Support vital life-saving TB research in Uganda

In essence our mission is in three parts.The first is to stimulate the development of technologies, scientific knowledge for practical purpose. Knowledge that is suitable and adaptable to the social cultural and economic conditions of developing countries. Our focus is Uganda. We hold a vision of empowered and self-reliant women and men actively contributing to inclusive, sustainable community development, in our strategic area of operation, Greater Northern Uganda – West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso, Karamoja and Bukedi, the poorest region in Uganda. The second part is dissemination of technologies; and the third part is promoting widespread application of technologies.

And so, the majority of our actions are geared towards human development – training and mentoring, mostly youth, to become effective change agents and innovators for their own good, of their households and of the wider communities in which they live. Allow us to share with you a story about one our beneficiaries, a she change agent, that embodies our mission in action. Here goes:

Celebrating the graduation of a she change agent

She was awarded a Certificate in General Agriculture from Busitema University, after she successfully completed her studies at the Busitema University Arapai Campus. At the time, November 2025, she was in training with us, among our first cohort of beneficiaries of our CPAR Youth Media Training, under the Dr. Paul Hargrave Memorial Centre Human Development Project, we are jointly implementing with Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR).

She is among youth from disadvantaged communities of Greater Northern Uganda, trained as Media Change Agents – behavioral change communicators, for the greater good of their communities. Among the same cohort as she, a young man in training who did 90% of the photography of an impromptu graduation celebration we put together for her. He, instantly applying his learning from the CPAR Youth Media Training he was undergoing. The YouTube link to the reel, short video, of the celebration, show casing his work is attached to this report.

Prior to benefiting from our human development training program, she was already applying her agricultural knowledge as a Master Trainer and Extension Worker. She also prior contributed to her community as a Peer Educator and Junior Journalist.

She continues her mentorship journey with CPAR Uganda, thanks to a legacy grant from the kin of the late Dr. Paul Hargrave via CPAR. Among the co-benefits of her journey with us is that as she learns from us, we are learning a lot from her. This month, January 2026, she is on base at our Dr. Paul Hargrave Memorial Centre where she is establishing a Horticulture Project. Through this project we intend to promote growing and consumption of indigenous Ugandan leafy vegetables and fruits; among others.

As she establishes the project, she is teaching all our staff who are interested. We are excited that hundreds of beneficiaries of training courses being held at our Dr. Paul Hargrave Memorial Centre in Lira City will also learn a thing or two from seeing the demonstration gardens she is establishing. And yes, her produce – leafy vegetables, have a ready market for we will buy it from her and use it to prepare meals for learners participating in training courses; and for our own consumption. Fitting well with our objective of promoting food, nutrition and livelihoods security.

Equipping innovative and hardworking youth, such as her, with knowledge and skills to become effective community-based research change agents, enables grassroots research to be conducted. To generate good quality data, the basis on which suitable and adaptable technologies may be developed to fight avoidable disease currently prevalent in our homeland, such as tuberculosis. And so we ask you please to consider making a donation in support of gifting youth from disadvantaged background a gift of knowledge that keeps on giving. Thank you!

Links:

• Short video of graduation celebration shot by he change agent