Amecet Foundation in Uganda
Hi! We are Iris and Elias, and we live and work in Soroti, Uganda. Soroti is located in the northeast of Uganda, about a seven-hour drive from the capital, Kampala. We met at a children’s home where we were both working at the time. We share a passion for children and young people growing up in vulnerable circumstances, and we want to help them gain new opportunities and a brighter future.
Over the past few years, we have been involved in a school program in Karamoja, one of the poorest regions in Uganda. Through this program, vulnerable children and young people were given the chance to attend school. For many of them, education represents not only a path toward a better future but also the opportunity to remain a child for longer and find alternatives to issues such as child marriage.
This year, we were given the opportunity to launch a new project in Soroti under the umbrella of the Amecet Children’s Home: a safe haven for teenage mothers, age 11 to 18, and their babies. When a girl becomes pregnant at a young age, her situation often becomes extremely precarious. She may be unable to return home, sometimes out of fear of her family’s reaction, and often faces significant stigma. Without proper care and guidance, it is difficult for her to know how to move forward. We also see instances where the babies of these young mothers are abandoned, eventually ending up at the Amecet Children’s Home.
For this reason, we want to create a space where a young mother can live temporarily with her baby. For a period of about six to nine months, she will be provided with a safe environment, psychosocial support, and practical assistance. We want to help her develop skills, boost her self-confidence, and prepare for a future in which she can independently provide for herself and her child. Our ultimate goal is for mother and child to make a fresh start together, and to reduce the number of babies who are left behind out of necessity.
The project is currently in its initial stages. Construction is underway, and we hope to welcome our first young mothers at the beginning of January. We are grateful to be able to carry out this work, and for the support we receive from individuals and organizations. Dutch Flower Foundation has contributed to our work in Uganda over the past few years, for which we are incredibly thankful. Thanks to this support, we can continue to invest in children, young people, and young mothers. Individuals who may have had few opportunities in the past, but who are fully capable of building a future for themselves. Read more about Amecet at: www.stichtingamecet.nl
