Category: Africa

Meet Iman

Find out more about Iman Murtonen Zadock, Co-ordinator of Mwanza Children Action Network (MCAN), Viva’s partner network in Tanzania. What is your background?I’ve been passionate about defending people’s rights since I was a child. Since my father was a pastor, many people, including my parents, believed that there was a calling in me to become …

Progress despite the pandemic

The lives of almost 10,000 girls are being changed for the better through our long-running Girls’ Education Challenge programme in Kampala, Uganda. The Covid pandemic has been a massive obstacle in the way of progress – but in spite of the challenges there is good news, as Mim Friday explains. In 2013, Viva partnered with …

Promoting child-friendly justice in Uganda

BY VERONICA BABIRYE More children in Uganda who are caught up in the legal system now have a safe space in which to confidently express themselves, thanks to the tireless advocacy work of Viva’s partner network, CRANE. The promotion of children’s rights is a responsibility not only for the government but every member of the …

Updates from our partner networks – November 2020

Global Updates Achievements: 19 partner networks submitted proposals and are preparing Christmas parties Some partner networks continuing Good Treatment Campaign Good progress in phase 2 of covid response with input from all regions Over 40,000 phone mentoring calls logged Recruited new systems developer to develop online platform Challenges: Typhoon in the Philippines and Hurricanes affecting …

Updates from our partner networks – October 2020

Global Updates 1. Phone Mentoring Viva’s new Phone Mentoring programme is being set up in 25 of our partner networks. This phone mentoring programme is designed to ensure people have trustworthy information on COVID-19, reduce domestic violence, improve family relationships and improve home learning. It is useful in lockdown and also in supporting children and …

A Heart-Warming Reunion

BY ANNAH MARY TUSIIME COVID-19 has been a huge challenge for many people in Uganda, creating fear and anxiety amongst the young and old alike. Children have been out of school since March and social distancing has left them feeling isolated and even bored. They are looking for something to do – just like Mark …

Pressing on

Mim Friday, Viva’s Africa Director, reflects openly on more than 200 days of COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda, and describes how Viva and our partner network, CRANE, are responding in new ways to the many needs of vulnerable children in Kampala to keep more of them safe from harm. The moment one COVID-19 case was reported …

Updates from our partner networks – 5th October 2020

Global Updates 1. Phone Mentoring Viva’s new Phone Mentoring programme is being set up in 25 of our partner networks. This phone mentoring programme is designed to ensure people have trustworthy information on COVID-19, reduce domestic violence, improve family relationships and improve home learning. It is useful in lockdown and also in supporting children and …

Thousands reached by mentoring phone calls

Viva’s phone mentoring programme is exceeding expectations, as it positively impacts thousands of children and families worldwide facing increasingly desperate times because of COVID-19. The initiative has been developed collaboratively by Viva’s global team over the past six months in response to the emerging realities of the pandemic. Restrictions have made it difficult for Viva’s …

Child-friendly justice

BY MIM FRIDAY Whilst responding to the coronavirus crisis is a major focus for our global partner networks, the pre-existing, strategic work must continue. Here is one example of an ongoing programme from CRANE, our partner network in Uganda. A partnership with the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution has allowed CRANE to train …