Problem 

At least 30% of women in Uganda will experience domestic violence alone, which excludes other gendered violence in the community. Too many girls and young women are victims of sexual abuse, violence, and oppression, and know no alternative because of economic dependency, threats, family pressure, and a lack of access to support.

According to the 2023 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, 10,792 women were survivors of Domestic Violence (DV). A total of 113 women were killed as a result of aggravated domestic violence. There has been continued maiming, sexual abuse, and denial of property rights to women. The 2022 National Survey on Violence in Uganda conducted by the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) also found that Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which is often a precursor to femicide, was at 45%, the highest being in the Acholi region at 78%. The statistics depict the persistent social norms, community apathy, and low prosecution rates that continue to contribute to the prevalence of such crimes as they are recorded as Gender-Based Violence which is underrated and under-prosecuted as a seemingly lesser crime.

About This Initiative

The Flourish Shelter provides safety and anonymity for survivors of violence with support staff who work to accommodate survivors and ensure their needs are met and that they feel supported and safe.

At the Flourish Shelter, we provide safe shelter and support to girls and young women escaping violence, oppression, and sexual abuse. In order to find peace, they need to feel a number of things:

• Access to Basic Needs – we provide a house where victims of violence can access basic needs including a bed, food, water, and clothing.
• Good health and Counseling – we have an online and on-ground counseling team to provide emergency care and thorough education about reproductive health and family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancies or HIV.
• Empowerment and Self-confidence – critical for young women who have been victims of abuse and sexual violence so they are able to have positive happy futures. A solid sense of positive self-worth also helps ensure they can avoid situations of abuse in the future. 
• Business Skilling and Development – We empower the women who come to the shelter with formal education, vocational training, and an organized plan for reintegration into their communities, working cooperatives with other women, and support to start their social enterprises.