Agoro Community Development Association

The Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA) is a Non-governmental organization (NGO) that assists the rural Agoro community in northern Uganda’s Lamwo and Kitgum Districts that have a religiously and culturally diverse population of over 500,000. Most are Acholi. Post Uganda Independence in 1962 the area has suffered almost continual conflict, persecution & neglect, much of it based on ethnic tensions. Socio­culturally, there has been deep gender inequality and power imbalance between men and women. Sexual violence and the lack of property rights against girls and women remain a silent crime.

The Agoro region has endured years of civil and tribal violence from the time of Ugandan Independence, which has devastated the community and upset its way of life. Many people have been killed or forced into fighting for rebel factions, the most active in recent years being the Lords Resistance Army and the balance have been especially affected as a result of harsh government treatment of the Acholi in reaction to the LRA. At one time it was estimated that over 1.8 million peorple across NOrhtern Uganda were displced by the conflict, many of them have never returned. The prolonged warfare, compounded by the impact of changing climatic conditions, has significantly affected area farming, the primary means of subsistence for over 90% of the population. In recent years, ongoing disturbances in South Sudan have resulted in a large number of refugees and asylum seekers arriving in the area. As of December 2015, the UN estimated that there are over 173,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Northern Uganda, many of whom are in the Agoro region. The combination of all these factors has resulted in most area residents suffering from extreme poverty and vulnerability, which impedes work and reconstruction.

ACDA was founded in 2001 to represent the Agoro community and lobby for improved conditions. Since then, it has established six primary schools and two healthcare facilities for the community. ACDA’s main objectives are:

1. To re-establish the community’s long-term sustainability.
2. To improve the community’s social and economic status.
3. To provide awareness about universal children's rights and education.
4. To increase both formal and informal educational and vocational training.
5. To provide children with protection, food, clothing, medical care, and counselling.
6. To create opportunities for recreation and improvement of social skills.

Since officially registering with the Kitgum district’s Department of Community Based Services in 2002, ACDA has partnered with various charities and NGOs on projects to help achieve its goals. Its collaborative projects include:

1. Global Letter Exchange Project: Collaborating with RESPECT International to foster a mutual awareness and understanding among children around the world.
2. Computers for Refugees: Investing in technological education for the community.
3. RESPECT University: Providing educational resources and tutorial services to Agoro's children.
4. Develop Agoro's Livestock and Buildings: Obtaining female goats to improve self-sufficiency and bricks to expand facilities.
5. Fighting AIDS: Improving awareness and education about AIDS.[1]

ACDA is in the process of expanding its current projects and has a number of future projects under development. In general, these projects address the quality of education, children’s healthcare and the economic well-being of Agoro inhabitants. In terms of education, ACDA strives to supply its students with additional educational materials (such as textbooks and workbooks), provide school uniforms and pay educational fees for dropout students. In addition, it wants to renovate existing schools and construct of additional facilities. One such facility is a community recreation center where cultural activities and training sessions can be held. In terms of youth healthcare, ACDA aims to improve parental knowledge of nutrition and Basic Health Care (BKH) through increased community training programs. Improved healthcare shall also be achieved through the expansion of healthcare facilities and additional efforts to de-worm school children. Finally, ACDA plans to introduce new activities to generate increased family income. These activities include the provision of additional soft loans, oxen and ploughs, agro-chemicals, and higher quality seeds. It will also encourage greater tree planting and farming measures.[2]

External links

• ACDA Constitution