South Sudanese Children and Refugees Set to Benefit After Launch of the FCA/ECHO Project: Enhancing Humanitarian Education in Uganda
By John Kusolo
Finn Church Aid (FCA), in collaboration with several key partners, has announced the launch of the TOGETHER (Towards Greater Effectiveness and Timely Humanitarian Education Response) project. Funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid, this initiative aims to provide critical educational support to children in refugee settlements across Uganda. The project is a joint effort involving Cheshire Services (CSU), Hopelink Action Foundation (HAF) Uganda, Promoters of Agriculture and Market Linkages (PALM Corps), and Forum for Education NGOs (FENU).
The TOGETHER project is designed to support over 50,861 children across primary, secondary, and Accelerated Education programs over a period of 24 months. These children include South Sudanese and Sudanese refugees, asylum seekers, and host community children residing in Palorinya, Rhino Camp, Palabek, Kiryandongo, and Imvepi refugee settlements.
The overarching goal is to provide access to quality, inclusive formal and non-formal education, focusing on increasing enrollment, retention, and the transition of conflict-affected girls and boys. The project also aims to enhance child protection mechanisms, safeguard responses, improve referral systems, and foster child participation through initiatives like girl child empowerment.
Wycliffe Nsheka, FCA Uganda Country Director, outlined the collaborative nature of the project, emphasizing local leadership and the roles of each partner:
- Cheshire Services (CSU) will lead inclusion activities.
- Hopelink Action Foundation (HAF) Uganda will provide psychosocial support.
- Promoters of Agriculture and Market Linkages (PALM Corps) will lead resilience activities.
- Forum for Education NGOs (FENU) will focus on policy advocacy.
Nsheka highlighted the project’s response to the regional challenge of increased school dropouts and the resulting protection risks from lack of livelihoods. The initiative prioritizes new arrivals, ensuring their access to proper educational levels in safe and protective environments. Nsheka expressed gratitude for the EU’s ongoing support for education in crisis situations.
Bruno Rotival, Head of the EU’s Humanitarian Aid office in Kampala, reiterated the EU's commitment to education in emergencies. He stressed that the right to quality education persists even in humanitarian crises, as education provides stability, resilience, and skills for the future. For 2024, the EU has earmarked €157 million to support learning for children and youth in humanitarian emergencies and to aid host communities.
The TOGETHER project aligns with the Uganda Education Response Plan for Refugees and Host Communities policy framework. It addresses both supply and demand side barriers to education, ensuring that all children have access to quality education.
The TOGETHER project represents a significant step towards enhancing educational opportunities for vulnerable children in Uganda's refugee settlements. Through this initiative, FCA and its partners aim to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment that will empower children and build stronger, more resilient communities.
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