to Sponsor a child.
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