By Kabuye Ronald
High Sound for Children (HSC) proudly celebrates its fifth anniversary, marking five years of dedicated advocacy and support for children’s rights and young mothers.
Over the past half-decade, HSC has made substantial progress in amplifying children’s voices and providing essential support to young families.
Key achievements include the establishment of media clubs in schools across five districts: Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, and Iganga. These clubs have empowered over 500 children with critical media literacy skills, helping them navigate the complexities of the digital age.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed urgent needs among HSC’s students, with several young girls becoming pregnant while schools were closed. In response, HSC provided food, medical care, and emotional support, leading to the establishment of a dedicated office in October 2022. This office has managed over 50 cases of young mothers, addressing their immediate needs and beginning to plan for their long-term welfare.
On Saturday, HSC is excited to launch the “Gold Star” skilling program, designed to offer young mothers essential economic survival skills. The program will provide training in areas such as tailoring, bakery and catering, hairdressing, and business/entrepreneurship. With over 20 young mothers already registered, the program aims to support the most vulnerable participants due to limited funding. Each cohort will undergo six months of comprehensive training to foster sustainable livelihoods.
Founder Hadijah Mwanje called for community support and involvement:
“We urge young mothers to fully commit to this program, as your dedication will shape a better future for you and your children. We also appeal to local leaders and community members to support this initiative and work towards preventing violence against our children. Parents, let’s stand by our children, and fathers and brothers, let’s support our women and ensure they stay in school.”
Mwanje also appealed to the government and stakeholders for funding and technical support to sustain the Gold Star program.
“This program requires ongoing resources to reach as many girls as possible and make a significant impact on their lives,” she said.
