The last few days have been filled with adventure and exploration. We arrived back from Gulu on Friday afternoon after a bumpy bus ride (119 speed bumps in a 30 mile distance!), and rested when we finally got back to Makerere University. After a hearty dinner, the group spent time in the dorms relaxing and unpacking, getting ready for their up coming day of adventure in Jinja.



Saturday morning, the group woke up early and headed to Jinja, where lies the source of the Nile, for a day of white water rafting on the Nile and bunji jumping. Some chose to spend the day exploring Jinja town and watching the jumpers, while others participated in the extreme outdoor activities. Arriving back later that night full of energy and excitement, the group got together and headed out for a night of dancing!


The following morning was free in Kampala. Some chose to tour the markets, buy crafts, cruise the internet, or just relax in town. In the afternoon, we met for our final reflection session and discussion of how participants can bring what they have learned here in Uganda back to their communities, whether that be college campuses, families, friends, local communities, or wider communities. There are exciting opportunities ahead…




The group traveled to the airport on Monday and arrived safely, ready for their flight home. They are now on the plane, heading to Dubai, then to New York, and then to their various destinations. You can look forward to seeing them soon!

It was a wonderful trip and every participant added so much to the program’s success. We are so glad that each and every person was a part of it. What a wonderful way to end GYPA’s summer immersions.

Please note that we had difficulty posting pictures on the blog, but we do plan to put together a photo gallery in the next few days, so be sure to check for it!

On Wednesday participants spent the day with local organizations learning about development and health initiatives in the north. Some groups visited nearby IDP camps and met with beneficiaries of the organizations' programs, while others experienced the day-to-day life in the organizations' local offices and facilities. More to come on the specifics of each program.

Thursday we woke up early and boarded our 12-seater taxis and headed out to Paicho IDP camp where GYPA has sponsored sports programs with both young women and men in the community. Community members led small groups around the camp where we visited the health clinic, a youth center, and agricultural initiatives. Walking around, participants were able to witness daily life in the camp and gain a better understanding of the health and development challenges faced by the community.

As peace talks continue, many residents of the IDP camps are beginning to return to their villages. While most are eager to return home, a whole new set of challenges await the citizens of northern Uganda as they try to regain their land, build new homes, and start their lives again.

After a tour of the camp, we played games with the hundreds of children who came with us to a soccer field. Older participants and friends in the camp played soccer while the younger children sang songs and played games in small groups with other participants.

Thursday night brought a close to the Gulu portion of our program. After reflection and a closing ceremony we said a sad goodbye to our new friends from Gulu. On Friday we return to Kampala for the last few days of our program.

We had each of our participants write about a personal success story or a success in development that they have witnessed. Each person had very inspiring things to share. Here are a few stories to give you a taste...


A Success Story
by Sarah Angwech

Being one of the members of Girl's Kick It! (GKI) in Gulu, I found it nice and interesting working with girls, women and children in this group. It was great to meet with them and discuss development and health issues both in town and in the IDP (internally displaced persons) camps. These girls and women with Girl's Kick It were educated about HIV/AIDS, early pregnancy, and team building so that they can easily protect and maintain themselves in their communities.
And both the girls and women play football while at Girls Kick It to help them socialize and try to overcome some problems that they encounter in day to day living and this has changed their lives and they have also learned to be brave and think of better ideas to improve their lives in their communities. And the success is that the program is still continuing and more girls and women are coming up and joining the team.


The Breakdance Project
by Emily Burkhart

An extremely inspiring project, created by a Ugandan who many participants look up to. What is great about this project is that it allows an interchange between being a teacher and a participant, so that there is really no level of superiority -- and everyone contributes to the program. What Abramz (the founder) is getting out of the project is NOT money, but altruistic benefits and sights for a future, bigger collaboration.


Another success

I find it amazing and a great leap that Ugandan participants here in Gulu are working in development. There are many challenges a returnee faces when returning to the community (a returnee is someone who had been abducted by the LRA and is now back in society living in his community). It is very noble and a huge success that these women who have been abducted by the LRA are working with the community in development work. I think they are a living example of what is possible and are making a very positive impact in the community and are beginning to create sustainability.
I also feel that all of the Ugandans and Americans being here working together is the start of success. It shows great initiative on each participants part and shows the eagerness and wilingess each participant has in wanting to learn about development.


Judith Peace's Achievement
by Judith Peace

When I was a Gender minister, I dreamt of changing the lives of women through development and helping them access their rights, especially in Northern Uganda but my dream didn't come true because of financial constraints but neither did I fail completely in my dreams. I tried as much as possible and organized gender awareness meetings and drew many participants from all institutions and secondary schools in Gulu district with support from Human Rights Focus's Mother-Daughter project and Gulu University and managed to lobby for 1.255 million ugandan shillings to support this. It was a successful achievement of my dream.

Monday morning Rebecca Litman and Greg Hartman joined the group to present their research on The Lasting Psychological Effects of the Conflict in Northern Uganda. After a very informative overview of their findings, the group launched into a long discussion about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the correlation between PTSD and individuals who had been abducted by the LRA.

In the afternoon, a representative from The AIDS Support Organization joined the group to provide an overview of the services that the clinic provides to HIV infected people.

Following many small group discussions the Ugandan participants took the Americans around Gulu town. Rolexes are a new group favorite (fried egg rolled up in delicious chapati tortilla) and we have given the tailors in the market who make beautiful fabric dresses, purses etc. quite a bit of business!

After dinner the group braved a sudden rain storm and went to a local restaurant for a reflection session. It was great to talk about our experiences thus far with the rain pouring down outside and the muddy and wet trek home made it a fun adventure!



Tuesday morning, the charismatic Rocky Moyoo from the Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization organization spoke to the group about their exciting initiatives. An excellent example of a local organization having a large impact, the 9 members of staff have trained 500 women in nearby IDP camps to carryout health and women’s rights outreaches throughout the community.

Following lunch, we visited an organization called Restoring Northern Uganda’s Healthcare ReNUH. Josh and Sarah, two Americans who came to Gulu with different organizations, started the project a year ago and have spent the past year doing research on the biggest needs in the healthcare system in the north. The group and was able to apply knowledge from prior speakers to ask informed questions as well as provide constructive thoughts regarding the young organization\s goals. ReNUH representatives took the participants in small groups on a tour of the Gulu Regional Hospital compound where we were able to see some of the major gaps in the healthcare system firsthand. While it was difficult to see the very low quality of facilities and services, the afternoon seemed to revive many people’s energy and hope that with the correct intentions and accurate information, we can all find a positive role to play in the complex world of development.

Today (Wednesday) the participants are out in small groups spending the day with different organizations in the field. The AIDS Support Network, CARE, Information for Youth Empowerment, The Gulu Women’s Economic Development & Globalization, and Invisible Children. Stay tuned to hear how the day went!

Sunday morning was another early rise! We got up and drove to Gulu, a town in a neighboring district to Apac, where we will spend the next five days. This portion of the program is designed to give participants an accurate and balanced perspective on the situation today in Northern Uganda, as well as to examine health issues that face an area that is rebuilding itself in a post-conflict era.

We arrived and had a guest speak, Jimmy Otiem, a formerly abducted child soldier and also the current Northern Uganda representative to the International Crimes Court of the United Nations. Jimmy spoke to us about his experience being forced to fight with the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army; the rebel group that incited the conflict in the North) and his goals today in working towards peace and reconciliation. Jimmy was an inspirational speaker and a wonderful introduction to our time in the North!



The afternoon was spent exploring Gulu town, going to the market and seeing what is around in the town. Later, we were joined by our second group of Ugandan participants, who are all Northerners; some are students at Gulu University, and some are working towards peace and reconciliation in various NGOs in Gulu. The afternoon was spent getting to know each other and preparing for the rest of the week, and we are all looking forward to what is coming up!


Coming up…

Monday, August 13, 2007
Presentation/discussion: background of the conflict by Fabius Okumu, Gulu University Center for Conflict Management and Peace Studies
Presentation: Rebecca Lipman and Greg Hartman, The Lasting Psychological Effects of the Conflict on Northern Uganda
Presentation/discussion by The AIDS Support Organization

Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Panel addressing the health challenges particular to youth an women: Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization, Information for Youth Empowerment Program
Gulu Regional Hospital visit with ReNUH

Wendesday, August 15, 2007
Mentorship program with various local NGOs

We woke up early in the morning to head up North to Apac. We arrived in the early afternoon and met with GYPA’s program coordinator in Apac, Howard Onyok. After having a traditional Northern Ugandan lunch, the group traveled by bicycle taxi to the Arocha primary school, where GYPA and Apac Kids League have a joint initiative with the nearly 400 students of the school. The project joins together sports and health education, and we had the chance to participate in some of the outreach initiatives.

Participants each worked with a group of primary school students teaching about and discussing with them personal hygiene and the importance of personal cleanliness. The students were so well educated that they were often times telling us the questions to ask!

Afterwards, we were had some time to have fun and play games together. The participants taught some American games to the children and the children then taught the Americans some of their local games…the laughter and excitement filled the entire schoolyard!

In the evening, we had dinner with the mayor of Apac, Jimmy Okello, who told us about his hopes and plans for Apac in the next few years. We spoke about the current political situation and his views on today’s events in Uganda, as well as his experience living in Apac during the conflict and the positive direction Apac has taken since.

Friday morning was a free morning, spent either visiting a few CBOs (community-based organizations) that are run by our Ugandan participants, browsing at the markets in Kampala, and shopping the National Theater Art Market.

In the afternoon, we had a talk by Dr. Richard Stockley, a British doctors who came to Uganda 27 years ago as a missionary doctor. He has stayed since and raised his family in Uganda, and spoke to us about his experience working with the Karamoja people in Northern Uganda when he first arrived many years ago. His main message to the group regarding development work consisted of three main points: 1) do the best you can with what you have, 2) you have to be present to make the work happen, and 3) do the simple things well. He illustrated his points by witty and humorous stories of the mistakes he made in order to learn these lessons.

In the evening, the group celebrated their last night in Kampala with an authentic Italian dinner!