Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation (SORUDEO)

Transcription

1 Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation (SORUDEO) Organization Overview Brief description of the organisation Legal establishment History Vision Mission Guiding Philosophy Motto Focus areas of operation Aim and objectives Activities of the organisation Partners of the organisation Organisation s core values Organisation s previous experience with development projects Organisation s relationship with the beneficiaries Organisation s Departments and Approaches Organisation s Board and Management Location and Contacts Brief description of the organisation Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation which is referred to as (SORUDEO) in short is a self-help, rural, community based and development-oriented organization, non-political, nongovernmental, non-profit and non-denominational organisation based in Kitgum District, Northern Uganda. 1

2 Legal establishment According to the Constitution of Republic of Uganda, SORUDEO is accepted legally in Uganda because it has been registered as a Community Based Organisation (CBO) with Kitgum District Local Government, officially operating in Kitgum district under Registration Number 11174; and also registered with Kitgum NGO Forum-KINGFO. SORUDEO has also been duly registered and incorporated as a national local NGO with the government of Uganda through National NGO Board under Registration Number 11609; S.5914/ History SORUDEO started in 2011 as a small, self-help village farmers group under the name Solidarity Farmers Association (SOFA), which aimed to eliminate food insecurity. In 2015, SOFA was transformed into Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation (SORUDEO) with expanded aims and scope: seeking to eliminate hunger, poverty and violence in the rural areas through sustainable agriculture, education, health care, environmental conservation and rural socio-economic development. Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation (SORUDEO) is committed to improve the lives of the vulnerable communities in the rural areas through poverty reduction, economic growth and social transformation. The Organisation creates programs and projects with the community and for the community that improve the lives of those in need like women, special people living with disabilities, the sick, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Kitgum District, Northern Uganda. The organisation s projects or initiatives do not discriminate on the basis of religion, politics, ethnicity, race, color, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any veteran's status. We endeavor to develop a family of humanity in the rural areas. Currently, SORUDEO is giving support in farming, education, savings and investment in the households, primary health care to different communities, and psycho-social support to the most disadvantaged women and children and their families. Northern Uganda suffered the wrath of political insurgency for 23 years. As a result, it is characterized with high rate of illiteracy, sordid poverty and food insecurity, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water, drunkenness and violence, diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and death especially of women and orphaned children. And so, about 85% of the families are impoverished, and they are struggling to provide for themselves with the basic necessities of life such as adequate food, medical, clothing and shelter. SORUDEO is committed to improve the lives of these communities and vulnerable children affected by the war. 2

3 Vision An empowered diligent rural community free from hunger, poverty and violence. Mission To facilitate the rural people in Northern Uganda to create for themselves a productive, united, healthy, literate, socially and economically empowered, prosperous and peaceful community. Guiding philosophy The philosophy and experience of SORUDEO is based on the reality that all people are created equal and unique individually; and that we all have a right to a good: life, health, education, productive environment, economic progress and other basic human needs. Motto The motto of SORUDEO is Together We Achieve. Focus areas of operation The organisation focuses on five core thematic areas of operation to develop the rural poor; namely: Agriculture (livelihood), Education, Health care, Environmental Conservation and Rural Socio-economic Development, and any other area that the general assembly shall deem as worthy engaging in from time to time. Aim and objectives Intensive involvement of the rural population in Northern Uganda in sustainable agriculture, education, health care, environmental conservation and socio-economic transformation. Objectives 1. To improve on agricultural production, food production, storage, processing and marketing agricultural produce. 2. To support rural community health care. 3. To promote adequate education to rural community adults and children; and care for orphans and vulnerable children. 4. To improve on forests and environment conservation. 5. To create and boost rural socio-economic development activities. 3

4 Activities of the organisation include but are not limited to the following: 1. Farming, marketing of agricultural produce, post-harvest handling and storage to preserve crops quality for market and food security. 2. Operating, managing and running Savings and Credit services for poor rural community members. 3. Conducting a training centre for skills enhancement in agriculture, business enterprises, income generation, environment conservation, violence prevention, education/literature etc. 4. Managing water, hygiene and sanitation programmes and training on health programmes. 5. Creation and managing the organization s schools, supporting rural poor schools, dispensaries/health centers and orphanages; offering basic care for rural needy children and women, bursary scheme and scholarships to disadvantage rural children. 6. Planting trees of various types to preserve environment and protect biological diversity. 7. Prevention of gender based domestic violence and other abuses; and care for those abused. Partners of the organization SORUDEO partners and cooperates with local communities, local and international non-profit organizations, development cooperation organizations or humanitarian agencies with the same or similar vision and mission. We also collaborate in development with individuals, families, schools, colleges, universities, different Churches and religious organizations and other corporate bodies like government agencies, conferences, associations and companies. Organisation s core values 1. Integrity: We value honesty, trustworthiness, uprightness, transparency, accountability and high ethical standards. We act with honesty and honor without compromising the truth. 2. Team Work: We are united and work as one team to achieve our organization s aim and objectives. We cherish strong Relationships, Respect and Sharing in our work. 3. Commitment: We work effectively together with our beneficiaries for achievement, with dedication and perseverance to serve the neediest rural poor of the earth; to relieve them from their sufferings and to promote the transformation of their condition of life. 4. Partnership: We are partners with the rural poor, friends and corporate bodies, and with other humanitarian organizations in development. Organisation s previous experience with development projects: 4

5 SORUDEO has implemented various development projects; Community Safe Water projects, which aimed to reduce water-borne diseases and improve sanitation, hygiene and agricultural productivity by assisting a community-led initiative to drill bore-holes. More recent projects include Training of farmers on modern farming and leadership skills, Child sponsorships through connections to donors to sponsor rural orphans and vulnerable children, The economic empowerment of rural widows and single mothers and the "Integrated Rural Youth initiatives for Employment and Sustainable Livelihood Development project, which focuses on the needs of youth. Organisation s relationship with the beneficiaries: SORUDEO was initiated by a group of farmers and it continues to be community-based, and is guided by the needs and priorities of the beneficiaries. SORUEDO s projects are initiated and owned by beneficiaries. Organisation s Departments and Approaches Our Departments Currently, we have three basic departments, namely: 1. Department of Agriculture & Environmental Conservation. 2. Department of Education & Health. 3. Department of Social & Economic development. The above departments help us to have holistic approach towards transforming lives of the poorest, the oppressed and the disadvantaged people in the rural areas. Our development approaches Based on the lessons learned from the successful grassroots experience, SORUDEO uses the following approaches for effective and sustainable rural development programs: - Participatory, holistic and result-oriented approach. - All-inclusive, comprehensive and community-owned approach. - Self-Help approach; Helping poor people to realize in depth by themselves the causes and consequences of Hunger, Poverty and Violence; and helping them to attack and defeat Hunger, Poverty and Violence. - Gender mainstreaming strategy; integrating gender in policies and developmental ventures. In our approaches and innovations, we respect, preserve and defend our Constitution, set Policies, Rules and Regulations. 5

6 SORUDEO s Location and contacts Physical address: Konar village, Lolia parish, Orom Sub-County, Kitgum District in Northern Uganda. The postal address: P.O. Box 255, Kitgum UGANDA. Office Phone: informsorudeo@gmail.com OR informsorudeo@sorudeo.org.ug Website: 6