First a disclaimer. The moral situation is not wholesale grim for unemployed graduate youths that get entrusted with youth development interventions in their communities, but the general attitude amongst policy makers seems to be that graduate youths without clearly visible or defined sources of income are generally unemployed, vulnerable, in need of support, are a … Continue reading Dr. Ben Jones on Uganda’s category: ‘Unemployed Graduate’ (Video)
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Cash flows Necessary for Income Generation
From Thursday, 21st January to Saturday, 23rd January 2021, eleven young adults participated in our training session on cash flows for income generation; a sub-session of Module 4: Initiating and Sustaining Innovations for Positive Change in Rural Uganda of our project: Mentoring Young Adults into Innovators against Poverty. We learnt and practiced how to develop … Continue reading Cash flows Necessary for Income Generation
May we conquer COVID-19 & Resume Normalcy
Last year, 2020, we, at CPAR Uganda, were highly optimistic that it would be the year in which we revive and re-grow our organisation, while implementing projects that have direct positive impact on the wellbeing of our constituency – active disadvantaged communities in our geography of operation, the Greater Northern Uganda and Uganda, generally. And … Continue reading May we conquer COVID-19 & Resume Normalcy
Livelihoods devasted by COVID-19 pandemic
I am honored to be part of the young adult innovators benefitting from CPAR Uganda’s mentoring program. Photo credit @ Norah Owaraga The Savings culture that we learnt during the training bore fruits when we started a savings group, the “Innovators Savings Group”, but due to the lock down (COVID-19 induced locked instituted in March … Continue reading Livelihoods devasted by COVID-19 pandemic
Education should be about teaching life skills
In January 2020, before COVID-19 hit Uganda and forced us into a lockdown, CPAR Uganda had the opportunity to launch our project: “Mentoring Young Adults into Innovators against Poverty” for which we are online fundraising in partnership with the GlobalGiving Foundation. As lead mentor, it is exciting that knowledge that I prior acquired in the … Continue reading Education should be about teaching life skills
Financial Literacy is key for ending poverty
After completing module one of understanding poverty in rural Uganda with CPAR Uganda, I was able to practically apply the skills that I attained (tracking daily expense at home ), which I taught my younger sister as well. “WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY UNNECESSARILY,” was her comment after several weeks of implementation. With that, … Continue reading Financial Literacy is key for ending poverty
Optimistically Planning Post COVID-19 Recovery
Yesterday, Monday, 23rd November 2020, Owomugisha texted me through Facebook Messenger. “Because of knowing you I am a happy owner of 70 turkeys, which I would not have bought without your connection. I even have ducks clucking away. Last week I harvested 5 acres of Hibiscus. All this I did during the COVID-19 period. I … Continue reading Optimistically Planning Post COVID-19 Recovery
Lesson for Success #10: Reverence and Decency
Honour your father and mother; look after your parents. “And today, mum turns 64! Cheers to the woman whose love, grace, compassion, sobriety and kindness knows no boundaries. Ours is a story resilience, hard work, honesty, sacrifice and modesty; a story too long to be shared in a single post. Wishing you 36 more years … Continue reading Lesson for Success #10: Reverence and Decency
Lesson for Success #07: Focused Drive
The competency of focusing on a goal and harnessing your energy in order to meet that goal – a balance between the components of: Focus - The ability to identify an important goal or vision and to channel efforts at specific targets that support that goal or vision.Drive - The ability to persevere, sacrifice (when … Continue reading Lesson for Success #07: Focused Drive
Lesson for Success #02: Systems Thinking
When my fellow ‘Mitchellite’ tripped and fell flat while coming from the mess, his plate of food remained exactly horizontal and only one bean managed to fall off. In the real world, things do not occur in straight causal lines – things are connected; causal chains are complex and balanced. One thing affects another, which … Continue reading Lesson for Success #02: Systems Thinking
Lesson for success #01: Pay Attention to Detail
In secondary school, one of our mentors, an elderly man in the ‘Brothers of Christian Instruction’ congregation used to say two slogans to us every time he met us: "Neglect Nothing”“Mind the Minutest” Young people seem to lack detail. They gloss over things. They are not cerebral. Reports are shallow and lack the meat – … Continue reading Lesson for success #01: Pay Attention to Detail
GlobalGiving has approved CPAR Uganda Ltd’s due diligence renewal 2020
Yesterday, 28th September 2020, the GlobalGiving Team notified us thus: "We have approved CPAR Uganda Ltd's due diligence renewal. CPAR Uganda Ltd can continue to fundraise on the GlobalGiving platform, receive a GlobalGiving and/or participate in a funding partner giving program."The GlobalGiving Team To learn more about our work which is being supported through fundraising … Continue reading GlobalGiving has approved CPAR Uganda Ltd’s due diligence renewal 2020
Value of Mutuba Trees
Backcloth is a major value which is derived from Mutuba trees alongside other values, including not limited to the following: Backcloth Making @ photo credit Fred Mutebi Shade for domestic animals; and for crops, such as coffee and banana plants.Fodder for domestic animals, for example goats and cows.Wind breakers, especially so for banana plantations.FodderLightening arrestorManure … Continue reading Value of Mutuba Trees
Mental Health Rehab from Hell – Part II
Ms. Desire Lavigne Karakire's testimony, shared on her Facebook wall on 11th July 2020 I wasn't given medical attention then (while incarcerated at the Africa Retreat Center (ARC), I attempted suicide and swallowed glass), and three weeks later when I began to bleed from the rectum with every bowel movement, I wasn't allowed to see … Continue reading Mental Health Rehab from Hell – Part II
A grassroots communique on effective mentoring
"I am really happy that Dr. Ben Jones has reprogrammed my mindset and has made research more relaxed and very interesting," shared Innovator Jimmy Ezra Okello. Innovator Jimmy Ezra Okello and Innovator Robert Oluka relaxing in Ngora. Further insight into how and why Dr. Jones has succeeded in positively impacting our lives was provided by Innovator … Continue reading A grassroots communique on effective mentoring
Welcome to our Reading Room at our Lira Learning Centre
We started off with very high expectations of establishing our "Professor Fred Opio Ekong Memorial Library," in honour of our founder vice chairpersons, the late Professor Fred Opio Ekong. We rummaged through our stores and found loads of publications from our time as the Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (1992-2008); we solicited donations of … Continue reading Welcome to our Reading Room at our Lira Learning Centre
A ‘Big Man’ in Kwania whose philosophy is “don’t get used to free things”
My grandfather, abaa dwong Otim Raymond, is a very interesting man. He decided to add to his name: ”Gi Nono Pe Nayi”, meaning: "don’t get so used to free things." He even marked most of his assets like chairs, benches and others, with his new name, "Gi Nono Pe Nayi Otim Raymond." He did so, … Continue reading A ‘Big Man’ in Kwania whose philosophy is “don’t get used to free things”
Video – MD’s Weekly Episode 1 – Challenging Categories Project Up-date
“As the Managing Director of CPAR Uganda, I am delighted to share with you that our innovative, cutting age, research and advocacy project is off the ground. We have been in the field for about four months now collecting data on the whole idea of challenging categories – educated unemployed youth as institutional innovators in … Continue reading Video – MD’s Weekly Episode 1 – Challenging Categories Project Up-date
Oluka on the changing requirements for being a ‘big man’ among Kumam
Initially in Kumam culture, being a ‘big man’ was earned from inheritance. For example, when the father died, it was the first borne male child who inherited the cattle riches; owned all of the land that was his father’s. He took over the position of the late father and automatically he became a 'big man' … Continue reading Oluka on the changing requirements for being a ‘big man’ among Kumam
Aguti observes how the ‘Big Man’ in Teso is one who can ‘shake mangoes’
Some time ago, as I was growing up, as a young girl, a ‘big man’ in Teso was classified as one who possessed a lot of wealth in form of large herds of livestock; extensive land; married many wives; had homesteads and granaries of food stuffs; and had produced many children. This has changed in … Continue reading Aguti observes how the ‘Big Man’ in Teso is one who can ‘shake mangoes’
Dr. Jones’ empirical research brings positive impact on our daily lives
We, at CPAR Uganda, are privileged to work closely with Dr. Ben Jones, a lecturer in development studies at the University of East Anglia (UEA). For a two year period 2021 to 2023, Dr. Jones is the Principal Investigator for our research and policy advocacy project: "Challenging Categories: Educated Unemployed Youth as Institutional Innovators in … Continue reading Dr. Jones’ empirical research brings positive impact on our daily lives
James Opolo on how hard work earned him ‘big man’ status
In 2017, I was appointed the secretary to our small clan system called ‘DOGOLA’. During that time when the Chief was making his appointment for me to be on his cabinet, some elders said: “the position of the secretary needs someone who is matured and married.” And since I was not married, those elders were … Continue reading James Opolo on how hard work earned him ‘big man’ status
CPAR Uganda contributes to the fight against Covid-19 in Oyam District
On Tuesday, 3rd August 2021, on our behalf, Dr. Laury Lawrence Ocen, the Co-Investigator on our research and advocacy project: Challenging Categories: Educated Unemployed Youth as Institutional Innovators in Rural Uganda, delivered 45 litres of liquid soap and 350 face masks to the Oyam District Covid-19 Task Force, as our CPAR Uganda contribution towards the … Continue reading CPAR Uganda contributes to the fight against Covid-19 in Oyam District
CPAR Uganda contributes to the fight against Covid-19 in Lira City
On Friday, 30th July 2021, on our behalf, seven young adults who are benefiting from our mentoring programme and are stationed in Lira City, delivered our CPAR Uganda gift towards the fight against Covid-19 of 100 litres of liquid soap and 500 face masks to the Lira Resident City Commissioner (RCC). Our gift was very … Continue reading CPAR Uganda contributes to the fight against Covid-19 in Lira City
