International Refugee Trust supports education in Gulu and Amuru Districts of Northern Uganda
Since 2007 IRT has been supporting a local Ugandan organisation, the Comboni Samaritans of Gulu (CSG) to re-build six primary schools in Gulu and Amuru Districts of Northern Uganda. Many Ugandans who were displaced through the recently ended 20 years of insecurity in this region at the hards of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) are returning to their former homes. However, many of the schools in these rural areas have either fallen into ruin or were destroyed by rebel forces.
IRT feels that by supporting local initiatives such as schools, there can be some sort of normality in the lives of displaced children and a hope to a more stable future. In collaboration with the District Education Authorities, Comboni Samaritans of Gulu identified the six primary schools in most need of support. On average 300 children are attending each of the schools. This number is increasing daily as more and more people return to their former homes. Unfortunately many children now attending school have had a fractured education because of the former conflict. Many are orphans due to the violence or HIV /AIDS. Others are former child soldiers who have numerous psychological problems.
IRT is working with CSG to develop the infrastructure of these schools and to help provide the skills and knowledge for teachers and the local communities to ensure their schools are sustainable and create the best learning environment for their children.
In 2011 IRT is aiming to assist in building more classrooms, supplying schools with equipment and furniture such as benches, chairs and tables and building latrines.