Pillar 01
A youth-led movement restoring hope and dignity.
Hashtag Gulu Initiative cares for children and youth who live and work on the streets, helping them heal, rebuild confidence, reconnect with families and gain skills for a productive future.
Since 2017
Years of impact
We believe street life is no life for a child.
Hashtag Gulu Initiative is a registered, youth-focused and youth-led organisation based in Northern Uganda. We work with families, communities, and partners to create practical pathways to healing, learning, and self-reliance.
Our Journey: From Compassion to Transformation
Every meaningful journey begins with a single moment. For Hashtag Gulu, that moment came in April 2017 when the late Ayella Collins Lacika shared a heartfelt Facebook post after encountering a group of children sleeping on a cold concrete floor in Gulu City.
Those few words became far more than a social media post—they became a call to conscience. What started as an informal effort to understand the realities of children living on the streets soon evolved into a growing movement rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope.
Since then, our journey has been marked by steady growth, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that no child has to depend on the streets for survival. From operating out of borrowed spaces to establishing our own rehabilitation farm, every milestone reflects the generosity of partners, the dedication of volunteers and staff, and the courage of the young people who inspire our work every day.
"I just met five kids aged between 6 and 12, struggling to cover themselves with a torn tarpaulin on a concrete floor. Please, if you meet any such kids and feel you can do something for them, please do."— Late Ayella Collins Lacika (April 2017)
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Our Vision
A society where no child has to depend on the streets to survive.
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Our Mission
To empower children and youth who live and work on the streets to become productive citizens.
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Our Values
Compassion, Collectiveness, Equity, Transparency, Integrity, Respect, Justice, Courage.
Our Rehabilitation & Reintegration Model
Eight interconnected pillars working together to guide children and young people from street life towards healing, belonging and self-reliance.
Pillar 02
Counselling and Therapy
Pillar 03
Medical and Mental Health Support
Pillar 04
Family Tracing and Mediation
Pillar 05
Life Skills and Education
Pillar 06
Community Integration and Advocacy
Pillar 07
Monitoring and Follow-Up
Pillar 08
Sustainability and Partnerships
One connected pathway
Rehabilitation& Reintegration
Timeline of Key Milestones
From a volunteer-led response in Gulu to a registered indigenous NGO, our journey reflects years of compassion, collaboration and commitment to children and young people.
