Joy for Children Uganda held a community meeting with men and women from different villages of Bukaire, Nakawa, RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY LEADERS namawa and Ntindato to seek their views and perception about child marriage. Members turned up for the meeting and were Joy for Children Uganda to Network with the civil society eager to discuss issues related to child marriage and how they Organizations in Butaleja district since a big issue in the it’s can get involved ending it in the district. Communities in area and can only be solved when organizations work together Butaleja acknowledge that child marriage is an issue that has through sharing of information of what works to end child affected them greatly and yet it is still widely practiced. marriage. From the discussion, the community thinks is persistent Involve religious leaders in community dialogues to spread out because of a number of reasons that include among others; the message of child marriage in the community since they ignorance of community members about the consequences of have a chance of interacting with different types of people child marriages, poverty, love for money since most parents exchange their daughters for some little money and a goat. Some parents said that some girls lure the boys and men into Joy for Children Uganda to work with the district youth leaders the act and requested that Joy for Children should organize to carryout sensitization in schools and the rural areas to end guidance and counseling sessions for girls and boys / men. child marriage. Long distance to and from school is another issues raised by the community as the cause for girls getting to into marriage at Joy for Children Uganda urged to form an umbrella an early age. Many children can not sustain waking long organization in Butaleja district to accelerate efforts to end distance and eventually drop out, while those who continue are child marriage. often given a ride by motorcyclists (boda boda) who in turn ask for favors thus resulting in child marriage. The Education department was also advised to network with other stakeholders to keep children in school and learning. to raise up a child now days especially those living “It’s hard near the mentioned the Chairman. He said village towns”, children escape from homes without the notice of their parents MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY to go and watch films and join dance groups where most men and boys find them and lure them into marriage. Some parents GROUPS give money to their children to go to disco especially on big days like Christmas and Idd day.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY LEADERS Joy for Children Uganda to Network with the civil society Organizations in Butaleja district since it’s a big issue in the area and can only be solved when organizations work together through sharing of information of what works to end child marriage. Involve religious leaders in community dialogues to spread out the message of child marriage in the community since they have a chance of interacting with different types of people Joy for Children Uganda to work with the district youth leaders to carryout sensitization in schools and the rural areas to end child marriage. Joy for Children Uganda urged to form an umbrella organization in Butaleja district to accelerate efforts to end child marriage. The Education department was also advised to network with other stakeholders to keep children in school and learning. MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS Joy for Children Uganda held a community meeting with men and women from different villages of Bukaire, Nakawa, namawa and Ntindato to seek their views and perception about child marriage. Members turned up for the meeting and were eager to discuss issues related to child marriage and how they can get involved ending it in the district. Communities in Butaleja acknowledge that child marriage is an issue that has affected them greatly and yet it is still widely practiced. From the discussion, the community thinks is persistent because of a number of reasons that include among others; ignorance of community members about the consequences of child marriages, poverty, love for money since most parents exchange their daughters for some little money and a goat. Some parents said that some girls lure the boys and men into the act and requested that Joy for Children should organize guidance and counseling sessions for girls and boys / men. Long distance to and from school is another issues raised by the community as the cause for girls getting to into marriage at an early age. Many children can not sustain waking long distance and eventually drop out, while those who continue are often given a ride by motorcyclists (boda boda) who in turn ask for favors thus resulting in child marriage. “It’s hard to raise up a child now days especially those living near the village towns”, mentioned the Chairman. He said children escape from homes without the notice of their parents to go and watch films and join dance groups where most men and boys find them and lure them into marriage. Some parents give money to their children to go to disco especially on big days like Christmas and Idd day.