A View of RESPECT From The Ground

by Trent Newman

This is part 2 of a 3 part series featuring comments by RESPECT's Uganda Country Coordinator, Tom Fred Obonyo during a discussion with Trent Newman. Part one was published in the last issue if the e-Zine.

In order to gain some preliminary understanding of the implementation of RESPECT's programmes and also to glean from a local expert those issues that require the most attention, Trent met with Tom Fred Obonyo, co-coordinator of Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA) in Northern Uganda, and RESPECT country coordinator for Uganda.

Last issue, Tom Fred spoke of the tangible and intangible benefits of RESPECT's programme in Uganda, especially the Agoro community in Kitgum. In this issue he talks about the limitations and barriers:

The limitation and barriers of RESPECT's programmes are:

• Inadequate financial support for the extension of the programme to other areas and lack of funding for office rent, electricity bill, internet and staff incentives.
• Community mobilization and sensitization on the programme.
• Lack of transportation facilities.
• Lack of capacity building for both staff and volunteers.
• Lack of a funding agency to support implementation of the programme.
• A need for RESPECT to at least visit the programme once a year. This has not occurred and it contributes to barriers and limitation of the programme.
• Lack of incentive for the staff (volunteers) since the start of the programme. This is one of the barriers to the programme. Many have left the project looking for other jobs from which they can get payment.
• Lack of technical support for project implementation.

NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS

Computer Training Centre

• Certificates for computer training: some of the student didn't receive any documentation about the training they undertook. This is a result of a lack of funding, though the centre have tried to ask students to pay as little as 5,000 Uganda shillings UGX (approximately €2.15 EUR, £1.46 GBP, and $2.88 USD).
• It was been a problem for ACDA and RESPECT Uganda to get full-time teachers in the centre. This is a result of lack funding and support. The teachers that have come to the centre stay for a short time when there is money.
• There is need to give ID card to students for both computer training and distance education.
• T-shirts with RESPECT logo.
• Internet and networking: the centre was planned to be fully connected with the internet.
• There is need to add more computers with new versions of software. All the computer in the centre have old software (Windows 95 and 98).
• There is a need to get some volunteer(s) to support the training in the centre.

LONG DISTANCE EDUCTION

The long distance education started very well with many students registered. But the courses came to be of no value when some of the tutors that were giving the lessons to the students were unable to complete the courses.

NEEDS

• For tutors that can teach the courses to the end and give certificates to the students.
• For funding to help with postage. It becomes very difficult the send back the replies from the students when I end up using my money and it affects my family.
• There is a need to get a good room for class (study room, not the office) where the students can read and which is free.
• If possible there should be some funds allocated for postage and the Internet, which will make it easier and speed up the programme.

Trent Newman, an education masters student from University of California, Berkeley, will be conducting volunteer work and facilitating critical evaluation of the impact of RESPECT International's programmes via community-based participatory research in Agoro, Northern Uganda, over the summer in collaboration with the Agoro Community Development Association (ACDA) and RESPECT.