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+256 (0) 393 243 139
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info@hastaggulu.org
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Plot 75/79 Jomo Kenyatta Road
Children in northern Uganda, unlike those in other parts of the country, have been profoundly affected by the ongoing impact of the LRA insurgency in the region. The LRA insurgency forced many people to flee their homes and seek refuge in towns due to the constant fear of violence and loss of life. This resulted not only in the loss of their homes and heritage but also in the breakdown of families.
Amid the harsh realities of poverty and hopelessness, children and youth living and working on the streets often find themselves resorting to criminal activities as a desperate means of survival.
Many children find themselves living on the streets due to a complex interplay of pull and push factors, including poverty, war, lack of care at home, parental loss, domestic violence, physical and mental abuse, economic instability, trafficking, and erosion of traditional values, among others.
In our community, children who live and work on the streets are often perceived as nuisances and even blamed as perpetrators of violence. The derogatory term “Aguu,” commonly used to describe street-connected individuals and other wrongdoers in Gulu, carries a heavy burden of stigma, akin to passing a death sentence or long-term social judgment.
The art initiatives at Hashtag Gulu Initiative have proven to be incredibly powerful in promoting healing, coping with stress, and supporting the well-being of young people living in street situations and juvenile detention centers. Additionally, art plays a significant role in facilitating reconciliation and reintegration processes within communities.
Young people living in street situations face significant physical and mental health challenges. A survey conducted by Hashtag Gulu Initiative with 50 street-connected children and youths (41 boys and 9 girls) revealed that only 32% of males and 56% of females interviewed reported feeling healthy.
