Road to Hope
Walking on the Road to Hope
The Road to Hope program provides financial and social support for vulnerable children who have lost one or both parents and are unable to continue their education. Most of the children in the program provided care for their dying parent(s) or are younger siblings of those who provided care. Working with the palliative care providers who cared for these parents, PCAU identifies and supports vulnerable child caregivers for the program.
When a parent is struck with a life-threatening illness in Uganda, many times a child is forced to become their primary caregiver. With no source of income, the child quits school to earn whatever living can be found while caring for his or her dying parent. Additional responsibilities often include making sure the household has food, cleaning/bathing the parent and acquiring needed medicines from a palliative care organization. After the parent/parents die, the child caregiver is usually taken in by members of the extended family, and often the extended family is unable to provide more than the bare minimum of food, clothing and schooling for the orphaned children.
These children are vulnerable in many ways. They may be seriously ill themselves or in need of social and emotional support. This program provides financial and social support, covering school fees, the cost of uniforms and food as well as regular visits by a social worker to assess the child’s progress and provide social support. Children in the Road to Hope program are enrolled in a school most suited to meet their educational and emotional needs. Their progress is regularly monitored. As they get older, they are given career counseling to determine which vocation is best suited to their skills and abilities. After graduating from school or a vocational program, they are supported with mentorship and some start-up funds to launch their careers.
PCAU works with palliative care trained healthcare workers who identify vulnerable child caregivers, particularly those who have lost one or both parents, for the Road to Hope program. These palliative care workers are based in the community and understand the needs of the child and family. They contact PCAU to arrange for an assessment, and if there is room in program and the child meets the program’s requirements, they will be enrolled in the program.