Creating a society where every child and woman is safe, and empowered to thrive with dignity.
Founded in 2012, Amani Initiative is a Ugandan indigenous NGO working to prevent and respond to harmful practices and barriers faced by children and women. Through community-led programmes in education, health, human rights, and sustainable livelihoods, we keep children in school, prevent violence, and empower women economically.
We work alongside households, schools, health workers, development partners, private sector actors, and local leaders to build a safer, more equitable society — where every at-risk child and woman can thrive.
🎯 Our Mission To prevent and respond to harmful practices and barriers against children and women through integrated, community-led interventions.Five girls at risk of child marriage and teenage pregnancy were supported with scholarship funding during the third school term of 2025. A total of UGX 4,120,000 was disbursed, keeping these girls in the classroom and on track toward completing their education.
5 girls supported · UGX 4,120,000 disbursed 🎒 Dream Achievers Programme
From 23–27 February 2026, Amani staff profiled 1,813 learners (889 female, 924 male, including 17 persons with disability) across 20 schools in Maracha, Arua District, and Arua City. The process identified the 600 most vulnerable Primary Five learners to anchor the Dream Achievers Clubs.
1,813 learners profiled · 600 identified for support 🏆 Dream Achievers ProgrammeTwenty Dream Achievers’ clubs were formed from 23–31 March 2026 across all 20 partner schools. A total of 508 learners (338 girls, 170 boys, including 14 with disabilities) participated. Clubs operate as safe spaces for peer-to-peer support, confidence-building, and psychosocial empowerment.
20 clubs formed · 508 learners enrolled 💡 Empowered Voices ProjectA life skills session was held on 27 March 2026 at Ambekua Primary School, Oluffe Sub-County. Twenty club members (13 girls, 7 boys) were equipped with confidence, knowledge on child marriage prevention, and practical skills to protect themselves from violence — creating safer, more equitable school environments.
20 learners reached · 9 sessions completed this period“Scaling up investment to accelerate access to justice for all women and girls in Uganda”
2,000+Participants gathered across Arua Core PTC Mvara, Vurra Sub-County, and Kololo Primary School — with religious leaders, cultural leaders, CBOs, and community members from across Maracha, Arua, and Arua City joining together on 10th, 13th, and 19th March 2026 to champion women’s justice.
🗣️ Women Voice & Leadership ProjectHeld on 16 March 2026 in Tara Sub-County, 47 participants (42 women, 5 men) discussed factors blocking gender justice: cultural barriers, lack of information, limited finances, negative attitudes toward women in business, and land ownership denial. Practical actions were proposed including community sensitisation, regular dialogues, and equal accountability for school pregnancies.
47 participants · Maracha District 🛡️ Empowered Voices ProjectOn 26–27 February 2026, Amani facilitated a participatory review of its draft Child Protection Policy booklet at Ragem and Urugbo Primary Schools in Arua City. Ten stakeholders — headteachers, SMC members, PTA representatives, and senior teachers — shaped school-specific referral pathways and took ownership of the policy.
2 schools · 10 stakeholders reached 📋 Empowered Voices ProjectTwo advocacy dialogues were held on 27 February and 24 March 2026 in Abirife Village (Oleba) and Alianya Village (Kijomoro), reaching 58 participants including local leaders, CDOs, police, health workers, and VSLA members. Police officers and midwives explained how to report violence, preserve evidence, and access the Police Form 3 for survivors.
2 dialogues · 58 participants · Maracha District 🏥 Voices of Strength ProjectA focused two-day training on 16–17 March 2026 strengthened the knowledge of Amani staff, local government officers, religious leaders, and VSLA representatives on medico-legal documentation, gender-responsive approaches, survivor-centred care, and GBV case referral pathways — enhancing coordination between health workers, police, and community leaders.
Multi-agency · Alikua Sub-County, Maracha 👨👩👧 Empowered Voices ProjectOn 25 and 27 March 2026, 33 parents, liaison teachers, SMC chairpersons, and PTA representatives gathered at Otravu and Ambekua Primary Schools. Sessions drew on Ministry of Gender guidelines to equip parents with knowledge of their roles and positive parenting practices that support children at home and in school.
33 parents reached · Oluffe Sub-CountyOn 23 March 2026 at Ajira Village, Ajira Sub-County, 36 participants (28 women, 8 men — including one person with disability) came together to discuss women’s health rights, barriers to antenatal care, and the importance of early first-trimester ANC visits. VSLA members from Nzakai Terracing women’s group took part in open, participatory discussions on accessing free ANC services at government facilities.
The session promoted male involvement as a driver of improved maternal health outcomes — with Mr. Atama Joel delivering a compelling message on why men must champion their partners’ ANC attendance.
36 participants · 8 males engaged on ANC support 🌱 Women Voice & Leadership ProjectFrom 26–31 January 2026, eight VSLA groups in Maracha District were reached — including Alioriku, Corner Curve, Nyorimada, Alionya-nya FAL, Erizu, Nyamio, and Nzakai Terracing. A total of 173 participants (169 women, 4 men) discussed challenges in accessing and controlling land, and explored the National Land Policy (2013) protections available to women.
8 VSLA groups · 173 community members reached 💬“Mr. Atama Joel’s session on male involvement opened our eyes. When men understand why ANC matters, they become champions for their wives and children — and that changes everything in our village.”
— Community participant, Ajira Sub-County Dialogue, March 2026
From 26–28 February 2026, startup capital was transferred via mobile money to 43 vulnerable women and girls across Tara Sub-County (Maracha) and Vurra Sub-County (Arua). Funds helped beneficiaries launch and expand small businesses, diversifying household income.
Two livelihood trainings were held on 19 February (bread making) and 26 March 2026 (bar soap making) at Drimu and Yepi villages, Alikua Sub-County. Sixty women from the Pakayo-Amudrile and Alarapi-Asianzu VSLA groups gained hands-on practical skills through step-by-step demonstrations, quality control guidance, and basic marketing strategies to turn skills into income.
60 women trained · 2 skills sessions 📊 BRIDGE & Voices of Strength ProjectsFour financial literacy sessions were conducted in February and March 2026 across Drimu, Yepi, and Kololo East. Seventy-nine participants (77 women, 2 men, including 5 persons with disability) built skills in personal financial management, business idea development, pricing and costing, and record-keeping for small businesses.
79 participants · 4 sessions · 3 locations 🤝 BRIDGE & Voices of Strength ProjectsFive structured social empowerment sessions were held in January and February 2026 across Drimu, Yepi, and Kololo East, reaching 77 participants (74 women, 3 men, including 5 persons with disability). Topics covered rights and responsibilities, self-awareness, SGBV, sexual and reproductive health, and positive parenting — with practical action points generated by participants.
77 participants · 5 sessions 🏠 BRIDGE ProjectHousehold SWOT visits were conducted from 28 January to 31 March 2026 across 35 households in Tara Sub-County’s five parishes. Seventy-two people (57 women, 15 men) were engaged on business progress, action point follow-up, and problem-solving for enterprise challenges. A total of UGX 1,230,000 has been saved by BRIDGE project beneficiaries in 7 savings cycles to date.
35 households · 72 persons engagedAccountability sits at the heart of our work. This quarter, our MEAL team conducted systematic visits to assess progress, capture learning, and support beneficiaries.