Family testifies as community group continues gender-based violence training in Pader

31 July 2026, 6:31 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

A family in Olam Parish, Pukor Sub-county has shared how community support and awareness on gender-based violence (GBV) helped restore peace in their home, as community groups trained by SOS Children’s Villages Uganda continue to champion the fight against violence while promoting sustainable livelihoods in their communities.

The testimony was shared when SOS Children’s Villages Uganda, together with its development partner, ERIKS, visited one of its project areas in Olam Parish to assess the impact of community-based interventions. 

The visit highlighted the work of the Olam United Tree Planting Group, one of five community groups established in Olam and Kineni parishes under the programme.

Besides addressing gender-based violence, the project has also promoted environmental conservation and household livelihoods by supporting 75 households with tree seedlings. 

Each household received five eucalyptus, five orange and five jackfruit seedlings to improve food security, generate future income and contribute to environmental restoration.

The community groups have since been conducting community dialogues, home visits and awareness campaigns aimed at preventing gender-based violence, strengthening families and promoting peaceful coexistence within the community.

Speaking during the engagement, Grace Anyeko, 38, said her family had nearly broken apart before SOS Children’s Villages Uganda introduced the community training programme.

According to Anyeko, her husband was a habitual drunkard whose return home could be heard from a distance because he would arrive home shouting and causing disturbances.

She said the children lived in constant fear whenever their father was drunk, often running away from home because of his violent behaviour and verbal abuse.

Anyeko added that she single-handedly struggled to provide scholastic materials and other basic needs for their children because her husband rarely offered support.

She explained that after joining the gender-based violence training sessions, she would return home and share with her husband what had been discussed during the meetings. Although he was initially reluctant, he gradually became interested and eventually started attending the sessions himself.

The change, she said, transformed the family.

Anyeko recalled living in constant fear and emotional distress, saying that whenever her husband returned home drunk, especially before the family had eaten, everyone would lose their appetite because of the tension he created.

She revealed that one of their children had nearly dropped out of school because of the family situation and had even threatened to resort to alcohol after losing hope about the future.

However, she said the child has since returned to school and is now studying happily following the positive changes within the family.

A mother of seven, including a set of twins, Anyeko also serves as the treasurer of one of the School Management Committees in the area.

Besides the household tree distribution under the project, Anyeko said three of her children also benefited from another seedling distribution, with each receiving 15 orange and 45 teak seedlings, while she also received additional seedlings. She said all the trees have been planted around their homestead.

According to Anyeko, the trees are growing well and have improved the environment around their home by providing shade, cooler temperatures and hope for future income.

For George Okech, 45, Anyeko’s husband, the transformation has been equally life-changing.

Okech said he initially ignored his wife’s encouragement to attend the gender-based violence training but later accepted after repeatedly hearing about the lessons she was learning.

He thanked his wife for her patience and SOS Children’s Villages Uganda for extending the training to communities in Pukor Sub-county.

Okech said the restored peace has strengthened relationships within the family, adding that both he and his wife are now respected by their children.

He described the birth of their twin daughters as one of the blessings the family has experienced since rebuilding their relationship.

The transformation of Anyeko’s family is one of several success stories emerging from the Olam United Tree Planting Group, whose members continue to train fellow community members and hold dialogues aimed at preventing gender-based violence and promoting peaceful families across Olam Parish.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Sunday Lalam said members have undertaken several community initiatives following the support received from SOS Children’s Villages Uganda and ERIKS.

Lalam said the group received eucalyptus tree seedlings, which members planted on three acres of land. She expressed optimism that once the trees mature, they will provide a sustainable source of income to help members pay school fees and meet other household needs.

She said SOS Children’s Villages Uganda also supported the formation of the group before equipping members with skills to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, which had become widespread in the community.

According to Lalam, domestic violence had broken up many families, with children bearing the greatest burden through school dropouts, neglect and emotional suffering.

She said continuous awareness campaigns, home visits and community dialogues have started changing attitudes, resulting in fewer cases of domestic violence being reported within the parish.

Lalam noted that although not every resident in the seven villages of Olam Parish belongs to the group, trained members have continued sharing the knowledge with other households through community sensitization and counselling.

She added that members also encourage parents to enrol their children in school, saying the campaign has contributed to improved school enrolment, although some children are still out of school.

Besides addressing gender-based violence, the group has also promoted sanitation and hygiene practices, helping improve the health and wellbeing of community members.

Lalam appealed for continued support from SOS Children’s Villages Uganda and its partners to enable the group to reach more families and sustain the gains already made.

Speaking during the visit, Moses Kadobera Leneker, the National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Uganda, thanked development partner ERIKS for supporting the programme, saying the transformation witnessed in families and communities would not have been possible without the partnership.

He said ERIKS’ support has enabled SOS Children’s Villages Uganda to strengthen communities by promoting child protection, peaceful families and sustainable livelihoods through initiatives such as tree planting and gender-based violence prevention.

Kadobera also commended the SOS Children’s Villages Uganda team in Gulu for its commitment to implementing the programme and working closely with communities to achieve lasting change.

Angelina N. Twinonusuni, Programme Officer for ERIKS Development Partner–East Africa, said she was encouraged by both the progress documented in project reports and the positive changes she witnessed during the field visit.

Twinonusuni thanked community members for embracing the training and putting it into practice within their families.

She said ERIKS remains committed to making children’s dreams come true by supporting programmes that strengthen families and protect children.