About the Book - KIDS VOICE
Kids Voice is both a storybook and a collection of stories from children around Uganda sharing their perspectives and life experiences during the pandemic. Through storytelling and edutainment, the book provides essential COVID-19 information that empowers children to cope and navigate being out of school, the possibility of losing family members, and other effects of the pandemic.
Kids Voice takes children through an adventure highlighting the foods, resources, daily lifestyles, and the cultures that make Ugandans vibrant and happy even in adversity. The content allows children to enjoy and learn from stories of courage, hope, resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit.
The positive narrative empowers children to lead conversations as they tell their stories, engage in exercises and reflections on gratitude, hope, and collective actions. The practical tools help children learn, build resilience to survive, thrive, and lead change in their families and communities.
Kids Voice is relatable, representative, and reflective of the realities of the children's lives. The stories are culturally responsive, featuring marginalized children as protagonists and reflecting differences across the country to give children space for self-awareness, social awareness, and social engagement.
Background of the book
Children in Uganda and other African countries have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the crisis, many schools remain closed, and children, families, and communities face a great deal of uncertainty amidst the pandemic. Save the Children estimates that around 10 million children may never return to school after the pandemic. The situation is worse for children in fragile contexts like refugee settlements and those in low-income communities. Children have no reading materials and tools to keep them learning and share their experiences for emotional support. The little content available doesn't speak to children, reflect their realities, nor represent their voices. Kids Voice is developed in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation as part of the COVID-19 Public Awareness Campaign.
English
Runyankole Rukiga
Acholi
Kiswahilli
Luganda