ADSN

Adolescent Development Support Network (ADSN) works in Jinja, Uganda.  

When a survey identified the number (and needs) of commercially sexually exploited girls in Jinja, ADSN was formed to offer counselling services, but staff quickly realised that there was a complex web of issues that needed to be addressed. From this focused beginning, the organisation has evolved into a broad-based programme working with exploited girls, full and part-time street boys, single mothers, and slum-dwelling, migrant communities.

ADSN works tirelessly to address the urgent needs of vulnerable children and their families, but also invests in community empowerment so that children’s safety nets are strengthened. Their work includes:

• street outreach – meeting children on the streets

• a drop-in centre for street youth

• support to child headed households

• tailor made vocational training programmes

• income generating activities for single mothers

• a crèche for marginalised children near Lake Victoria

• community awareness workshops and child protection committees.

ADSN is committed to collaboration, coordination, and shared research/advocacy platforms – it is a proactive member of the Jinja Network for Marginalised Children and Youth. It is a registered community-based organisation in Jinja District and a nationally registered NGO.

Working with Child Headed Households

With funding from Street Child Africa, ADSN runs a holistic child headed household programme. 

Child headed households are families where children are either living independently without parental care or are forced to take on parenting roles because the adults in their lives are chronically ill, emotionally unavailable, or destitute. Children in child headed households have limited educational opportunities and little financial, emotional, and medical support. Street Child Africa and ADSN are working together to change this – helping approximately 50 children in 10 child headed households to enrol in school or vocational training programmes, eat nutritious meals, access basic medical care and counselling services, participate in fun recreational activities, and develop sustainable income generating activities.

The ADSN Team

Wyswa Peter (Administrator) is responsible for the implementation of ADSN’s project activities – he is assisted by a small team of social workers, project officers, and administrative staff. Opira Anthony is a former beneficiary of the child headed household project and is now working alongside Wyswa Peter and his team delivering essential services to his peers in Jinja’s slums; he was supported by the project to do his associate’s degree in community development and has since become a local councillor, NGO worker, and a young dad. He is living proof that investing in these children works!