Redeem International

🌟 Team #8: Launched Today! 🌟 When we started Redeem International in 2020, we had one ambitious goal: to establish ten Intervention Teams across Uganda to protect widows and orphans from abuse and exploitation. And this fall, we’re thrilled to announce a major milestone—our eighth Intervention Team is now officially on the ground in Hoima! Here's a glimpse into how Team Hoima came to life: For two weeks in October, we welcomed 24 new team members through an in-depth orientation. We began with a week in Kampala, where our leadership team guided the new recruits through Redeem's theory of change, intervention model, and the foundational values that drive our work every day. In week two, they journeyed to Gulu to shadow and train with our established team members, gaining firsthand experience on the frontlines. Starting today, Team Hoima is on-site, connecting with local law enforcement and starting their important work with clients. Their dedication, courage, and passion are already inspiring us, and we know their impact will be felt deeply in the community. Every team launch is a step closer to our vision of safety and prosperity for widows and orphans across Uganda. We couldn’t be prouder of our newest team members and all those who make this mission possible. Here’s to Team Hoima—and to reaching Team #10!

Q3 IMPACT REPORT In Q3 we hit several milestones: - Our first arrest in Arua - Our first arrest in Soroti - Our first criminal conviction in Lira Across our seven intervention teams we saw: - 68 Criminals Prosecuted - 207 Survivors Rehabilitated - 273 Victims Restored As these numbers continue to grow, it sends a strong message throughout Uganda that violence against widows and orphans, and the theft of their land will not be tolerated. She is strong. Together we can make her safe.

FIRST CONVICTION IN LIRA When we deploy intervention teams to protect widows and orphans from predatory land theft, the team has several key milemarkers along the way. 1 - build relationships and trust with local law enforcement 2 - be invited by local law enforcement to investigate a crime 3 - secure and arrest the perpetrators of the crime 4 - work with local prosecutors to build a strong case against the perpetrator 5 - present the case in court to secure a conviction When we complete this cycle repeatedly, our work expands beyond individual cases. The successful prosecution of multiple criminals leads to deterrence. As laws are successfully enforced, they drive down the economic incentives to steal from widows and orphans, leading to the safety and prosperity of tens of thousands of widows and orphans who no longer need to fear being forcefully removed from their land. Today, we celebrate the Lira Intervention Team's first conviction. On August 19, 2024, the courts and clan leaders in Lira, along with the unwavering support of the local community, sided with our client and restored her safely to her land with compensation. Well done! She is strong. Together, we can make her safe!

NEW MILESTONE: At Redeem, our primary work is to deploy teams of Ugandan professionals to work with local law enforcement in cases where land has been stolen from widows and orphans. These intervention teams work with police to investigate land theft cases, arrest perpetrators, and convict them of their crimes. In April, we onboarded our sixth and seventh intervention teams. After a week of training in Kampala and another week of job shadowing with our intervention team in Gulu, they were commissioned to begin work in Soroti and Arua. Last week, the Soroti team completed their first arrest. This results from rigorous preparation, actively engaging and building relationships with local authorities, and successfully investigating their first case. Congratulations, Team Soroti, on this critical milestone! Our goal is not just to restore individual clients but to create a deterrent impact that prevents future abuses and protects every widow and orphan in the community. As the Soroti Team continues to partner with local law enforcement, a crime that was once a common occurrence (1 in 3 widows has their land stolen) will one day become unthinkable! *** She is Strong *** ** Together we can make her Safe **

This last quarter, we had a breakthrough in Mbale District. Our teams partnered with local police to arrest a man who had stolen land from a widow and sold it to a local politician. When the politician heard that the land had been stolen, he immediately returned it to the widow and agreed to testify in court against the perpetrator. Why is this a breakthrough? Because the politician knew that stealing land from a widow was a crime and he forfeited the property without compensation. When Redeem extends its operations to a new district, our work typically progresses through four key phases in the process of establishing deterrence against land theft: Phase 1: Stealing land from widows is acceptable and common practice Phase 2: Police begin to arrest thieves and charge them in court Phase 3: Thieves hear of prosecution and return land before they can be charged Phase 4: Stealing land from widows becomes an unthinkable crime When laws are enforced, committing a crime against a vulnerable population no longer has any economic value. When we remove the economic value of predatory land theft, widows and orphans, can live safely on their land and prosper. #widows #predatorylandtheft

In Q2 of 2024, we launched our sixth and seventh intervention teams in Soroti and Arua, providing greater protection from predatory land theft for widows and orphans across Uganda. Our intervention teams of Uganda professionals strategically partner with local leaders and law enforcement officials in cases of land theft against widows and orphans. By intervening in a critical mass of cases, our teams create a deterrent impact that prevents future abuses and protects all of the widows and orphans in the community. Through four years of partnership with local authorities, we have restored 1,408 victims to their land. She is strong. Together, we can make her safe.

On Tuesday, hundreds gathered in Wakiso District to raise awareness for the violent abuse that 1 in 3 widows will face by simply trying to remain safely on her land. The day began with a procession of widows who had fought or were fighting to be restored to their land. Throughout the ceremony, multiple widows shared their testimonies of being forcefully removed from their land and the abuse they endured. After hearing their stories, leaders across the district (police, politicians, and judiciary members) walked forward to sign a public pledge to end this abuse and protect the widows in their district. We celebrate the strength and courage of each widow who participated and shared their stories. And we celebrate the growing number of local officials who will not tolerate this abuse. She is strong. Together, we can make her safe. #InternationalWidowsDay

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to mark June 23 each year as #International WidowsDay. This resolution was intended to draw attention to the issues facing widowed women. They wrote: Many widows experience #poverty because they do not have access to credit, have no or limited inheritance rights, are dependent on the charity of the deceased’s relatives or are made liable for the debts of their spouse. Widows can be victims of physical and mental #violence relating to inheritance disputes and can be coerced into participating in harmful traditional practices as part of burial and mourning rites. Lack of access to healthcare can be exacerbated by poor nutrition, inadequate shelter and vulnerability to violence, as well as sexual and reproductive health needs not being addressed. Today, we celebrate the 1,200 widows and orphans who have been restored to their land in our first four years of operations at Redeem International.

334 victims were restored to their land, and 2,668 beneficiaries were served through the work of our Intervention Teams in 2023. Our collaborative efforts with local governing authorities (police and prosecution) are creating a powerful deterrent impact that will safeguard approximately 1,445,000 vulnerable widows and orphans across seven locations in Uganda. This is a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the collective impact we can make. Read more about our work in our 2023 Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/eH-397xd