With the COVID-19 Crisis and its socio-economic impacts, all groups in society have been affected and are expiriencing its effects in diffrent ways. The conomic impact of the COVID-19 induced lockdowns has increasingly hit the low income communities who depend on 'hand-to-mouth' for their livelihoods. This has mainly affected the youth whose businesses and livelihoods have been closed and can nolonger earn a living to support themselves and their families. Maria a hair dresser in town says that, " I have not been able to work as acades in town have been closed and with public means of transport suspended, I am not able to move around to reach out to my customers. This has greatly affected my income and I am barely able to sustain my family." AFFCAD recently mapped out 1500 most vulnerable households in areas of Bwaise II, Bwaise III and Kyebando in Kawempe Division and the results showed that 70% of the residents in the above parishes are experiencing food insecurity with some going days without eating anything. Almost 80% have lost their livelihoods and are now left unemployed. There is a need to build youth resilience to life shocks so that when faced with challenges like the COVID-19 crisis, they are able to sustain themseves depite the challenges. This can be done through training them in entreprenuership skills regarding savings, how to sustain a business amidst a crisis. Youth can also be supported by providing them with funds through youth groups and Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs) to be able to revamp their businesses or kickstart their businesses to boost them economcally. Youth can also be provided with mental health mentorshiop and councelling so that they do not give up on themselves when faced with a crisis.

AFFCAD supported the formation of two Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs) within the Bwaise Community one for the youth; Eyeterekera Savings Group and the other for teachers from three community schools in Bwaise; Teachers Savings Club. The two groups were formed as part of the Social Action Projects (SAP) under the British Council Active Citizens Programs to economically boost the members and to also asssit them in case of any financial emergencies. The model is meant to be replicated by other members in the community to boost them economically. Village savings and Lending Associations provide sustainable and profitable financial services to members of the community. They provide people with a safe space to save their money and aquire small loans in case of a financial emergency. These lending associations help build social capital within communities.

AFFCAD in partnership with Set Her Free and Serving Lives Under Marginalization (SLUM) held 6 medical camps in the 6 villages in Kawempe Division under the Adolescent Girls Power project funded by CRVPF. Over 150 girls from the villages of Mukalazi, Tebuyoleka, Kakungulu Kyebando, Kazo and Lugoba were to access free medical services from these camps. The services included; free general medical check ups, HIV councelling and testing, information on Sexual Reproductive Health was also shared with the girls among other medical services. "Thank you so much for for this inititative and we hope that you continue to help our girls access free medical services," one of the parents remarked. Many girls especially those living in slum areas are faced with medical challenges and are not able to access treatment due to lack of affordable medical services in the area or do not have information on the challenge that they face especially those realted to Sexual Reproductive health like; early pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases among others. "Thank you for coming and treating us," fifteen-year-old Elizabeth from Tebuyoleka Village said.

Since the promulgation of the constitution of Uganda on 8th October, 1995, Uganda has held successive national elections between the years 1996, 2001,2006, 2011 and 2016 within the set constitutional timeframes. Come January 2021, Uganda will hold its general elections. During the election period, tensions are high and violence can easily breakout. In most cases, violence erupts when the electorate lose trust in the Electoral Commission causing agitation hence eruption of violence especially among the youth who according to UNDP take up 78% of Uganda’s total population making it the largest population in Uganda. A case in point would be the recent riots that rocked Kampala and different parts of the country on 18th and 19th November, 2020 where according to the Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga 45 people lost their lives. With this background, Arigatou International-Nairobi partnered with AFFCAD on the Business for Peace Project to distribute 500 facemasks and 1000 stickers with messages urging the youth to desist from any acts of electoral violence. AFFCAD with the support of Youth Ambassadors distributed the masks to youth with small formal and informal businesses in slum areas of Bwaise, Kisenyi, Katwe and Kabalagala and preached the message of peace amongst these youth during the election period. “I promise to urge my fellow youth to stay away from any acts of violence that will harm them and their businesses,” said Katumwa Shafiq a phone repair shop owner in Bwaise. The youth were very receptive of the message of Peace during elections and those we approached promised to preach peace during the upcoming 2021 elections

AFFCAD COVID?19 ResponseDONATE NOW - THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! AFFCAD are planning to raise $40,000 to provide food to families in Bwaise during this period of lock down when people are unable to work and feed themselves. targeting 300 families (each family around 7 members) so reaching a total of at least 2100 people. $130 spent on essential food and charcoal for each family - to last each family at least 6 weeks $1000 admin fee for the team buying and distributing food. Priority will be first given to the parents of AFFCAD school students and then to the most vulnerable families in the community. AFFCAD will work with local leaders who know best the families who did not receive government food relief and those most at risk of starving. Your donation will help vulnerable families in Bwaise survive this period of lockdown.

They say, good habits formed at youth make all the difference. We say, good habits,coupled with youth economic empowerment, education, leadership and cohesion makes all the difference. With funding from European Union and support from IOM, AFFCAD set up a second satellite training institute in Kisenyi. This center offers vocational training in Catering, Leather designing, Automotive Electrical and Welding and Metal fabrication. It targets youth from both the refugee and host communities in Kabalagala, Katwe, Kisenyi.

We officially opened AFFCAD School on 12th March 2019.  Thank you all who have been part of this amazing journey. In a special way we thank all those who have funded for the rebuild of AFFCAD School; Fonthill Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, ETM, SAGO. Thank you JAGS girls for fundraising and always pampering the little ones with beautiful amazing presents. And to all those who have supported this cause in kind, through volunteering and donating scholastic materials for the children. You are the reason we are celebrating and yes, you made it happen. Fonthill Foundation William and Flora Hewlett Foundation AFFCAD UK Kinderen Derde Wereld vzw #ExcelRebuild #Education4All

Today: Beneficiaries of the EU funded SSCoS project-Kisenyi branch sit 4 DIT-Directorate of Industrial Training examinations which is a Ugandan quality assurance directorate offering nationally and regionally recognized quality assurance services for Vocational Training. Beneficiaries have been trained for 8 months will graduate on March, 28th 2019. Thank you, European Union, for funding this project and IOM for working together with us to empower youth in underserviced communities. #AFFCADSocialCohesion #EUinUG European Union in Uganda IOM Uganda

Cluster member meeting: young adolescent girls were consulted on issues affecting them. This is aimed at designing a project that will protect a girl child, build her confidence to stand up for her rights, empower her both economically & socially into a lady of substance. These consultation sessions will incorporate young girls from different backgrounds, age groups to enable design effective strategies to support them. These include: Out of school girls, sex workers,  school girls in primary, secondary and university, girl child headed families Girls and confidence aimed at finding out what gives young girls confidence, are they able and comfortable expressing themselves, who plays a big role in empowering them. Girls and money: economic drivers Where girls meet and play This intervention is aimed at empowering the girl child, to give her a push to achieve her goals, to give her a strong voice and confidence to stand up for her rights and bring up a generation of strong, successful women! #CRVP #Setherfree #SLUM