Positive Impact of Online Volunteering
A new website has just been launched to introduce the world to the issues facing refugees in the Kitgum District of Northern Uganda. Many of these people have been forced out of their homes by the Civil War, which has been going on for nearly two decades. The people now live in refugee camps, where they have only limited access to quality healthcare and education.
However, as the authors of the site are quick to tell us, it is not all doom and gloom, and that is where RESPECT International comes in. The village of Agoro's Community Development Association (ACDA), which aims 'to empower the community's residents, especially youth, through education', began its affiliation with RESPECT in 2003. It was through this affiliation that it became involved in online volunteering, which is proving to be its main source of aid. RESPECT now has an additional role to play, providing support for the group in Northern Uganda, by 'getting funds, books, course material, etc. or a pen pal contact for the kids.'
The website was set up by David Monahan, as an indirect result of a pen-pal exchange between elementary school students in Canada and students in Agoro. As part of this exchange, the group sent cameras to the students in Uganda, asking them to record their daily experiences. The question of what to do with the resulting pictures led to the creation of this site as a way 'to provide a platform from which we can disseminate information about the refugees in this region of Northern Uganda,' as Monahan says.
The website was developed by Monahan, members of the Werner Elementary International Committee and students involved in the pen-pal exchange, primarily using the photographs taken by Ugandan children, and information provided by Tom Fred, the coordinator in Uganda. It provides a detailed insight into life in a small Ugandan village, including such areas as living arrangements and culture, with a fascinating page dedicated to the rituals and meaning of traditional dances. This would be a great resource for teachers wanting to educate their classes in the differences between the affluent West and the war torn countries of Africa.
Members of the refugee community in the Kitgum District of Northern Uganda unbox their new sun oven.
Monahan sees the website developing further in the future, to include more pictures and more local information. In particular, he would like to see more background on the people shown in the pictures, and more about the school situation, as the website came about from a school letters exchange. Information mostly comes from Monahan's group's contacts in Northern Uganda, and he mentions how valuable it would be to ‘have some video conferencing or face to face meetings to actually meet Marc and Tom Fred to establish an even stronger link.'
Monahan's group, the Werner branch of Roots and Shoots, is now developing links with other organizations such as Bead for Life , helping to provide work for women in Uganda, and is continuing to raise funds through events such as a garage sale to buy a solar oven (see picture at right), and an art auction to raise funds for the vocational school. Monahan also aims to continue building on the initial success of the website, adding more content, and making sure the problems facing refugees in Northern Uganda remain in the public eye.