Children for Tomorrow in Uganda
Children for Tomorrow is engaged in a new project in Uganda. An ambulance for children of the country, especially for tens of thousands who live in refugee camps, is being opened to give therapeutic aid.
Over 2,5 million children live in North Uganda without ever having experienced a time when their country was not at war. Approximately 25,000 among them were forcibly recruited as soldiers or forced into prostitution. According to a Children for Tomorrow study, where 330 former child soldiers were interviewed, children were abducted at the average age of 10 and a half and were forced by the rebels to work as soldiers for up to 9 years.
These children report truly incredible experiences of violence. 88% had to witness killings of people, 79% even witnessed massacres. Many underwent torture, rape and violent marches with heavy loads for days. Often time the children turned from being victims to creating their own victims as 53% of them say to have killed other people.
After de-escalation, it is quite difficult for these young soldiers to find their way back into the civil society. Due to the consequences of war, 43% of these children orphaned and the potential for them to drift back into the lives of violence they have always known is ever present. The children show severe symptoms of psychogical trauma. They tell of stomach aches and headaches, of nightmares, depressions and feelings of guilt. 72% exhibit deep psychological pain that needs to be treated.
Until the foundation of the Children for Tomorrow ambulance in Gulu in the summer of 2009 there was no existent care for children and adolescents and no long-term psychotherapeutic offerings in North Uganda. In our ambulance we employ psychiatrists and psychologists from North Uganda, who offer psychotherapy for individuals and in group settings. The ambulance is the basis of the project, which has outreach-programs for internally displaced persons. The project builds on long-standing concepts and experience that were made during the psychotherapeutic work in other foundation projects in Africa.
It’s interesting that Children for Tomorrow is offering help to former soldiers – especially when it’s tough to view them as victims when reading descriptions of some of the horrific crimes against humanity (especially women and girls)!! But you convince me with the above comments that some of them are victims! Victims of desperation and poverty at the very least. To give the soldiers help is one step towards turning the situation around. TTC regularly plays that:Longines clip with Andre encouraging people to start helping in whatever way we can. You’re both role models for stepping up to the plate and assuming the responsibility (and the privilege) of helping others. In this bad economic time, I know every little bit helps donation-wise for CFT so that it can continue the fight towards healing. Time to act.
I am so happy to hear about “Children for Tomorrow” organization. When I see all these children crying and just left out on streets, I feel like to reach out to them and do something for them. But obviously I don’t have money to do that. I just pray for the organization like Children for Tomorrow will continuing helping people in Uganda and everywhere around the world. Steffi, God is going to bless for this.
Dear Sir ^_^
Greeting from China!
My name is Lv Xi, and I am Stefanie Graf’s crazy fan.
When I was a child, my father often told me the story of Stefanie.
Stefanie had a so wonderful playing career, she is the best in my mind and my true love forever!
Although Stefanie has retired for so many years, I always support on Stefanie and concern on Stefanie!
I like Stefanie not only her wonderful tennis skills but also her kindness! I hope Stefanie and her foundation could help more and more people break away from poor and disease.
I wish that you could feel my whole- heated love and support even though my limited English fails to express all of them.
Best wishes for your health and every happiness.
Waiting for your reply… ^_^
Yours, Lv Xi
Sehr geehrte Frau Graf,
ich finde es sehr gut, dass Sie sich im Norden Uganda engagieren! Es ist wirklich eine Tragödie, was sich dort seit Jahren abspielt und leider nur sehr selten in der Presse dargestellt wird.
Es gibt glücklicherweise einige NGOs/Stiftungen, die dort eine gute Arbeit leisten. In Kürze wird ein Buch über die Auswirkungen des Terrors der LRA in Deutschland erscheinen. Vielleicht wird es ja prominent in den Feullitons besprochen… On verra.
Mit besten Grüßen
Torsten Schlink
Hallo Herr Schlink,
vielen Dank fuer Ihren Eintrag auf meiner Webseite.
Es ist gut zu hören, dass auch Sie das Schicksal der Menschen in Uganda sowie die Aktivitäten von Hilfsprojekten verfolgen. Ich hoffe, dass durch grössere mediale Aufmerksamkeit mehr Hilfsangebote enstehen werden.
Herzliche Grüsse, Ihre Stefanie Graf