Sleepless in Gulu
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Sleepless in Gulu A study of the Dynamics behind the Child Night Commuting Phenomena in Gulu, Uganda By: Lehnart Falk (Team Leader), Child Psychologist Jessica A. Lenz, Independent Consultant Patric Okuma, Private Consultant with Mentor Consult May 2004 Foto: Jessica A. Lenz/Red Barnet Sleepless in Gulu “Do you have a brother and/or a sister in another shelter?” “I have a sister, but my mother has told us not to go to the same place. In case something happens, then only one of us will be lost.” (10 year old boy) Lehnart Falk Child Psychologist. Thematic Manager for Save the Children Denmark, focusing on Child Protection and Psycho-social wellbeing of Children Affected by Armed Conflict. Jessica A. Lenz Independent Consultant; Specialist in Child Protection and Empowerment. Patric Okuma Private Consultant with Mentor Consult. Specialist in Social Work and Administration 2 INDEX 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ……………………………………… 4 2. ARONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS ……………………………… 6 3. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ……………………… 7 4. BACKGROUND …………………………………………………….... 12 3.1 Historical development of commuting ……………… 13 5. FOCUS OF THE STUDY ……………………………………… 16 6. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS AND METHODOLOGY ………….. 17 6.1 Duty bearers ……………………………………………… 17 6.2 Support group ……………………………………… 17 6.3 Caregivers ……………………………………………… 18 6.4 Beneficiaries ……………………………………………… 19 7. CHILD COMMUTING AND COMMUTING PATTERN ……… 21 8. SOCIAL CONTEXT FOR COMMUTING ……………………… 23 8.1 Social disintegration ……………………………………… 23 8.2 The generation gap ……………………………………… 27 9. CHILD PROTECTION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES AT SHELTERS 30 9.1 Child Protection and mixing of adults and children …… 30 9.2 Child Protection and overcrowding ……………… 31 9.3 Child Protection and Gulu Public School ……………… 32 9.4 Child Protection and sleeping on the veranda ………….. 33 10. MAPPING OF PUSH AND PULL FACTORS ……………… 36 10.1 Push and Pull factors in the community ……………… 36 10.2 Push and Pull factors in the commute ……………… 38 10.3 Push and Pull factors in the shelters ……………… 39 11. COMMUTING AND GENDER ……………………………… 44 10.1 Sexual abuse ……………………………………………… 44 10.2 Engaging in sexual favours for money and food ……… 44 10.3 Mixing children and adults ……………………………… 45 10.4 Domestic labour prohibiting girls from commuting 45 10.5 Young girls with children ……………………………… 45 10.6 Menstruating girls ……………………………………… 46 12. COMMUTING AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR ……………… 47 13. COMMUTING AND EDUCATION ……………………………… 50 14. CONCLUSION …………………………………………………….… 53 3 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This study has only been possible because of the great support offered and the willingness to participate by everyone involved. The team especially wants to acknowledge the support offered by the Community Services Directorate, the District Education Office and Save the Children in Gulu. Without their support and willingness to take responsibility for co-ordination of the study to engage every actor to participate, the study would not have been a success. The study team wants to thank the people below for receiving the team and supporting its effort. The team made courtesy calls to and obtained valuable insights into the situation of child night commuters from the following district officials: Name Title 1. Paul Kerubino Ojok Vice Chairperson Local Council V 2. Lt James Oyoo Resident District Commissioner 3. Godfrey Ogwang Chief Administrative Officer 4. Andrew Anderson Tanga Deputy Mayor, Gulu Municipality 5. Samuel Okot Town Clerk, Gulu Municipality 6. Geoffrey Otim Speaker, Gulu Municipality 7. 2nd Lt. Roland Kakungulu Public Relations Officer, 4th Division 8. Richard Muvule District Police Commander 9. Vincent Ouma Criminal Investigation Department 10. ASP Johnson Kilama Community Liaison Officer The study was guided in its focus by the following people from the support groups. They represent different organizations providing services to the night commuting children under the coordination of the Community Services Manager in Gulu District: Name Title 1. Jesca Ochirowijok Project Coordinator, RUFOU 2. Joseph Kilama Probation and Welfare Officer, Gulu 3. Mark Avola Field Team Leader, Gulu, SCiU 4. Paul Okello Programme Officer-Emergency, SCiU 5. Samuel Ouma Probation and Welfare Officer, Gulu 6. Jimmy Oruut Community Services Manager, Gulu 7. Kennth Oketayot Clinical Officer, Lacor Hospital 8. Stephen Oloya Assistant Chief Administrative Officer 9. Godfrey Acaye O Security Officer, Lacor Hospital 10. Rodgers Okello Corporal, Police - Gulu 11. Denis Oruk Administrator, World Vision 12. Patrick Lawot Founder & member, Charity for Peace Founda. 13. Albert Onyuta Community Development Officer, Gulu 14. George Kiberu Project Assistant, AMREF 15. Fancy Achirocan Shelter Coordinator, MSF 16. Celestine Opobo Catechist, Holy Rosary 17. Dora Alal Single Centre Administrator, GUSCO 4 18. Otto Cecilia Olanya Catechist, Holy Rosary 19. Spaya Ochwo Representative, Ministry of Works The team wants to thank the following staff from among the support groups for their willingness, compassion and time while carrying out the individual interviews of children on behalf of the team. Name Organisation 1. Charles Komakech Charity for Peace Foundation 2. Patrick Okumu Charity for Peace Foundation 3. James Kidega Charity for Peace Foundation 4. Godfrey Acaye O Lacor Hospital 5. Harriet Adokorach Noah’s Ark 6. Cosmas Onen Noah’s Ark 7. Richard Komakech AMREF 8. Jesca Ochirowijok RUFOU 9. Tom Okello RUFOU 10. Kenneth Oketayot Lacor Hospital 11. Caroline Piloya Lacor Hospital 12. Joyce Otto Gulu Hospital 13. Janet Abalo Gulu Hospital 14. Eunice Kitoto Gulu Hospital 15. G.G. Otim Gulu Hospital 5 2. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AMREFF African Medical and Research Foundation AVSI CBO Community Based Organisation CRS Catholic Relief Service DDHS District Director of Health Service DEO District Education Office DMC Disaster Management Committee IDP Internally Displaced Persons IOM International Organisation for Migration LC Local Council (I till V) LRA Lord Resistance Army MSF Medicine San Frontier NGO Non Governmental Organisation RUFOU Rural Focus Uganda OCHA Organisation Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs STD Sexual transmitted Diseases UNICEF United Nations Children Fund UPDA Ugandan Peoples Democratic Army UPDF Ugandan Peoples Defence Force WFP World Food Programme 6 3. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS As a direct result of operation "Iron Fist", LRA troops swarmed back into Northern Uganda resulting in growing insecurity, escalation of child abductions and new displacements. Many more families have moved to Gulu Municipality in search of security, without finding it. Since June 2002, as a last resort to cope children have commuted to safe places in the centre of Gulu town at night. They have returned night after night to private properties, public places and eventually organised shelters. The impact of commuting on society and child development is immense. Society is changing, street children are appearing, sexual abuses and crimes are increasing and concerns about the welfare of children are growing. Over time the immediate hope, that the new coping mechanism was temporary has been shattered and more organised attempts to support the children have been developed. This has lead to consideration of "what is the best interest of the child", a renewed focus on child protection, just as the 'do no harm' principle has to be reconsidered. As a result this study was recommended. The objective of this study was twofold. 1. To analyse the dynamics of night commuting by children and to provide insights into alternatives available for protection of the children affected by the armed conflict. 2. To provide a framework for the development of child protection measures targeting the child night commuters. This has been carried out by Identification of factors in the municipality and night shelter that could act as pull factors for the children Establishment of possible family related push factors in the phenomenon of night commuting Establishment of the adequacy and appropriateness of the services offered to children at the night shelters Identification of abuses and child protection issues pertaining to the commuting between the home, school and the shelter, as well as in the shelters where they stay for the night The team work with the following division of the involved stakeholders. 1. The duty bearers are the government representatives and authorities in Gulu. 2. The support groups are those actively engaged with and wanting to work for the best interest of the children, like shelter managers and their staff, NGOs supporting and running the shelters, including the religious leaders. 3. The caregivers are parents and village leaders who have immediate responsibility for children. 4. Beneficiaries are all the children whether they commute or not. The study reveals a society that is breaking up, but that the shelters under the circumstances are the best solution. However, every attempt should be made to make the best of the hopeless situation and the following recommendations are offered on how best to respond to the plight of the child night's commuters. 7 General recommendations 1. A massive advocacy campaign on the issue of night commuting and the issue, challenges and needs children are facing at national and international level. 2. It is essential that the Community Service Directorate takes the responsibility to ensure a closer collaboration among the Support Groups working for the children. 3. The District Council should adopt and enforce the Policy Guidelines developed by the stakeholders in October