ETC of PWD

Vocational Training, GDPU, Gulu, Disability

ETC of PWD Trustees Trip to Gulu 2025: Brenda Addison

This year just two trustees , Chris Khamis and Brenda Addison, visited Gulu Disabled Persons Union in Northern Uganda. These trips are self-financed and do not use the funds of our UK registered charity, Enhancing the Capacity of Persons with Disability.

The focus of our visit was the development of a strategic plan for the ongoing sustainability of GDPU. In this context we held an important meeting with the Board, a workshop with staff, and updating & planning meetings with the leadership team, apart from duties in the Centre.

As always, the most enjoyable parts of the trip were our field visits to ex-trainees and the opportunity to perform opening ceremonies for two new facilities.

Given the uncertain situation in terms of the availability of donations from charities and government aid programmes, ways to generate income from within the work of the Centre are being pushed to the forefront. Examples of this were embedded in the work we undertook during our visit.

The Achievements of our Graduates

We made four visits to the businesses of graduates of our VPlus programme. These ranged from small scale retail outlets in the family home of Rebecca to the larger scale motor cycle repair business of Okoya Joel who now employs five people and has two trainees, and enjoys an impressive turnover.

Expansion of activities were also in evidence, such as at Precillia’s hairdressing salon, where she is taking on apprentices and is moving into the wholesale business of supplying other hairdressers with products for their salons.

Trips to the field: in a hairdressing salon

The New Kiosk

We also had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon to open a new road-side kiosk for a group of young women with hearing impairment.

The formal opening of the retail kiosk at GDPU

These ex-trainees are very industrious in their production of beautiful jewellery. They will benefit from this new outlet which was funded by ETC of PWD although the young women will be funding the interior decoration and upkeep.

Inside the new kiosk: ready for business

Workshop, Studio and Skills

The music studio, Viva la Visa at GDPU, which was established in 2023 with Viva La Visa funding via ETC of PWD, is thriving and developing its activities in a number of directions, always with an eye on income generation for trainees and for the Studio.

Many talented young men and women with disabilities are now participating in this vital creative industries sector and are now planning to establish the first Northern Association for Music and Creative Artists with Disabilities.

Wheelchair Workshop

During our visit we were also asked to officially open the recently established Wheelchair Workshop. This is such an exciting development which has great potential for significant growth. In time, it will provide an essential resource for wheelchair users by undertaking repairs and adaptations, and by designing new wheelchairs and tricycles that will better serve the needs of the population of Gulu.

In fact, prototypes are already set for production and locally produced components made from recycled plastic are currently being used to upgrade and adapt the wheelchairs.

GDPU: Skills Training Programme

Similar Workshops will be established over time which will recruit trainees and also provide work experience for students who are enrolled for GDPU’s general Skills Training Programme. Our visit took place when recruitment for the new academic year was taking place, so we are hopeful for another successful year in 2025. Challenges continue to be faced in terms of the funding of this programme but a range of income streams is being pursued including various mixed models of payment by parents together with sponsorship by funders.

Vocational Training PLUS

The V-PLUS element of ETC of PWD’s funding programme has always been very important to us. It has provided a range of opportunities and experiences for trainees in addition to their skills training including cultural activities, debating, literacy & numeracy and business support.

GDPU Head of Safeguarding with the Peer Mentors

Via a range of initiatives, the PLUS element of GDPU’s work has developed over the last couple of years into support for a team of Peer Mentors, all successful GDPU graduates who travel into the districts around Gulu to provide ex-trainees with on-going support. This is now an extremely important aspect of our funding activity, as the peer mentor team extends its reach beyond ex-trainees and increases its responsibilities to include such activities as providing training and undertaking research activities.

We were able to see this first hand when we visited a leading peer mentor, Precillia in her hairdressing salon, together with Johello who popped in during his busy schedule which now includes a leadership role in his local community.

Safeguarding

The Safeguarding element of the work of GDPU continues to fill us with admiration. With the eminent professionalism of the safeguarding manager and the whole team, everyone knows that security, care and love is assured for all users of GDPU.

A growing element of family support activity is being pursued which is something we will be following with interest over the next year.

Upgrade

Following our visit last year we were determined to help to upgrade the physical appearance and facilities of the Centre and the public spaces. As there is nothing like a lick of paint to uplift the spirits, we took up the suggestion of supporting the painting of the frontage, commissioning the work of a local artist who enhanced the walls with a series of images of people with disabilities.

This was our first “Wow” moment when we arrived on 17th January, and was the backdrop for our leaving photograph on the 24th. Now onto the next fund-raising drive to improve the quality of GDPU’s facilities.

GDPU

As usual, it was a pleasure and a privilege to spend time with everyone. We cannot thank enough everyone who works at GDPU for the commitment they give and the responsibility they take, working under the wonderful leadership of Patrick and Faruk. We promised to return soon and, meanwhile, to keep everyone in our thoughts as we strive to support the exemplary work of GDPU.

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity that manages the Vplus plus programme please go to our Home page.

If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.

If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

Disability, GDPU, Gulu

TWO MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GDPU PREMISES

Guest blog by Mary Bennell: ETC of PWD Trustee and Treasurer

The premises AT GDPU (Gulu Disabled Persons Union, Gulu City, Northern Uganda) have been painted and improved over the past few months.

GDPU murals: the newly decorated main office and classrooms

The main buildings have been painted and murals applied to the walls depicting and celebrating people with disability. The offices where the staff and volunteers work have also had new ceilings floors and a lick of paint.

Morale

This has been a real morale booster for the team and the disabled community. It has also made the wider community and people in the neighbourhood sit up and notice GDPU and become interested in what is happening there.

It’s amazing what a bit of smartening up can do for the people who work and train there.

A new stove and kitchen

The former kitchen was a dark and rickety wooden structure with a cast iron sheet on top and two open fires with trivets for the cooking pots.

It was unsatisfactory in so many ways – the open fire a risk to health and safety, the smoke causing the cooks to cough, the difficulty in keeping the area clean and tidy and the environmental impact of using so much wood.

The ETC of PWD trustees agreed to use some of the underspend from the Vplus plus programme to buy new stoves and reconstruct /smarten up the GDPU kitchens.

The new stoves were bought from Aid Africa, a charity specialising in reducing deforestation by installing energy saving stoves. They are the same as used in local hotels and schools.

They are obviously much more efficient than an open fire, having a contained firebox as shown in the pictures.

The whole kitchen has now been improved. There is now a concrete floor and strong working surfaces outside for large pots and an area for food preparation making it a safe and pleasant place for people to cook.

Savings

GDPU was spending at least 50,000 UGX (£10 -15) a week on firewood for the old kitchen. But now, the same amount of wood has lasted for at least 3 weeks and will probably go longer. Fuel costs are down by a third or more, making a considerable saving to the operational costs and programme budgets.

Benefits

It’s these, apparently small, operational costs that really affect institutions like GDPU. If you can’t pay to light the kitchen fire, you can’t feed the trainees and staff. No feeding and the people don’t come or worse, they protest often violently and the whole situation collapses very quickly. There is also of course the environmental benefit of using less firewood!

And, and and….

GDPU Programme staff have also been extremely active. Not only is there the new Vplusplus extension going on, including a fascinating new Peer Mentor programme. But, the Viva @ GDPU (sponsored by Viva la Visa the UK Based visa specialists) music and music production programme has been extended and improved into a second year. All very busy and exciting. More information to come soon.

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity that manages the Vplus plus programme please go to our Home page.

If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.

If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

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ETC of PWD Trustees trip to Gulu, 2024

The ETC of PWD trustees are just back from their (self-financed, of course) biannual trip to Gulu Disabled Persons Union in Northern Uganda.

In the GDPU office with Okello Emma (Safeguarding) and Ojok Patrick (Centre Coordinator)

VPlus Evaluation

The VPlus vocational training programme for young people with disabilities in Gulu and surrounding districts has been signed off with an A+ (project exceeded expectations) by FCDO. The full evaluation report is available for all to see on the ETC of PWD website, a shorter executive summary is also there. Printed copies are being distributed to interested parties in Gulu.

Trip Focus 1: How Are They Pushing On?

Our focus was to see how the subsequent Vplusplus programme (Post training for VPlus graduates and others) is pushing on and, of course, to discuss the new Viva@GDPU programme.

Reflections

Our discussions at GDPU, showed how much was learnt during VPlus and how flexible a programme must be. Reflection meetings for example, have increased in importance, they bring together past trainees and have become a vital part of Post Training.

These meetings create networks that support graduates, attendees open up in ways that are useful. Peers learn new ideas from the successes and mistakes of others. Other sources of income are discovered, eg the boy who has made a bicycle powered knife sharpener. Making liquid soap came from reflection meetings and is now a useful income stream for many, especially Sweater Weavers whose work is seasonal. Every meeting leads to new developments.

To the Field

Musema Faruk – the programme manager – put on trips to the field for ETC trustees to see beneficiaries. For example, to Abwor to visit Brenda, a Design and Decoration graduate. Such visits allow you to appreciate the significance of long term support.

Brenda makes mats and beads, but it’s the beads that are the real sellers. She lives with her mother and is a keen member of her church choir. We met her pastor who is helpful and wants her to do well. Unfortunately others are not so supportive, it will take time for them to see her qualities.

Families

GDPU has also developed greater interaction with parents and the community. Teaching family members the same skills as the trainee for instance. So that when, as is often the case with Design and Decoration graduates, they forget what they have learnt the family member can step in and reinforce earlier learning. Many girls with disabilities stay with their mothers, future courses should therefore include the mother for various forms of support. As trustees saw on field trips to Brenda in Abwor and Winnie in Pabbo.

Winnie and her mother with Musema Faruk in Pabbo

In Koch a VPlus Motor cycle mechanic has a position in a workshop, with obvious support from the owner. Each mechanic works and charges their own customers, but has to buy spares and pay rent to the owner. That means competition for customers and the less strong get less work, obviously a concern for those with disabilities. Unless, as in this case, the owner looks out for them in conjunction with visits from GDPU.

Viva@GDPU

Waiting to get to work in the Viva studio

The new Viva@GDPU music studio is a delight, small but perfectly formed and very active, it creates a real buzz across the whole GDPU site. It was wonderful to see, for example, a young man with severe cerebral palsy who finds it difficult to communicate, really developing his computer skills, and busy writing some excellent music too. The key to the emerging Viva sound is bringing together traditional instruments and modern music. Not only does this give these young musicians a unique approach it further embeds them within their community. In the past people with disabilities were not encouraged and often not allowed to take part in community celebrations and activities, events that always involve music and dance. Their growing mastery of their music is changing that.

Abraham, a trainee (in the centre) with his two instructors

Trip Focus 2: Safeguarding

Another focus of the ETC trip was Safeguarding, in particular the difficulties around safeguarding, social media and the new worlds that these young musicians might be exposed to. Increasing ability and profile brings challenges. It’s a complex and fast changing area, but productive discussions between the GDPU safeguarding manager, the Viva music instructor and the ETC of PWD safeguarding manager led to a new studio protocol and an enhanced digital and social media policy for the Viva programme. We hope to get the protocol set to music so that it can be remembered more easily.

Outcomes

By the end of our visit it was agreed that:

ETC of PWD could fund the vplusplus programme for another year,
The Viva@GDPU music programme was a growing success and that the donors, Viva la Visa, were right in wanting to fund the initial programme for another two months.
There were areas at GDPU itself that needed continued assistance and capacity building. Some of the GDPU buildings have also suffered badly from termites and need literal support,
And it is undeniable that the staff have far too much to do, perhaps some volunteer interns could be found.

As always, a fascinating trip to Gulu, much to see and even more to applaud as GDPU found ways to help young people with disabilities develop their own potential and create sustainable lives for themselves. Above all else, it was the optimism, the belief that life can be made better, that we brought home with us.

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity that manages the Vplus plus programme please go to our Home page.

If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.

If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

Disability, GDPU, Gulu, Vocational Training

Kica Ber: a Vplus plus case study

The Vplusplus programme exists to support, amongst others, the past graduates of the VPlus programme. That programme taught vocational, business and life skills to young people with disabilities, at Gulu Disabled Persons Union, in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Vplus plus includes follow-up training, often in the workshop or place of business. This case study might help show how it works in practice.

Kic Ber Sweater Weaving Group: Anaka.

The was a follow up to check on how group members are catching up with their business; on the gaps that exist. It would also allow members to share their personal experiences, to find any safeguarding issues and plan the way forward.

Kica Ber Sweater knitting group is based in Anaka, 50 kilometres west of Gulu. They knit sweaters, mostly for school uniform and have other smaller side businesses. They have enough space and the right machines to do the sweater work effectively. The group is doing well, the customers are turning up, but slowly, and the group is keen to expand.

Vplusplus: following up

Previous trips by the Vplusplus team identified the need for training on the design cards that fit into the Kica Ber knitting machines. Working with these cards would really improve the quality of their sweaters and help them compete. The card brings out the best in fabric and design, making them more attractive to the community.

The right instructor

The instructor at work

An instructor was hired to train the group on making different sweaters using the cards. The female instructor is very interactive and relates well to the members; she also has a disability. She is one of the community members in Anaka, so she will keep in touch with the enterprise in future.

The cards

The instructor trained Kica Ber for one week, teaching them a range of new skills. For example, the group members learned how to weave and join a sweater directly on the knitting machine, without taking it to the tailors to finish. Joining sweaters has always been a problem for groups like this, getting outside tailors to finish is expensive and loses time. This solution will make a huge change.

They were also taught to make buttonholes in sweaters, using the knitting machines directly; again something that had to be sent out to finish in the past.

The importance of marketing

After some discussion about marketing, members have brought artwork into their workshop. They’ve given some work space to a young man who does art and design, he stamps badges on school uniforms and he is teaching them the process. They have also designed their own signpost, clearly showing what they do, and indeed people are starting to check what they are doing.

Constant support

A new design

A busy week for the group at Kica Ber, but a very productive one. Graduates often think learning finishes with the graduation certificate. But these industrious and successful young people are showing how much continuous learning can help, and how important it is to tailor the learning to the learner. Constant support to help constant development.

If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity that manages the Vplus plus programme please go to our Home page.

If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.

If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their website or Facebook page.

Many Thanks.

Viva @ GDPU: how is it pushing on?

Viva@GDPU

How is the revolutionary new music programme, Viva@GDPU, pushing on at Gulu Disabled Persons Union, Northern Uganda? How is the training of young people with disabilities, in music making and production, proceeding?

Up and running

Well, the studio is up and running, the studio equipment has been bought and installed successfully. 9 out of the 10 trainees reported for the music programme, good going for this context and we have hopes that the 10^th will get there one day.

Singing training in the Viva@GDPU studio

Many songs have been written and recorded, all about social change; music for advocacy.

New software please

In fact it is going so well, the basic software programme they are using is not enough, trainees need something more sophisticated. Andy Corrigan at Viva la Visa, the sponsors of Viva@GDPU, has agreed that trainees should be more ambitious. In future, alongside the freeware programmes (‘FL Studio’) that local musicians and studios use, trainees will work with software that is common in professional studios and the West; ‘Logic Pro’ mostly. This also means that recordings made in Gulu can be mixed elsewhere if need be.

Kama Boo by Abramz

Local instruments

The team in Gulu have realised the importance of local instruments, (traditional ones like: thumb pianos, xylophones, flutes, drums etc) mixed with synthesizers, guitars and keyboards to give the unique ‘Viva’ sound. Viva la Visa have also agreed to pay for another instructor to teach local instruments.

Learning to play traditional instruments

Open mic

Alongside training and time to write their own songs, the trainees have an open mic session on Friday afternoons when they perform their new songs to a critical audience; their peers.

Friday afternoon open mic session: a brief glimpse

New songs?

A total of 18 songs have been produced so far, a small selection included here. The accompanying videos are on their way.

Yesu En Ceng by Nelson P

Viva trainees have presented their music to the community on Radio Speak FM in Gulu, they had good feedback from the community, many people are interested in what they are doing.

Kwan Ber by Brian Ug

And a gig too!

Visitors from NAD (Norwegian Association of Disabled and National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda) were impressed with the VIVA project and asked the trainees to produce a song about NUDIPU (National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda) which they presented at the national celebration: NUDIPU@36 on November 14^th. National recognition.

PS: their videos are available on a YouTube channel here