TPO

Without warning, countless children, women, and men of all ages find themselves forcibly displaced by conflict, consequently becoming refugees. Women and children are the most vulnerable,  often facing rights abuses. Nearly all response efforts rally immediately to cater for the overall safety, food, shelter and health needs. However war and conflict also trigger mental disorders. If left untreated, they hinder all other physical help. TPO Uganda practices a more holistic approach by combining mental health care, psychosocial economic support, peace building, and specialized women and child protection services.

Read more about our refugee stories of hope from Kiryandogo and Adjumani.

Child Protection

TPO Uganda uses a community based systems approach to child protection.

• Advocacy – Through upstream advocacy and strengthening institutional systems, TPO provide and share field data and information that can be used to improve practice and inform policy among a broad array of actors.
• Direct service delivery – directly deliver services to children and their families that are in need of protection. All our community based child protection work involves promoting and strengthening both the role of traditional informal structures and formal supports systems to play a more pronounced and front-line role in child protection. School based interventions are effective in reaching both the students and surrounding community with messages of behaviour change. Read about the Girls Education Movement in Lira. TPO work with a select group of academic institutions in Uganda to integrate child protection training within their existing degree programs. In addition, TPO has developed an accredited three month Practice Oriented Professional Certificate in Child Protection which specifically targets professionals in child welfare and protection.
• Partnering with Government – TPO Uganda is working closely with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), to articulate and strengthen the national child protection system. TPO are also supporting the Ministry to strengthen the role of the National Child Protection Working Group to better coordinate child protection work in the country. TPO is one of the 8 Technical Support Organizations in Uganda that is strengthening local governments to improve planning for OVC service delivery and integration of OVC services into district annual work plans.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Ecosystems Management

Communities living in disaster prone areas are frequently exposed to devastating floods, drought and landslides resulting in food insecurity, disruption of livelihoods and destruction of property. Beyond the physical effects of disasters are the lasting psychosocial problems and disruption. TPO Uganda strengthens the capacity of disaster prone communities and local governments, to identify, manage, and mitigate the effects of disaster on their livelihoods. Together with communities TPO develop and support communities to roll out early warning systems. TPO also facilitates communities to adopt environmentally sustainable economic activities that preserve the ecosystem.

Food Security and Livelihoods Improvement

TPO’s food security and livelihood interventions target entire households. TPO focus on increasing household incomes; promoting hygienic practices and increasing agricultural productivity and farming as a business. TPO empower families with skills to sustainably increase food production including modern farming and agronomic practices. Households learn post-harvest handling methods to enable them store food for future consumption especially during periods of scarcity and to avoid unnecessary waste. Community based behavior change campaigns led by community facilitators and community champions enlighten families on essential food nutrients and on child growth and development. TPO’s interventions target six districts in South Western Uganda and are supported by USAID, CARE International, AVSI and FHI360.

Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence

Violence has a negative impact on a woman’s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health, and increases vulnerability to HIV. For more than 5 years, TPO has supported survivors and victims in communities practicing female genital mutilation to access psychosocial support, corrective surgery, and community acceptance. TPO’s initiatives focus on building the capacity of communities and institutions to respond to Gender Based Violence, as well as addressing the risk factors that foster conflicting gender relations. With the support of Dan Church Aid, UN women and UNFPA, TPO have been able to reach communities in Katakwi, Amudat, and Adjumani districts to take lead in fighting FGM. TPO are intent in empowering women to prevent HIV. TPO distributes condoms to communities and provides pertinent information on HIV and AIDS prevention and care.

Prevention of HIV and AIDS

TPO works with children orphaned by HIV and AIDS and their families to strengthen their ability to cope and thrive. Special emphasis is placed on girl mothers, youth, and children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, those heading households or looking after sick relatives.
Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services

TPO’s mental health interventions are guided by the philosophy that mental health care should be integrated into primary health care services. TPO works through public health facilities, supporting health workers and allied professionals acquire essential competencies in mental health care such as correct diagnosis, treatment regimens and management of facilities. TPO’s mental health approach comprises social support interventions which aim to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of families, improve livelihoods, and promote social inclusion of persons with mental illness and epilepsy. Patient Support Groups are integral to providing a platform for peer support among care givers, sensitization of communities on myths around mental health and reduction of stigma. Through a combination of basic best practices and global recommendations TPO has supported the healing of families and communities in the aftermath of conflict and civil disorder.

Regional Projects in DRC, Somalia & South Sudan