Our Programs

Comprehensive, integrated programs transforming lives across Northern Uganda through skills development, protection services, and sustainable livelihoods.

Key Programs

Youth Empowerment Project (YEP II) Urban Slum Youth Economic Empowerment EASY U25 Project SGBV Prevention & Response Media Advocacy & Legal Aid Capacity Building & Training

Program Impact 2024

1,200+ youth empowered

40+ VSLAs established

100+ girls accessed SRH services

53 businesses started

9 women received land

Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) Phase II

In partnership with the Children's Rights and Violence Prevention Fund (CRVPF), SOHURA is implementing the Urban Youth Empowerment Project Phase Two across three divisions in Lira City, Uganda, for a period of four years (2024-2028).

Project Goals

  • Empowering vulnerable slum youth with increased access to employable skills and ensuring their rights to economic development are respected and fulfilled by 2028
  • Increasing access to and utilization of youth-friendly sexual reproductive health rights services and information by 2028

Key Components

Vocational Skills Training

Comprehensive training in hairdressing, tailoring, electronics repair, catering, hotel management, and digital skills with certification and start-up kits.

Sexual & Reproductive Health

Age-appropriate ASRHR services promoting condom and family planning uptake, STI treatment, and comprehensive health information.

Psychosocial Support

Mentorship, counseling, and rehabilitation services for vulnerable youth, including survivors of violence and exploitation.

Business Development

Entrepreneurship training, start-up support, and work placement opportunities leading to sustainable livelihoods.

2024 Achievements

  • Provided vocational training for 197 slum youth
  • Enhanced access to ASRHR services for around 100 girls
  • Empowered 53 youth to start businesses in salons, bakeries, and other enterprises
  • Established functional SOHURA training centers with conducive learning environments

This project directly contributes to the achievement of SDG 1 (End Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Urban Slum Youth Economic Empowerment Project

The Urban Slum Youth Economic Empowerment Project in Lira, Uganda, targets marginalized youth including school dropouts, victims of violence and exploitation, and those engaged in drug abuse. The project provides comprehensive support through:

867

Target Youth (14-24 years)

308

Long-term Skills Training

124

Short-term Skills Training

100%

Employment/Self-Employment

Training Areas

  • Domestic Electrical Installation
  • Hairdressing & Cosmetology
  • Tailoring & Fashion Design
  • Computer Skills & Digital Literacy
  • Catering & Hotel Management
  • Electronics Repair
  • Agribusiness & Farming
  • Business Management Skills
Social Ecological Model Approach

The project uses the Social Ecological Model to create an enabling environment across multiple levels—household, community, organizational, and policy—to foster positive change and sustainable development.

EASY U25: Enhancing Access to Sexual Reproductive Health Services and Economic Opportunities

SOHURA Foundation is implementing the Enhancing Access to Age-Appropriate Sexual Reproductive Health Services and Economic/Livelihood Opportunities for young people below 25 years project (EASY U25 - Continuation Phase).

Project Goal

Achieve reduced vulnerability to economic deprivation and enhance access to SRH services among 3,000 adolescents and youth in Lira by 2025.

Coverage Areas

Lira City East and West Divisions, targeting vulnerable slum youth and teenage mothers with comprehensive support services.

Key Achievements

Economic Empowerment
  • 142 vulnerable slum youth identified and enrolled in vocational training
  • 46 participants initiated mobile hairdressing services (avg. daily income $2.4)
  • 7 beneficiaries earning $2.4 daily in electronics repair
  • 40 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) formed and functional
Psychosocial & Health Support
  • 134 slum youth received psychosocial support services
  • Restored hope and improved confidence among beneficiaries
  • Teenage mothers provided with social, emotional, medical, and academic support
  • 5% average increase in overall well-being since 2022
Impact on Financial Inclusion

Through VSLAs, youth are able to pool resources, access small loans, and engage in income-generating activities, enhancing their financial resilience and economic empowerment. This has resulted in significant improvements in well-being and self-worth.

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention & Response

SOHURA implements comprehensive SGBV prevention and response programs targeting women and girls in urban slums, providing survivor-centered approaches and community-based protection services.

Program Components

Community Awareness

Sensitization dialogues with over 925 community members, including IDPs, on SGBV prevention, women's rights, and child protection.

Psychosocial Support

Comprehensive counseling, rehabilitation, and mental health services for SGBV survivors and vulnerable women.

Protection Mechanisms

4 Child Protection and Well-being Committees (CPWCs) established, camp by-laws drafted, offenders reported to authorities.

Economic Empowerment for Survivors

  • Nearly 120 women engaged in income-generating activities (IGAs)
  • 100% of women in IGAs reporting weekly net profits
  • Capital provision for starting businesses
  • 9 women who are victims of domestic violence received land from SOHURA in partnership with the District Land Board
Multi-Stakeholder Coordination

SOHURA actively participates in monthly Interagency Working Group (IAWG) meetings headed by the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), ensuring SGBV is prioritized in district-level planning and response.

Media Advocacy & Free Legal Aid Services

Media Advocacy Programs

SOHURA conducts extensive media advocacy through radio programs focusing on:

  • Reform of Uganda's family laws to promote equality
  • Protection of human rights of children, especially orphans and defilement victims
  • Rights of women, especially widows, living with and affected by SGBV and HIV/AIDS
  • Combating stigma and discrimination in workplaces
  • HIV/AIDS situation in Northern Uganda
2024 Media Reach
  • 24 radio programs across 5 media stations
  • Coverage in Lango and English languages
  • Reaching Lira, Apac, and surrounding districts
  • Engaging MPs, policymakers, local leaders, and community members

Free Legal Aid Services

SOHURA provides free legal aid services through internal expertise and volunteer lawyers, serving:

  • SGBV survivors seeking justice
  • People living with HIV/AIDS facing discrimination
  • Victims of HIV/AIDS-related human rights violations
  • Widows facing property grabbing
  • PLHAs terminated from employment
2024 Legal Aid Impact

13 clients served - primarily widows and women living with HIV/AIDS, and PLHAs who had been terminated from employment

Services launched in response to outcry from media advocacy programs and training participants

Partner Radio Stations
  • Radio Unity
  • Radio North
  • Radio Wa
  • Voice of Lango
  • Rhino FM

Capacity Building & Training Workshops

SOHURA conducts comprehensive capacity building programs for various stakeholders including law enforcement, program officers, paralegals, cultural leaders, and partner organizations.

2024 Training Highlights

Law Enforcement Training

Participants: 35 (Police & Prison Officers)

Topics: SGBV, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights & Law

Outcome: Enhanced capacity to handle sexual offenses, gender-related crimes, and protect rights of vulnerable populations

Regional Training Workshops

Workshop 1: 59 paralegals, program officers, and PLHA coordinators

Workshop 2: 47 HIV/AIDS program officers and district forum coordinators

Total Impact: 106 participants from 4 sub-counties

Partner Staff Training

Partners: FIDRA Development Initiative & Lango Resilience Foundation

Topics: Human Rights, HIV/AIDS, Workplace Policy

Duration: Two 3-day comprehensive workshops

Community Workshops

Women's Rights: 54 participants

Life Skills Training: 48 women in various skills

Topics: Economic empowerment, rights awareness, sustainable livelihoods

Training Methodology

Participatory Approaches
  • Interactive workshops and group discussions
  • Drama presentations by SOHURA drama groups
  • Field experience sharing sessions
  • Case study analysis and role plays
Knowledge Areas Covered
  • Human Rights Framework in Uganda
  • Legal and policy issues in SGBV & HIV/AIDS
  • Protection of women's and children's rights
  • Monitoring and referral services