In response to the Delta variant raging through the country, on the 6th of June the Ugandan President announced severe restrictions for 42 days: markets and businesses closed; most travel prohibited; schools closed; heavy curfew. This had profound implications for the country, for those on the margins and for our Vplus programme, as reported in… Read More
New Lockdown in Uganda
There has been a significant and frightening increase in cases of COVID-19 in Uganda and Gulu. Gulu and Kampala have suddenly, been hard hit by the virus. In Kampala, at least I in 3 have it, Gulu has been registering over 100 cases per day which is worrying everyone. This is a country with no… Read More
Big Steps Forward for VPlus
Further big steps forward on the VPlus vocational training programme for youth with disabilities in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Covid 19 To date it seems that Covid 19, although present in the community, is not having the devastating effect that it might in a country with such poor health facilities and little public infrastructure. There are… Read More
VPlus: What does the ‘Plus’ stand for; Part Two.
Welcome to a second look at what the ‘Plus’ in VPlus (the vocational training programme for youth with disabilities in Gulu, Northern Uganda) actually means on the ground. Alongside the core vocational training in Design and Decoration (Computer aided); Electronics Repair; Hairdressing; Motorbike Mechanics; Sweater Weaving and Tailoring and the training in Literacy, Numeracy and… Read More
VPlus: what does the Plus stand for?
So what does the Plus in the VPlus programme mean on the ground? Alongside the core vocational training in Design and Decoration (Computer aided); Electronics Repair; Hairdressing; Motorbike Mechanics; Sweater Weaving and Tailoring and the training in Literacy, Numeracy and basic business skills, what else adds up to the Plus? ETC of PWD ETC of… Read More
Announcing the new FCDO grant for ETC of PWD
We are very pleased to announce that the VPlus@GDPU programme, run by the UK based charity ETC of PWD, will now be co-funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)for the next two years. This project has been awarded the grant from UK Aid Direct under the FCDO’s Small Charities Challenge Fund (SCCF).… Read More
How are things pushing on at GDPU? The Vplus programme, a New Year 2021 update Part Two: How did we get here?
How do you know when something has worked and what do you do with the ‘something’ subsequently? The essence of the ETC of PWD approach has always been that the people we we work with already know what they need to make their lives and the life of their community strong and sustainable. Our role… Read More
How are things pushing on at GDPU? The Vplus programme, a New Year 2021 update. Part One
So far, very well. The Vplus training programme for 50 new trainees with disabilities at Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) should still open in January. It has been put back from the 15th to the 20th January to avoid the Ugandan General Election on the 14th. Travelling for persons with disability is always very difficult,… Read More
Announcing Vplus@GDPU
As the old ETC@GDPU project draws to a close we have good news to announce: the first steps on our new vocational training programme at Gulu Disabled Persons Union have been taken. It will be called Vplus@GDPU, – V is for Vocational Training and ‘plus’ showing the extra elements that make training successful. Vplus@GDPU: The… Read More
When Duty Calls: a Facebook post from Musema Faruk
The etc@gdpu project officer and GDPU Guidance Counsellor, Musema Faruk, has also been working on a liquid soap making project for people with disabilities in Gulu and the surrounding area. So that they can not only access soap themselves and provide it at cost price to others, but also earn something in these very difficult… Read More
ETC @ GDPU 