Project name: Social and Economic Barrier Elimination Project
Period: 2019-2022  

Uganda.

Overall goal:
Contribute to a transformed community empowered to lead a dignified life in Pader district in northern Uganda.

Description
The project articulated around two main objectives:
1. Restore dignity of target beneficiaries, give them the necessary tools to take charge of their own community transformation process and advocate for community issues such as alcohol abuse,            human rights, gender-based violence, child neglect and service delivery.
2. Promote inclusive education for children living with disabilities and special needs in order to ensure equal opportunities for learners and increased access to education.

To reach the goals and objectives of this intervention, we used our methodological approach“Transformation of the Mindset” based on the idea that community-led mindset transformation leads to self-reliance. Our model consists in establishing community structures with Community Based Facilitators (CBFs) in our target areas. After going through capacity-building and leadership training, the CBFs are entrusted to drive community development by having ownership of many project activities. They are guided by our published training book “Tool for Accelerated Community Transformation” (TACT), which is geared towards mindset change and development. CBFs are challenged to engage their community in identifying their own problems and find durable
solutions, as well as to advocate for their civic rights and for service delivery from duty bearers. This bottom-up approach turns our beneficiaries into agents of change and rights claiming individuals. Through our TACT book, we also train religious and cultural leaders to become entrusted champions in achieving community transformation. We engage them as crucial stakeholders in our projects, since they are the most trusted authorities and play a powerful role in shaping attitudes, opinions, and behaviours.

The following expected results have been achieved:
– Increased capacity for equal opportunities for 6800 learners and increased access to education for 306 CWDs/ SENs in the sub-counties of Laguti, Atanga, Pader Town council
and Angagura in Pader district
– Enhanced integration of human rights, good governance and dangers of alcohol into personal awareness amongst 11 804 individuals from 1155 households in 33 villages
(pupils, teachers, CBFs and others)

Implementing organizations:
LM International Country Office in Uganda and the local field office in Pader district.
Contact person: Country Director LM Ugand