Change African Child International (CACI) (UGA-75)

Type: Human Rights: Children Rights - Country: Uganda

Brief description and main aims

Change African Child International (CACI) is an indigenous Ugandan voluntary NGO founded in 2012. CACI operates in Wakiso District and in some parts of Kampala District with a vision of a society where children's rights are respected and all children are able to live dignified lives. CACI exists to socially and economically empower families and communities to holistically address children's rights.

Main Activities

Since 2012 CACI has carried out various interventions in addressing the plight of the OVCs, youth and women including refugees in Wakiso District and part of Kampala. CACI has mainly functioned with the following four core programs:

Skills Development Training Program (four main activities)

• Course in hairdressing and cosmetology
• Tailoring, garment cutting, fashion design & sweater making
• Craft production
• Computer training

• With a particular emphasis on reading, writing and counting as well as learning of Luganda and English

• Addressing cottage industries development at household and group levels among OVC caregivers, the youth and the community at large. Beneficiaries gain skills in basic business forecasting and planning, generating cash flow, running one’s trade as a business entity, management of small scale businesses using minimum capital and craft production etc.

HIV/AIDS Program (four main activities)

• HIV/AIDS prevention
• Voluntary counseling and testing
• Home based care 
• Support families with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) and orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) through home visits

Volunteer tasks

Our project offers a number of activities so volunteers can choose themselves which ones they want to focus on and feel comfortable with. Our work is intertwined with the community where we are based in inlcuding activities, such as adult education, helping out with children, assisting the girls in craft production, assisting the boys with shoes making, counselling, providing care for the sick, going on home visits, assisting young women in hair dressing training.

Volunteers work 5-6 hours a day, from Monday-Friday. Weekends are reserved for volunteers to do their own personal things.

Volunteer requirements / Skills

The volunteer should:

• Be creative
• Be open-minded
• Be interested in adapting to our culture
• Be able to multitask
• Be a team player
• Be able to speak English
• Be a friendly and kind person

Location

Hosting Situation (Board and Lodging)

Volunteers will live with a host family within the community. The volunteer will have own bedroom.