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Organization	Volunteer Action Network
Region	Uganda
Website	Website
Facebook	Facebook
Twitter	@Twitter
ProjectLeader	Bukenya Muusa

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Northern Uganda is a post-conflict zone, still recovering from the effects of neighboring Sudan's brutal civil war. During this turbulent time, women and girls missed the opportunity to go to school. Many are formerly abducted child soldiers and/or victims of horrific sexual violence. Ten years after the war, they are now recovering and rebuilding their lives. Learning to read and write enables women to run businesses and support families, and empowers them to secure a brighter future!

Challenge

Northern Uganda is recovering from a brutal, 20-year insurgency. For over a decade, more than 1.5 million people lived in IDP camps, facing violence, poverty, and hopelessness. We provide literacy training to marginalized women and girls, many of whom have suffered unimaginable violence and ultimately lost the opportunity to receive a basic education. In this setting, illiteracy is strongly tied to the cycle of poverty and to incidences of domestic violence.

Long-Term Impact

Literacy is universally recognized as a basic human right. Studies have shown that our graduates go on to improve their livelihoods, build self-esteem, and become leaders in their communities. Our graduates are small business owners, local politicians, and community organizers. We believe in providing learning opportunities to women who have emerged from traumatic experiences and hope to rebuild a better future for themselves and their families.