Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL), is a National Non – Governmental Organization that was stated in 1993 with the aim of enhancing the socio-economic transformation of disadvantaged young people aged 10 -24 years through evidence based interventions that: advocate; create linkages to services and information; and encourage social and livelihood skills development for self-reliance.

UYDEL has direct presence of its Interventions in eight Districts in Uganda where we run 13 Youth friendly drop-in centres five of which are girls’ only Safe spaces where Adolescent Girls and Young women go and receive a wide range of girl empowerment services. Below is a table showing the different UYDEL Drop-in centres:

UYDELs’ current programmes specifically target children and young people (both in and out of school) aged 10-25 years that have been abused and exploited in commercial sex work, victims of trafficking, worst forms of child labour, sexual abuse, physical and psychological abuse and drug and substance abuse, Adolescent sexual reproductive health, street children/children without family support systems, teenage adolescent mothers and youth from very low socio-economic background.

Programme Focus Areas include:

• Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
• Child Trafficking
• Alcohol, drug and Substance Abuse
• Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
• HIV Prevention
• Child Labour
• Social Research

All UYDEL Programmes are based on the principles of respecting Human Rights, transparency and accountability to all stakeholders including the children and young people, non-discrimination and confidentiality, child participation and protection.

Approaches/ methodologies used by UYDEL to deliver the Interventions to the various key populations and communities include:

• Socio- economic empowerment – we do this through Vocational skills training, Street Business Skills training, Internship Placement, Startup kit/ IGA Provision, Referral and Linkage to the private and public business sector for job Placement and Follow up during and after reintegration
• Community Mobilization and empowerment – this is done through conducting Moonlight HIV Testing and Counselling Outreaches, Home visits, door to door identification in hotspots and slum areas, Community SRHR/HIV Outreaches; Peer to Peer community Education dialogues, community music, dance and drama education and awareness, Community educative Film shows and aerobics
• Specialized Trainings, awareness campaigns and Capacity building for key stakeholders specifically targeting the police, NGOS/ CBO, Hotel/lodge/ bar owners, local leaders, peer educators, media, Health Service Providers and parents/ caregivers
• Assessment and Enrollment – this is done through use of various tools and methodologies like Motivational Interviewing; Cognitive Based Theory and Assessment; HEADDSS, and Cognitive theory, AUDIT, and CAGE among others
• Particiapartiory Rural Appraisal – we use methods like Participatory Inquiry in Practice, Peer Education through the Self Protection program
• Rights Based Approach – creation of friendly safe school environments that protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation and creation of codes of conduct that protect children and young people from sexual exploitation in the work place specifically targeting hotel/lodges/ brothels/ bars
• Family tracing, Psychosocial support and Reintegration
• Psychosocial Support – we use Interpersonal and group counselling sessions; Music, dance and drama therapy, Aerobics, sports, temporary shelter, basic requirements and needs, medication, care and support
• Partnerships, Networking and Collaboration – with various Key stakeholders like the Police, Kampala Capital City Authority, NGOS/ CBOs, Line Ministries, Local Leaders, Parents and caregivers, Informal and formal business partners, Public Health Centres and Social Facilities, General community
• Monitoring and Evaluation – Data collection and analysis, documentation of MSCs, good practices, Lesson learnt, follow ups, Literature Review
• Social Research- both operational, baselines, surveys, good practices, policy and literature reviews and informative research
• Advocacy Campaigns– both at Grassroots communities, National and International level

UYDEL’s Interventions/ projects/programs support skills and information building among the vulnerable communities in the following ways:

• Identification, Mobilization and assessment of children and young people affected by sexual abuse and exploitation and labor Exploitation
• Assessment of the needs and vulnerability index of the children , young people and their households to inform and support the interventions and plan of action for their rehabilitation and reintegration
• Conducting of Home visits to their families and caregivers to assess the household vulnerabilities to support the plan for their rehabilitation and reintegration
• Placement for Vocational Skills training at a suitable UYDEL Drop – in centres (UYDEL runs seven youth drop-in centres – 5 in Kampala District, 1 in Mukono District – these are rented spaces with two to four rooms located in the Urban Slum communities and can handle a maximum of 50 -100 young people each that walk- in on a daily basis to access vocational skills training in Hairdressing, Cosmetology and or tailoring/ Sweater Making. The biggest UYDEL centre is called the UYDEL Vocational skills and Rehabilitation Centre located in Masooli, Wakiso District that seats on 7 acres piece of land with a capacity to provide 8 Vocational Skills courses (including Catering, Plumbing, Motor Bike Mechanics, Electronics, Hairdressing/ Cosmetology/ Jewelry making, Welding, Tailoring and Sweater making/ Knitting, Building and Construction and Carpentry skills .This facility is owned by UYDEL and can also provide temporary shelter to a maximum of 300 young people both boys and girls for a period of six months to one year
• Provision of a ten –day Street Business Tool Kit training to all young people that attain vocational skills training to enable them draw up business plans and equip them with practical knowledge and skills to recognize and identify a business idea, build the business idea into a practical idea, plan costs and materials needed to start up a business and finally start up a small business locally – attached is a copy of one of our Street Business Training Reports
• After a period of 6 to 9 months, in vocational and business skills training, the young people are helped to find internships with local artisans and some find employment immediately while other start their small businesses locally
• Some of the young people may opt to undertake the Ministry of Education Non- formal education Exams as UYDEL is registered member with Ministry of Education and Sports and this can help them apply for further studies in other learning/ Tertiary Institutions if they wish to go back for further education after UYDEL
• A certification/ Graduation Ceremony is then held at the end of the one year and sometimes if we have the resources then we provide them with a Start-up kit and or resettlement kits based on their business plans and current needs assessment prior to their reintegration
• All children and young people are then resettled and reintegrated back into their communities with families and caregivers and or supported to live independently for those without families and or caregivers and are 18 years and Above
• After a period of three month, the UYDEL staff then conduct a Follow up visit to the reintegrated and resettled young people to assess needs for mentorship, coaching and motivation and to provide more guidance and counseling and links to resources.