Events Industry: Changing Lives in Uganda

Events for Namuwongo (EFN) is a philanthropic network of events-industry companies who support Hope for Children’s life-changing work with vulnerable children in the slum of Namuwongo, Uganda.

EFN was established in September 2011 by Events Industry leaders at the Global Event Summit who decided to create an industry cause.  Spearheaded by tfconnect’s MD, Trevor Foley, and Chris Hughes of Brand Events, EFN has has raised over £900,000, a brilliant contribution that has meant huge improvements in the basic living conditions of the estimated 30,000 people in this slum community.

Hundreds of children have been able to go to school; parents have achieved sustainable livelihoods; and the community has better access to healthcare and sanitation - including three EFN-funded toilet blocks.

EFN funds are helping to transform the lives of the most vulnerable children in Namuwongo by improving their access to quality education. We do this through:

• Materials & Enrolment
  Children are enrolled at a local school that is easy to access, and are supported by our Hope for Children Uganda team with their studies after school and during holidays. Children are provided with uniforms, school books and additional educational materials they need to thrive, as well as a library run by the children themselves.

• Support & Protection
  Our Ugandan team work closely with children and their families to identify risks at home that might jeopardise their education, and look to overcome these challenges. This ranges from food parcels for child-headed families to an intensive reunification programme that reconnects estranged children, often orphans, with their extended families and communities. 

• Girls United 
  Supporting girls to stay in school is a key aim, so we're establishing a girls football club - Girls United - to create a safe environment for girls to interact, socialise and raise issues that are impacting their ability to access education. The club is run by local girls and women, and is part of a wider community sensitisation programme to raise awareness of gender equality and every girl's right to education.

• Junior Achievers
  Older children take part in entrepreneurial activities and workshops to develop and improve their business skills, so that once they finish their education, they have the knowledge and belief to establish a micro-enterprise or get a job that will provide them with a stable income and enable them to start to break free from the poverty cycle.   

We are currently working on the next phase of funding for our adopted community in Namuwongo. For more information or to find out how you can get involved, please contact Trevor Foley at +44 (0) 1442 818005 or fill in the form below.