Gweri Area Program

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2010 - 2025

Location

Uganda

Areas of Focus

Education | Child Protection and Participation

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

5,386children attended in-school or after-school literacy activities

Progress

3,000reading materials were provided to schools and communities in support of children's education

Progress

2,389people know key child protection risks and how to properly respond or find support

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context

The rural community of Gweri (pronounced gweh-ree) is located east of Kampala, the capital city. Gweri is mainly flat with scarce vegetation and a few valleys that form seasonal swamps. The rainy season peaks in April to May and August to October, and a long, dry season lasts from late November through early March. Families live in homes with walls made of mud or clay and a thatched roof.

In addition to the troubled northern region, this eastern region of Uganda has been deeply scarred by the conflict between government forces and Lord's Resistance Army rebels. The main ethnic group in Gweri is the Iteso. Many of Gweri's 31,900 people are trapped in a cycle of poverty. Erratic weather, drought, and periodic flooding keep crop yields low, and because most households rely on the land to make a living, it is difficult to make ends meet.

...
Challenges
HIV & AIDS
The HIV prevalence rate in Gweri is an estimated 4%. Widespread stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS means that many people do not get the care they so desperately need, and this can lead to trauma, stress, and depression.

AIDS-related deaths combined with deaths from armed conflict have contributed to a rise in the number of younger, female-headed households. These girls and women are prone to abuse, and they face many challenges, including heavy financial burdens, widow inheritance (when a widow is married to a relative of her late husband), and the unethical takeover of property once the male homeowner has died.

Grandparents, who are so often tasked with caring for their adult children who are ill and their orphaned grandchildren, rarely have the necessary financial resources to do so properly. Children without role models or adequate parental guidance often are misinformed and lack appropriate information about HIV, which leaves them vulnerable to exploitation, thus perpetuating the cycle.
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An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.