SUNRISE HEART OUTREACH   FOUNDATION

(Community Empowerment & Child Protection Division)

PROGRAMME BRIEF & PROGRESS UPDATE

Title:

Empowering Vulnerable Mothers and Elderly for Sustainable Livelihoods and Family Wellbeing in Rakia and Buyikwe Districts  Uganda

Reporting Period: July – October 2025 (Quarter 1 Progress)
Prepared by: Sunrise Foundation
Date: October 2025

1. Background and Rationale

Sunrise Foundation is a registered Ugandan non-profit organization that works to improve the welfare of vulnerable children and their families. Recognizing that mothers and elderly caregivers are the backbone of household stability, the Foundation initiated a new integrated program in July 2025 to strengthen the wellbeing and economic resilience of families in Rakai and Buyikwe Districts.

The programme responds to urgent issues of teenage pregnancy, early marriage, poverty, and elderly neglect—challenges that have worsened the vulnerability of children in both districts. Rakai alone records over 2,700 teenage pregnancies annually, with more than 90% of affected girls having only primary education or less.

In addition, many elderly individuals live in poverty, without reliable income or social protection. This initiative, therefore, links basic needs support, economic empowerment, and reproductive health education as a holistic approach to breaking intergenerational poverty.

2. Overall Goal

To empower vulnerable mothers and elderly persons in Rakia and Buyikwe Districts through livelihood support, financial inclusion, and reproductive health education—thereby strengthening family wellbeing, child protection, and community dignity.

3. Target Beneficiaries (Phase I – Year 1)

Category Description Target Currently Reached (as of Oct 2025)
Teenage mothers (13–19 yrs) Out of school, facing stigma 100 92
Single mothers (20–35 yrs) Low-income, sole caregivers 80 76
Elderly (60+ yrs) Living alone or in poverty 70 65
Households of persons with disabilities Economically burdened families 20 18
Total 270 251 households reached (93%)

4. Key Program  Components and Progress

4.1 Provision of Basic Needs

Achievements (Quarter 1):

  • Monthly deliveries of soap, sugar, salt, and hygiene kits made to 251 households.
  • Distribution of blankets and warm clothing to 65 elderly beneficiaries.
  • Field visits show improved hygiene and food stability in the supported homes.

Next Quarter Focus: Expand coverage to the remaining 19 households and improve the delivery frequency through community-based distribution points.

4.2 Financial Hope Initiative (Empowerment)

Achievements to Date:

  • 15 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) established (8 in Rakai, 7 in Buyikwe).
  • 87 mothers and elderly received starter grants (poultry kits, soap-making materials, vegetable garden inputs).
  • 3 vocational workshops conducted in tailoring, hairdressing, and poultry management.
  • Early results: 22 participants have already started small businesses earning between UGX 20,000–60,000 weekly.

Next Quarter Focus: Conduct marketing and product-branding sessions to strengthen income sustainability.

4.3 Reproductive Health & Family Planning Sensitisation

Progress:

  • Conducted 4 community awareness meetings (two in Rakai, two in Buyikwe) attended by over 420 participants.
  • Partnered with district health offices to conduct mobile reproductive health clinics offering family planning and counselling.
  • Religious and cultural leaders engaged, including three Muslim Imams who have now committed to supporting anti–early marriage campaigns.

Next Quarter Focus: Expand outreach to adolescent boys and school clubs for peer-led education.

4.4 Education and Child Support Linkages

Progress:

  • 27 teenage mothers re-enrolled in vocational institutions (tailoring, bakery, hairdressing).
  • 43 children in beneficiary households supported with partial school fees and materials through income from empowerment activities.
  • Regular monitoring visits by field officers have ensured attendance rates above 80%.

Next Quarter Focus: Introduce a mentorship network pairing older mothers with teenage mothers returning to school.

4.5 Elderly Empowerment and Participation

Achievements:

  • Two community hubs established (Rakai & Buyikwe) with gardening and craft activities.
  • 65 elderly involved in small-scale poultry and vegetable farming.
  • Peer-support groups initiated for psychosocial wellbeing and community inclusion.

Next Quarter Focus: Link elderly hubs with local markets for sales of vegetables and handicrafts.

5. Geographic Coverage

District Key Sub-counties Highlights
Rakia Ddwaniro, Lwamaggwa, Kiziba, Kyalungira Strong youth engagement; community buy-in for VSLAs
Buyikwe Najja, Ngogwe, Ssi-Bukunja High elderly participation; good local government cooperation

6. Implementation Strategy (Progress Snapshot)

Area Status
Community mobilization Completed through LC1 and social workers
Partnership building Active collaboration with district health offices, faith leaders ,SACCOs
Capacity building preparations  underway
Monitoring and evaluation Household visits and VSLA records ongoing monthly
Cultural sensitivity Positive collaboration with Muslim community leaders in Rakai

 

7. Early Outcomes and Observations

  • 93% of targeted households already receiving assistance.
  • 70% of VSLA members saving regularly each week.
  • 60% of supported mothers report improved food security.
  • Early behavioural change noted in reproductive health discussions among adolescents.
  • Positive feedback from local councils and health centres on collaboration efficiency.

8. Challenges Encountered

  • High demand exceeding available resources.
  • Some beneficiaries facing difficulty managing group savings due to limited literacy.
  • Transport and logistics costs rising due to fuel fluctuations.

Mitigation:
Refresher training on group management, partnership with local SACCOs, and cost-sharing mechanisms under review.

10. Next Quarter (Nov 2025 – Jan 2026) Priorities

  • Complete distribution to remaining households.
  • Conduct business mentorship and product branding for entrepreneurs.
  • Strengthen school reintegration monitoring.
  • Expand adolescent reproductive health outreach to include peer clubs.
  • Develop sustainability plans for VSLA and elderly hubs.

11. Partnerships and Stakeholders

  • District Local Governments – Rakai & Buyikwe
  • District Health Offices (Family Planning Units)
  • Faith-Based Leaders (Christian & Muslim)
  • Village Savings and Loans Associations

12. Conclusion

Three months into implementation, the Sunrise Foundation programme has demonstrated strong community acceptance and measurable progress in empowering mothers and elderly persons. With continued donor and government support, the initiative is well on track to achieve its 12-month targets of improving livelihoods, reducing teenage pregnancy, and keeping children in school.

The early successes confirm that empowering caregivers is the most direct path to protecting Uganda’s children and building resilient, self-reliant families.