"Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice."
—Albert Einstein

· Serving the Needs of Former Child Soldiers, Children Affected by Conflict and their Caregivers
· Supporting Grassroots and Regional Peace Building Initiatives
· Networking International Partnerships and Support
· Facilitating Graduate Internship Programs
· Education, Advocacy and Research

1. Northern Uganda Internship Program (NUIP)

This UMECS and Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance (IPLG) at Africa University partnership program places mature graduate students with substantial teaching, project management, counseling and conflict resolution training backgrounds with UMECS’ partnered host agencies in Northern and other Uganda districts to strengthen capacity of community-based host agencies and enhance program and project activities. UMECS host agency partners are:Lira/Kitgum/Gulu District based Concerned Parents Association (CPA); Kampala and Eastern, Northeast, Western and Central district based Uganda Community Based Association for Child Welfare (UCOBAC) and Northern Uganda based Gulu Support the Children Organization (GUSCO).

2. Peace and Community Building Initiatives (PCBI) combined with Environmental Rehabilitation and Land Management

The inter-relationship between poverty, disease, marginalization, ecosystem destruction and conflict in Uganda and throughout much of Africa is inescapable yet there are few initiatives which combine peace building, environmental rehabilitation and community development in joint initiatives in conflict ridden communities plagued by displacement, underdevelopment and with high rates of disease and poverty. In collaboration with Uganda and regional NGO's, PCBI is a three year project model under development which combines peace building trainings with HIV/AIDs and community development interventions and land management projects in conflict-ridden communities affected by war and violent conflicts that have displaced large segments of the population and created high rates of poverty and disease.

3. Northern Uganda Education Program (NUEP)

A school enrollment and support program for former child soldiers, formerly abducted children, child mothers and other children and youth impacted by conflict. Our sponsored students are vulnerable children and youth from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Northern and Northeast Uganda whom we enroll and support in 14 partnered secondary and vocational boarding schools and in higher education in Uganda. Support includes school fees, school uniforms, scholastic materials, mattresses, blankets, calculators, all school requirements and personal hygiene supplies. Additional support includes mentorship, counseling and guidance. Peace studies and social development components are currently under development.

We also launched a Counseling and Guidance Program in collaboration with Africa University at Lira Palwo Secondary School in Pader District, which program will be replicated to more schools in Northern and Northeast Uganda.

4. Conflict Response Research

This community-based research project, conducted in partnership with Africa University’s Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance(IPLG) engages civil society in Great Lakes and Southern Africa regions to bring new ideas, fresh energy and enhanced coordination into peace building and fostering peaceful settlements of armed conflicts.

5. Regional Peace Building Movement

In collaboration with Africa University's Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance and regional peace building organizations, UMECS is organizing a series of regional peace building reflection forums to help design and launch a regional, grassroots peace building movement to help foster the building of a regional culture of peace and transcend peace building from advocacy and micro-level activities to creative and constructive activism at the grassroots, community, institutional and governmental levels and within religious, cultural, civic, youth, women, elder and other societal sectors.

6. Peace Fellowships

UMECS sponsors one Peace Fellow annually at Africa University's Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance graduate program from IPLG candidates who reside in Great Lakes/Southern Africa regions, one goal of which is to build gender equity into the development of the African peacebuilding community.

7. Speakers, Peace Trainings, Workshops:

Seminars, workshops and training forums in peace building and the role of education in rehabilitation and restoration of children and youth affected by conflict.