2013 annual report_solidarity uganda

8/13/2019 2013 Annual Report_Solidarity Uganda

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2013

Annual

Report

nonviolent education and action for social change and environmental care


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Report Contents

What We Accomplished in 2013 3

Board Members 4

New Staff Members 4

Funding & Expenses 5

Goals for 2014 6

How to Give 6

________________________________________

Electronics provided by a grant from the PollinationProject allow Solidarity Uganda to better document

human rights abuses and warn communities of

potential attacks.

Letter

from a

Director

This past yearSolidarity Ugandahas accomplished

many great thingsall because of the constant support from

people who believe in a justice society. wefacilitated many nonviolence trainings andhave, up to now, helped prevent the theft of

100,000 acres of land in Northern Uganda.With funding from the International

Nonviolence Training Fund, we worked withother nonprofit organizations in East Africa

to train many Ugandans in strategicnonviolence and conflict mediation skills.

The new offices which we have opened inHarrisburg, Pennsylvania and Gulu, Uganda

will allow us to accept more volunteers andhave the basic resources necessary toaccomplish our work. We hope that in 2014

you will be committed to fasting andfighting with us to attain our goal. Thank youfor standing firm with us. We welcome yourpartnership in the days ahead.

Suzan Abong Wilmot

Team of Directors

Seeking Interns!

Solidarity Ugandas Gulu and Harrisburg

offices are seeking interns who are lookingfor experience in web development,

international business, marketing,fundraising, or project management. Learnmore at

www.solidarityuganda.com/internships.html.


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What We Accomplished in 2013

Protecting Amurus Land

(and People)

After many years of being displaced fromtheir land due to war, the peasantpopulation of Amuru District, NorthernUganda recently returned to the land they

have called home for hundreds of years.

However, the utopia that they once knewhas been compromised by greedy andpowerful forces: multinational fuel andsugar corporations interested in local oildeposits and the fertile soil. The Ugandan

government, recognizing the demand inthis land, has used all means necessary to

evict its residents and claim the land as itsown. The military has shot and killedpeople. Local authorities have threatenedand arrested Solidarity Uganda volunteersand staff. Livestock have been killed and

homes burnt to ashes.

To the best of our knowledge, Solidarity

Uganda is the only organization worldwide

which has brought this silent genocide tolight at an international level. Moreimportantly, we have been countering theefforts of the dictatorship and its businesspartners locally through a series ofnonviolence trainings throughout the

region. These trainings conclude withpractical action plans to be implemented bytraining participants and their communities.They are funded by the AJ Muste MemorialInstitutes International Nonviolence

Training Fund and supporters like you!

The facilitation of these trainings hasresulted in over 60 hours of detainments ofstaff, consultants, and volunteers, but humanrights violations have otherwise reducedconsiderably in recent months, and landgrabbers are beginning to feel as thoughtheir greedy interests are under threat.

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Shortly after we began these trainings,which included farmers, interfaith clergy,youth, womens groups, and nonprofitworkers, Amurus District PoliceCommander sent a vehicle to arrest one ofour volunteers. Thanks to our early warning

communication network, provided througha grant from The Pollination Project, thecommunity was alerted and gatheredaround the targeted individual insisting topolice that they must also be taken for arrestif our volunteer was to be apprehended.

The police, seeing the small size of theirvehicle and the large number of communitymembers, left the scene empty-handed, andour volunteer was empowered to go intohiding.

This is just one of many examples of howour nonviolence trainings have produced a

fruitful movement in Amuru, where we haveconcentrated our efforts in 2013 and willexpand our efforts in 2014.


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"

A New Office in

Harrisburg, A New Office

in Uganda

Thanks to the hospitality of the Harrisburg

Center for Peace and Justice, we now have aplace to accept volunteers and interns inCentral Pennsylvania, and all at a rent ofonly $50/month! Let us know if you wouldlike to contribute your time toward buildingour capacity by volunteering locally with us!

Our growing efforts in Harrisburg havehelped us multiply our impact in Uganda aswell. Staff from Amuru are currently movinginto a supplemental office in Gulu, which

will allow us to partner with more local andinternational organizations and enhance the

security of those who risk their lives in thisimportant line of work!

Board Members

Suzan Abong WilmotTeam of Directors

Phil WilmotTeam of Directors

Charity Alinda

Board OfficerDenis Otim

Board OfficerSara-Alizabeth Hill

Board OfficerMegan ClappBoard Officer

Silver KayondoBoard Officer

Donald BowersBoard Officer

New Staff Members

Odoch Samuel

Odoch has been an advocate within andbeyond Amuru, organizing local youth,women, and men for the cause of protectinghis communitys land and rights. He lovesreading, listening to gospel music, andworking for equal rights for all.

Ocan Ben

Ben found his way to Solidarity Uganda thisyear through his volunteer work with the

Uganda Land Alliance, where he had donehard work going door-to-door to transformhis community. His hobbies include feedinganimals, listening to radio news, anddiscussing issues with elders and youth.


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Funding and Expenses

In 2013, we raised $13894.64 and

spent $13665.29. The largest

category of financial supportcomes from individuals who

give an amount between $15

and $200 monthly. Without

you, protecting human rights and

teaching nonviolence skills

would be impossible!

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9

Goals for 2014

Create a Community Land

ReserveAmuru District volunteers and staff haveintroduced the idea of an agriculturalcooperative covering several acres whichwould help sustain our local efforts

financially, as well as protect indigenousplants and trees threatened by land thefts.

An incoming grant from the PollinationProject will fund one-third of the costs.Still needed: $1900 in start-up money

Launch an 8-Week

Training for Social Change

Leaders

An 8-week curriculum has been created for

our most active nonviolence trainers andvolunteers to expand their knowledge ofsocial change leadership, with a focus ontopics such as community organizing andplanning, arts for change, nonviolent tactics,

and impact evaluation skills. Participantshave been identified, including staffmembers of other organizations. We justneed to fund it!Still needed: $9500/yr or $792/mth

Hire a US Development

Director

Having a qualified person handle

fundraising and marketing within the US will

greatly enhance our capacity and allowdirectors Suzan and Phil to return to Ugandaand focus on the work on the ground, whichis their expertise.Still needed: $36,000/yr or $3000/mth

Film a Documentary on the

Land Conflict

Look out for our new crowdfundingcampaign to produce a feature-length film

with experienced international filmmakers.The film, called Our Feet Are Rooted, willbe made alongside Amurus land theftvictims to provide a platform to expose landtheft and military oppression in Uganda.Still needed: $27,000 46,000

How to Give

Your contribution builds peace &

justice in Northern Uganda!Visitwww.solidarityuganda.com/give.html

to support us with a monthly or one-time donation of any amount. Checks

can be made out to SolidarityUganda, Inc. at:

315 Peffer St, Harrisburg, PA 17102.

(717) [email protected]

Learn more from our website at

www.solidarityuganda.com, or our blog

at solidarityuganda.wordpress.com.

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