By Amos Kiyingi | National Director
Hello,
As we celebrate the beginning of a new year, the Uganda Unites team remains deeply grateful for and inspired by the commitment, courage, and care of the entire donor and volunteer community that has been able to stand with us through what has been a challenging year because of the COVID Pandemic and yet also an impactful year because of what we have been able to accomplish together. We send our love and thoughts to each and every one of you.
A month into the start of the training of 700 young peace builders across Uganda, home grown terrorist (ADF Rebels) detonated 4 bombs targeting a pub, bus, Uganda Central Police Station and Ministry of Justice buildings in early November 2021. The increase in security threat coupled with the COVID restriction, delayed some of the activities but did not deem our resolve to equip the young people with the skills to counter the radicalisation that had led to the boomings.
In the last last 3 months of 2021 (October - December 2021) our wide volunteer network made it possible to start community engagements in Pakwach, Masaka (Rakai, Kyotera, Kyanamukaka) and 3 of the slum in Kampala, 3 of the 7 targeted regions most prone to violence. In these areas we meet with 629 young people and 158 signed up for the 3 month program, that is taking place in their respective community peaceclubs. 7 of the intended 35 peace clubs have been formed as a vehicle for this process. A boast to this was, 11 young people signing up to volunteer and ensure that the program is completed successful, in addition to ensuring that they recruit more young people to the program.
Despite the delays, we are optimistic as we start the new year, 2022. After nearly 2 years of complete school closure in Uganda due to the pandemic, on 10th January 2022, schools will resume and this will grant us access to young people in the school setting to effectively engage with them and start both school peace clubs for those in school and community peace clubs for the unfortunate young people that will not be returning to school.
The overall aim and outcomes of the project remain the same, and over the next quarter (January - March) we shall roll out the program in 4 other regions of Kasese, Lira, Aura and Soroti. We are also focus on equipping our volunteers with skills to train and support the young people that will have dropped out of school with Basic English and Math education.
We continue on, changing mindsets of young people to stir away from violence and to be aware of the radicalisation in their communities and amongst their peers.
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