We could tell you we’re the heroes. We could tell you we’re the ones rescuing girls; we’re the ones working hard to meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs; we’re the ones bringing an end to sexual violence in Uganda. But the truth is, we’re not the heros. They 👆🏾 are.

Our primary partners and the Community Action Teams (CATs) they establish are boots on the ground. They’re the ones rescuing and caring for survivors. They fight for justice. We’re just working behind the scenes to empower them with the resources they need to do it well.

We believe the local Church, local leaders, and community-based organizations are best equipped to address issues of sexual violence within their communities.

With that in mind, our model is centered around establishing CATs in each community we work in.

Based on the Children’s Advocacy Centers model, CATs are multidisciplinary teams consisting of local law enforcement officers, probation officers, social workers, prosecutors, medical & mental health professionals, and church leaders who work together to develop effective, coordinated strategies for responding to cases of child sexual violence. 

The goal of each CAT is to provide survivors of sexual violence with the following core services: 

• Safe shelter & resettlement
• Child-friendly police interviews
• Medical evaluations and health care
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Case review and management
• Prosecution services

Thanks to the hard work of our primary partner, Petros Zoe Initiative, we now have a working CAT in Mukono, a major city on the outskirts of Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. (The photo above includes their CAT members, including the mayor of Mukono!) A second CAT is in the process of forming in Wakiso District.

Because CAT’s are easily replicated from one community to the next, this model is extremely scalable. It’s just a matter of time until CAT’s are established in every district in Uganda. 

Community is at the heart of everything we do. For more on our community-based approach (and why this is the best approach) check out my short interview with Hanna Atai, Director of Petros Zoe, at https://youtu.be/7IAuvun8jRE

Our on-the-ground heroes are empowered by your support. Thank you for all you’re doing to make this work possible.

 

Onwards & Upwards,

Sarah Lambie