Bussi Island Cluster Project

Bussi Island Cluster is an umbrella organization (network) of civil society organizations that has existed since 2009 and community based child focused initiative that came up on principles of cluster model. Formed by four (4) CSOs working in Wakiso district; Eagles Youth Development initiative, Raise children Uganda, Buwasa Youth Development Association and Women and children action for Human Rights,

These four civil society organization came together with an intention of preventing violence against children and adolescents in Bussi Island, Wakiso district with support funding from Children’s rights Violence Prevention Fund (CRVP) and a 3 year project with a goal of strengthening and preventing family level violence against children and adolescents to reduce their vulnerability and risk in Bussi Wakiso district as a strategy of reducing child abuse. Through a community dialogue, VSLA, edutainment, Debates among intervention in Bussi   Island targeting schools, families and general community in Bussi Sub County. According to the 2014-2019 strategic plans, Bussi Island Project operates under the core areas of capacity building, lobbying and advocacy; research, information and communication, linking and networking, including sectoral chapter coordination. And its Community Driven Approach to prevent violence against Children and adolescents in Wakiso Central Region.

Violence against children in Wakiso district is reported to be increasing because of: conflicts and human rights violations, economic break down in families, Unemployment and high dependency on single bread winner, the existence of single parent households, increasing trends of polygamy, while structural violence as a result of state actions or inactions,

Peer pressure because of trying out new technologies, exposure to bad things including pornography. Women’s lack of or limited capacity to economic resources is a recipe for violence in all forms and has been linked to violence against children in Wakiso district, children are looked at as a household tools for economic empowerment thus being exploited, provide cheap labor in the informal sector, While in the pastoral communities, children fill the gap of adult males by taking on the role of grazing thus denying these young children education and sometimes health services. At the fishing and salt mining areas, children are held up in the vicious cycle of violence are involved in drug abuse.

Long term out -come

Enhanced Positive parenting practices at family and community levels and creating violence free learning environment at school by 2019. The project intends to reached 3200 children ( 1920 girls, 1280 boys), 2400 adolescents ( 1600 girls, 800 boys) 1600 women, 1000 men, 32 community leaders and 35 government officials

Short term outcome

Strengthened use of positive parenting practices at family level by 2019. The target for this outcome is, 32 model couples, 5 households per sub-county, 4 religious institutions, 1 cultural institution, Strengthened ,application of community-driven approaches to prevent violence against children. The target for this outcome is 8 women and men groups each of 30 members, Strengthened VAC prevention in 16 Schools with pupils, teachers and parents are participating in school programs. The target for this outcome is 200 pupils, 10 teachers and 150 parents per school, Bussi Island Cluster and Partners capacity to deliver on their mandate strengthened