Violence against children, the voices of Ugandan ... - Raising Voices

Children’s VoicesHave you experienced economic violence?I was made to carry 10 basins of sand fromtwo kilometres away for building a latrine, as apunishment in school.12-year-old boy, KaseseMy experience is that from 12 years I was toldto pay for myself. When a child is 14 years he isasked to build his own hut and fend for himself.15-year-old boy, ApacI should make 120 bricks over the weekend 60on Saturday and 60 on Sunday and after that Ihave to go and fetch water. It is too much.15-year-old girl, KaseseI am forced to pound cassava for food at home,as well as put the cows to graze after school,fetch water for cooking, and yet my parents areseated, so I wonder why.15-year-old girl, IgangaI carry six bunches of bananas to the market byforce. I ferry one at a time and sell. When I bringthe money home to my mother and ask for200/= to buy kerosene to put in a lamp to readmy books, my mother abuses me and refuses.17-year-old boy, KaseseI am given hard labour everyday. I dig everydayfor my uncle and he does not pay me, yet hesells the produce and I do not know where allthe money goes, and he does not even buy forme a shirt.15-year-old boy, ApacMy stepmother gives me hard work likefetching water, collecting rubbish from thegarden in holidays. At school I feel I am restingmore.11-year-old girl, NakapiripiritWhen my parents died my uncle took over theirbusiness and I went to live with him. He refusedto take me to school and beat me all the time.Sometimes he chased me away from home, andhe really mistreated me.16-year-old boy, ApacThe school management sends us every day tofetch firewood in a distance of two kilometres.13-year-old girl, IgangaI was forced to fetch 10 20-liter jerry cans ofwater in one day.12-year-old girl, Nakapiripirt32 Part Two Children’s Experiences