120 child protection committee members graduate as para-social workers

In February 2025, hope blossomed in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement when 120 Child Protection Committee (CPC) members graduated as Para-Social Workers (PSWs), trained under the new manual developed by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) in partnership with UNICEF. For many, this wasn’t just a training course, it was a turning point in their ability to protect and uplift the most vulnerable children in their communities.

One of the graduates, Amito Grace, put her new skills into action almost immediately. During a routine home visit, she met a 14-year-old girl who had quietly dropped out of school. Orphaned and living with her uncle, the girl was burdened with endless household chores and had lost all hope of returning to class.

“She looked so withdrawn,” Grace recalls. “When I asked her about school, she just lowered her eyes and said, ‘I don’t think I’ll ever go back.’ That broke my heart.”

Grace recognized this as a serious child protection concern. Drawing on her training, she approached the situation with empathy and professionalism. She listened to the girl’s fears, documented the case, and sensitively engaged the caregiver to whom she explained the child’s right to education and the long-term harm of child labour.

Understanding that the family was also struggling financially, Grace mobilized a network of support.

She reached out to fellow PSWs, local school authorities, and the child protection desk in the settlement, specifically engaging a Child Protection Officer Matovu from Save the Children International (SCI). Together, they coordinated with the Probation Office in Kikuube District and a local partner organization to secure the girl’s return to school. Support included scholastic materials and ongoing follow-up.

“When they gave me the books and uniform, I cried,” the girl shared softly. “I thought no one cared. But Grace showed me that I matter.”

Within weeks, the girl was back in school, smiling, learning, and dreaming again.

Grace continues to monitor the situation, ensuring both the child and her caregiver remain supported. This single intervention, made possible by the Para-Social Worker training, has already transformed a life.

“This is why the training matters,” Grace says. “We’re not just learning, we’re saving futures.”

This story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when community-based workers are equipped with the right knowledge and tools.

Thanks to the generous support of the Swiss National Committee for UNICEF, more PSWs like Grace can identify hidden cases, act, and restore hope, one child at a time.