A Short History
AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse was established in May 2001 in the aftermath of the deaths of children like Jude Akapa, Victoria Climbie and Damilola Taylor in the UK. The organisation was set up as a platform for advocating for the welfare of African children. It became a Company Limited By Guarantee in October 2001 and a registered Charity in July 2002, with a Board of Trustees appointed to run the organisation.
AFRUCA has gained recognition for its role in speaking out on key issues affecting African children in the UK. One of the reasons for this could be because AFRUCA’s initial activities were targeted at policy-makers and service providers – to work with them in developing a better understanding and knowledge of the needs and priorities of African children in the country. AFRUCA also made an impact because of the leadership role it has played in addressing issues affecting children within the African community in the UK. In particular, AFRUCA has been at the forefront of efforts to denounce the trafficking of African children to the country. It has drawn attention to the growing phenomenon through organising activities, and engaging at different levels with policy-makers, other NGOs and within the African community.
Our Aims
- Raise the profile of African children in the UK, and create awareness of their needs in ways that promote a positive climate for change.
- Ensure that children are aware of the risks of abuse, know their rights, and have skills to protect themselves.
- Promote positive parenting among African parents and others who care for children.
- Increase the understanding of service providers and those with leadership roles in relation to African communities about the risks of abuse to African children, and promote the development of appropriate services, practices, and support to African families.
- Influence the development of policy and regulatory action in ways that will safeguard African children.
- Develop the leadership potential of young Africans.
As AFRUCA develops, it will continue to increase the contributions it can make in terms of:
- Working with others internationally to address the reasons for African children being taken from Africa into abusive situations in the UK and elsewhere.
- Collaborating and sharing learning with organisations seeking to promote the welfare of African children in other countries in Europe.
Our Mission
Using the 1989 United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child as the basis of our work, AFRUCA's mission is to promote the rights and welfare of African children. We want to be the voice of the African Child in the UK and the first point of contact for people interested in the welfare of African children.
Our Vision
Our vision is to see a world in which African Children can live free of cruelty and abuse at the hands of others.
Our Strategies
- Awareness raising within African communities and among young Africans about children’s rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international conventions and UK legislation promoting the rights and welfare of children.
- Information, education, and advisory services to raise the profile of African children in the UK, increase awareness of their needs, improve policies and practices, and develop the leadership potential of young Africans. Activities include research and publishing reports; media work; conferences, seminars, workshops, and training programmes for policy makers, service providers, community leaders, and young people; community meetings; advice and consultancy services.
- Advocacy and policy development, working closely with policy makers, especially within the framework of the Government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda, to shape the development of policy and regulatory action to promote the welfare of children.
- Community and international development in partnership with others to put in place programmes and projects to help relieve some of the suffering and hardship that African children experience.
Our Principles
All AFRUCA's activities are guided by the following principles:
- The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provides the foundation for all our work.
- AFRUCA stands with the African community in seeking to promote the welfare of African children.
- Young people have a right to a voice, and AFRUCA will involve them in its work.
- We will work in partnership with others who are concerned about the welfare of African children and recognise the need to bring about positive change.
- Children’s interests and welfare come first in everything that AFRUCA does and says.
Our Team
Patron
Hilton Dawson
Board of Trustees
Mary Kanu (Interim Chair)
Eunice Munanie (Secretary)
Dapo Oyewole
Dr Mbololwa Lewanika
Founder & Executive Director
Modupe Debbie Ariyo
Staff, Volunteers and Interns
Oumou Gueye (Family Support Officer)
Justin Bahunga (Policy and Training Officer)
Eyassu Ukbai (Finance and Administrative Manager)
Elsie Till (Training Assistant)
Margaret Newens (Volunteer Strategic Advisor)
