Youth Aid Africa

2.2 Mission:

Promote positive lifestyle of the marginalized, vulnerable and undeserved communities Through advocacy, promoting good governance, alleviation of poverty, creation of opportunities for the vulnerable and marginalized citizens and work towards ensuring sustainable development that everybody in Uganda lives a good life.

3 Objectives.

· To advocate for actualization of citizens’ rights to participate in actions of governance through increased understanding of their role and responsibilities as a way of ensuring transparency and good governance

· prioritize and supports the building of national capacities of zero tolerance to corruption and also an ethical public office management culture.

· To strengthen citizens capacities of promulgation of the ethical code through promotion of citizens’ rights and moral duties of the Public Institution,

· enabling ethical-social responsibility of each member in the community to prevent irresponsible and illegal behaviors in the Public Institutions.

· To build capacity of communities and other support structures for realization of effective and efficient service delivery

· To empower communities to increase capacities to meet their needs through access of information; skills empowerment; knowledge dissemination and awareness raising among the communities.

· To contribute towards the all-rounded support for the refugees, host community affected by the crisis, in fulfilling their basic rights for dignified living in refugee camps and building the community resilience.

4. Core Values.

a) Team work

b) Transparency and Accountability

c) Partnerships

d) Innovation

e) Voluntarism

5. YAA Program Areas.

Our activities cover five thematic program areas which are interlinked and complementary. These areas are;

5.1 Governance and Peace Building

YAA has designed a social responsibility and public accountability model that voluntarily trigger citizens’ decision to contribute to the progress of the society and also to defend the environment thus integrating social and environmental problems into operation and the interaction with their stakeholders in the public institutions. YAA contributes to working towards respect and protection of citizen’s rights, through promotion of the notions of Institution Building. Generally promotes the citizen’s role to participate in governance matters include monitoring the behaviour of public officials and agencies to ensure they work and operate within the law and set guidelines; Exposure of corrupt and unethical conduct and violators of the law while advocating for appropriate sanctions; Advocacy for legal and institutional reform for the better and more accountable governance; Promoting good governance awareness and social responsibility literacy. This program area contributes to SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice and build effective accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels in the country.

5.2. Livelihood Programs:

Empowerment programs plays a pivotal role in breaking inter generational transmission of poverty and shaping Uganda’s development. Access to and control over economic resources leads to investment. Most communities in Uganda are highly vulnerable at individual and community levels and are therefore exposed to all sorts of exploitation. YAA imparts practical skills to the members of the communities to empower to enable them become economically self-reliant, healthy and build stable futures for themselves,

Currently refugees are trained to, bake products likes cakes, bread and bans; make reusable pads among others. YAA is organizing communities in groups to participate in Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA) and supporting them to offer credit services for their business expansion. This program area contributes to achievement of SDG 1. End poverty in all forms, 5. Achieve gender equality and empowerment, and 10. Reduce inequality among communities

5.3. Policy, Advocacy and Research.

With increasing population, open media and interaction between the rural and urban populations, a lot of new behavior is acquired that affects social life. This cause challenge to the most adventurous group of the population. We hereby use research to inform our interventions on the communities. From the research findings, we then intervene to prevent vulnerability, marginalization and abuse. Through advocacy, we position ourselves to tell the stories on issues that affect citizens and that seeks attention. As we call for their continuous support from stakeholders. As ambassadors we speak against vulnerability, marginalization and abuse hence promoting prevention. This positively impacts on the statuesque because the concerned parties get information on challenges community members are experiencing. This program area contributes to SDG 10: Reduced inequality local level.

5.4. Aid Relief and Recovery

This is realized through providing and giving NFIs and also designing Capacity Building programs for Behavioral Change.

Ultimate community needs are achievable when the communities are able to indulge in productive activities. In our capacity building, we do not only stop with the economic empowerment but inform them of the challenges face and the risk that may befall them. It is our belief that engagement of the community void communities of poor attitudes and cultural activities that risk the community. On the other hand, engaging the entire community promises sustainability in development. This contributes to achievement of SDG 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality learning opportunities for community members, and 5. Achieve gender equality.