[Background information] [The future] Members]

Background information of the Gulu Project undertaken by Pearl of Africa

International Peace conference

In 2006, Ugandans living in the Netherlands under Pearl of Africa Foundation organised an International Peace conference in Amsterdam with the kind assistance of Oxfam Novib. Ugandans from other European countries and the Americas were invited to contribute to the peace effort in Northern Uganda. The Deputy Ambassador of Uganda to the European Union, Ambassador Mirjam Blaak represented the Government of Uganda and from Uganda, the resident District Commissioner of Gulu Col. Walter Ochora. He was accompanied by a former abducted child mother; Lucy Aol. 

Lucy Aol

During the conference, Lucy Aol gave a moving testament about how she was abducted from school at a tender age of 11 and made to carry looted property by the rebels. While in the bush, Lucy was given to a rebel commander as a wife and the relationship gave forth a child. After many years in captivity she and other three other child soldiers escaped from the rebel camp in Southern Sudan and walked for 2 weeks to Uganda where government soldiers rescued them. 

The Uganda community were moved and asked her how they would help. She promised to get back to us after consulting her group of former child soldiers and girl mothers.
In 2007, she wrote to us an email requesting that if possible we build them a day care centre for their children to enable them return to school or go to work.

Project proposal

Through Pearl of Africa, we drew up a project proposal and we started fundraising activities. In July 2008, we purchased an acre of Land in Gulu Municipality and proceeded to build the day care centre. The girls organised themselves under Wapwoyo child mothers association. The have 107 members and 343 children. The members have been providing the labour for building and collecting water. 

Phase one included 2 large classrooms, 2 offices and a store. Phase 2 saw the block extended by one classroom. 45 computers and 20 sewing machines were acquired for the project. Funds for training of trainers for tailoring, basic computer knowledge and basic business practices are also in place.  Presently, Pearl of Africa is negotiating with a Women Micro credit organisation in Northern Uganda to extend credit to the members of the association. Een Procent Club in Amsterdam, has accepted to upload our proposal on their website to fundraise for furniture.

Cooperation

For this year, a small monthly allowance for the coordinator in Uganda, kindergarten teacher and security is in place. The Gulu District administration has promised to extend electricity to the project through the rural electrification scheme. The district chairman has already endorsed the application. 
All this has been possible with the cooperation of Ugandans living in the Netherlands, financial assistance from Oxfam Novib, IICD, Een Procent Club, Gulu district administration and the government of Uganda all coordinated by Pearl of Africa Foundation.