Peer-reviewed article
Building resilience in survivors of sexual exploitation: the role of children in activities implemented by NGOs in Uganda
Rogers Kasirye, Paul Bukuluki, Eddy Walakira ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study explores how child survivors of sexual exploitation in Uganda contribute to each other's recovery and resilience. Researchers interviewed NGO staff and child survivors at rehabilitation centres to understand how survivor participation helps build resilience. The study found evidence that survivors can play an active role in supporting their peers' adaptation and recovery. The authors recommend that NGOs should promote survivor participation as a strategy and train staff to work effectively with survivors.
Key points
- Child survivors of sexual exploitation can serve as agents of change among their peers
- Different NGOs adopted different levels of survivor participation in their rehabilitation activities
- Evidence showed survivors' involvement and strength in supporting recovery
- Staff training is needed to improve how NGOs work with survivors to build resilience
- Survivor participation should be promoted as a complementary strategy in rehabilitation
Limitations
The study used qualitative methods and did not measure resilience outcomes quantitatively or compare intervention approaches systematically. It does not provide evidence of the effectiveness of survivor participation compared to standard rehabilitation approaches.
Abstract
Children are increasingly affected by sexual exploitation (SEC), and the subsequent hardships arising out threaten their lives. Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of trauma or other significant sources of stress. Past literature discusses various child participatory methods but has not explored the voices and role of children as agents of change among their peers to yield adaptation and resilience. The study aimed to examine the role children play in their successful recovery and that of other child survivors. This study adopted descriptive research design, using qualitative methods to collect data from NGO staff and child survivors. NGOs adopted different levels of survivor participation from various NGO rehabilitation centres. There was evidence of survivors’ involvement and strength. Survivors’ participation as a complementary strategy in building resilience among survivors should be promoted by NGOs. Staff need to be trained to work with survivors to improve resilience of survivors of SEC.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Involving child survivors as agents of change in peer support activities within NGO rehabilitation centres
- Population
- Child survivors of sexual exploitation in Uganda receiving services at NGO rehabilitation centres
Key finding
Evidence of survivors' involvement and strength in activities
Kasirye et al. · Prof. Eddy J. Walakira (OpenAlex works) · 11 May 2022