About the Child is Innocent


The Child is Innocent (TCII) began in late 2004 with a core group of volunteers and an initial group of Ugandan children numbering less than a dozen. The dedication of our volunteers and sponsors has allowed us to expand rapidly: in 2007, the US section of TCII alone has enrolled more than fifty youngsters in boarding schools. The organization has been certified by the Internal Revenue Service as a registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. TCII has a sister organizations in Uganda. One of our major ambitions is the construction of our own academy in Uganda. We have secured land in an area close to the affected camps for internally displaced people and have begun planning the project. The founding of our own school will help us to accomplish our goal of endowing our sponsored children with the skills they will need to become tomorrow’s leaders. Having our own school will also help TCII to streamline its operations in Uganda, ensure quality and keep costs down for sponsors. The organization’s aspirations, naturally, depend upon the time and energy of volunteers and the munificence of benefactors and donors. It is our hope in the coming years to continue to expand our work and the positive impact on the children of northern Uganda. We welcome all inquiries and input as we continue to grow our organization.

The mission of The Child Is Innocent (TCII) is to create a core group of young leaders who have both the skills to advance themselves and the commitment needed to revitalize their devastated communities. The Child Is Innocent therefore provides high-quality education and leadership development programs for promising children who have been denied life chances by the conflict in northern Uganda and its legacy.

By raising funds both within and outside of Uganda, TCII aims to promote awareness of the conflict and the particularly heavy toll it exacts on children.

In practice, children who are selected for the program are sent to safe, high-quality boarding schools around Uganda for primary and secondary education. During their vacations, they participate in volunteer activities and special programs and are mentored by volunteers affiliated with the organization. The idea is to prepare these youngsters to feel empowered to support others in their home areas, rather than being passive recipients of assistance. TCII seeks to enable children to realize their potential in an environment free from the fear of abduction and violence—and to become role models for future generations.

As a small organization, TCII recognizes that it cannot help all of the children in need. For this reason, TCII selects children who are likely to benefit most from the limited opportunities it can provide. By following the students closely throughout their studies, we aim to develop in the children an awareness of the unique opportunity they have and to imbue them with a sense of civic responsibility.

The beneficiaries are chosen on the basis of their academic and leadership potential and their financial need, with special consideration given to former abductees and other particularly vulnerable individuals. The children range from age seven (the minimum age to be admitted to a boarding primary school) to secondary school. Their merit is evaluated and identified by teachers and community leaders, as well as on the basis of their grades and exam results. The organization provides 60% of its sponsorship to girls, and 40% to boys, as girls are generally even more disadvantaged in their societies.

The acacia tree in our logo is commonly found throughout Africa and is representative of our presence in Uganda. The tree sprouting from the O of ‘innocent’ symbolizes the growth of the tree from seed to maturity. We endeavor to develop children from their formative years in primary school into adulthood when they will become the roots of a bright and stable future for their community and country.