UGANDA COMMUNITY BASED ASSOCIATION FOR CHILD WELFARE (UCOBAC)

UCOCAB was established to address the needs of orphans and vulnerable children, women and communities affected by war and conflict, HIV/AIDS, poverty and displacement through advocacy, networking, capacity building, skills training, empowerment of women and local communities, project initiation and direct service.

UCOBAC MISSION: To attain improved welfare of vulnerable children in Uganda through capacity building of relevant actors and childcare takers, advocacy and networking through community based initiatives.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: UCOBAC’s Programs and Projects are based in 20 districts in Eastern, Northeastern, Central and Western Uganda with regional outreach.

CURRENT AND PAST PROGRAMS INCLUDE: Strengthening community-based resource mobilization to empower vulnerable children and women’s projects in mid-western districts of Mubende, Kiboga and Hoima; home-based care projects in districts of Bugiri and Tororo; advocacy radio programs in which children voice their needs and rights; community mobilization and training projects, including training in apprenticeship skills, prevention and management of HIV/AIDS, provision of tools and loans to implement income generating activities in districts of Kapchorwa, Pallisa and Iganga; home-based caregivers peer exchange program with counterparts in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Cameroon; Vocational Skills Training Project for HIV/AIDS affected children (ages 13-18) in Rakai District; Veterans Assistance Program for re-integration of women veterans and wives of veterans, integrating into women’s groups and income generating activities and trainings; financial/business management trainings, sensitization workshops on HIV/AIDS, legal education for childcare takers in districts of Mbale, Kasese and Kabarole; capacity building program for grassroots organizations providing services for vulnerable households caring for children with AIDS in districts of Pallisa, Iganga, Tororo and Kumi; water source protection projects in Kumi district; Integrated Adult Education Program as a path for empowering women and adolescent girls in Kumi, Soroti and Katakwi districts.

CONCERNED PARENTS ASSOCIATION - UGANDA (CPA-U)

CPA MISSION: A child focused organization devoted to promotion of peace and social stability of children affected by war in Uganda through advocacy and psychosocial support.

CPA VISION: Every Child is My Child

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: Lira, Apac, Kitgum and Gulu Districts

PROGRAM AND ACTIVITIES: This multi-district grassroots NGO advocates for the release of all children abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, provides psycho-social support and reintegration programs for former abductees and administers health, education, peace building and economic empowerment programs in Lira, Apac, Kitgum, and Gulu Districts.

CPA’s Advocacy and Awareness Creation programs endeavor to bring national and international focus to the plight of abducted children in Northern Uganda, the need for peace, and resistance against child soldiering.

CPA’s Psychosocial Support Programs for War Affected Families strive to secure unconditional release of all abducted children and their reintegration with emphasis on health and education. This includes educational enrollments, wellbeing and trauma counseling at reception centers and community/family levels and networking children and families to additional support services. CPA also runs a rehabilitation center in Kitgum for formerly abducted children.

CPA conducts capacity building and empowerment programs for child mothers who gave birth while in captivity, including training of parents and teachers in basic counseling skills, community and school follow-up of formerly abducted children by social workers and parent support groups.

CPA also maintains a comprehensive data base and archive of vital events as well as conducts research and documentation.

CPA actively participates in peace building and reconciliation initiatives, including supporting a peaceful means to end the conflict in Northern Uganda.

GULU SUPPORT THE CHILDREN ORGANIZATION (GUSCO)

GUSCO was established in 1994 by community leaders in Northern Uganda to address the dire psychosocial and reintegration needs of formerly abducted children, former child soldiers and other children and youth impacted by conflict from the war in Northern Uganda. GUSCO has served over 8,000 children and youth with comprehensive services and, as the war winds down, is expanding its center-based services to community-based services.

MAJOR WORK GOALS:
· To rehabilitate child soldiers and formerly abducted children who have been rescued or escaped from the Lord’s Resistance Army in Northern Uganda including children who witnessed atrocities or are otherwise severely damaged by the war in Northern Uganda.
· To assist children affected by war in Northern Uganda to re-adjust to civilian life and re-integrate back to family and community.
· To help children and youth come to terms with their experiences and regain self and community acceptance.
· To strengthen family income capacity so that children affected by the war in Northern Uganda have economically secure households.
· To provide healthcare and psychosocial needs of children severely affected by the war in Northern Uganda.
· To Provide both center and community based services.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: Northern Uganda.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES:
· Individual therapy, group counseling and play therapy
· Health care and physical therapy
· Entrepreneurship and skills training and development of Income Generating Activities for women, child mothers and vulnerable households
· Singing, sports, story telling, video documentary shows
· Conducting community assessments for reintegration
· Cleansing and healing ceremonies
· Mentorship and Guidance
· Spiritual Guidance
· Provision of tangible reintegration packages (food, blankets, etc)

INSTITUTE OF PEACE, LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
AT AFRICA UNIVERSITY (IPLG)

THE INSTITUTE OF PEACE, LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE AT AFRICA UNIVERSITY was established in 2002 as a graduate level program in Peace Studies and Conflict Management, Leadership and Governance which leads to an award of a Masters degree in Peace and Governance. The objectives of the program are to develop knowledge and skills in the area of peace and conflict management, to promote just and responsive governance in Africa and to equip students with competent leadership and practical skills in peace, leadership and governance.

Africa University is an independent pan-African institution of higher learning located in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The University was established to meet the need for an institution of higher learning with a pan-African profile as identified by the United Methodist Church during its 1988 Annual Conference debate on higher education in all areas of its operation throughout the world.

The mission of the University is to provide higher education of the highest quality to students and trainees from all over Africa and equip them for leadership roles they are expected to play in the new millennium. The University is a fully accredited member of the Commonwealth Association of Universities, and the Association of African Universities. Although the official language of the institution is English, French and Portuguese are also encouraged through the university’s multi-lingual policy.

There are six operational faculties at the University namely, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Administration, Health Sciences and Theology. The “Strategic Plan” for the development of the University provides for the establishment of a seventh faculty – the Faculty of Science and Technology.