Kapongo from Gulu! Emma, the WASH Project Officer, and I made the slightly treacherous bus ride from Kampala to Gulu together at the end of last week. After settling into Gulu over the weekend, I started my first day at the GDPU office. As past Peace Fellows have described, GDPU is the parent organization for four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) providing services to persons with disabilities, including those with mental and physical (e.g., deaf, blind, mobility) impairments. The NGOs and their offices are centered around two grand mango trees that provide shade from the intense Ugandan sun.

Mango trees that are the center of the GDPU and partner organization offices

The mission of GDPU is to “empower persons with disabilities to live independent and dignified life.” I got to see this mission in action in my first day at the office. I observed a training conducted by Patrick, the Director of GDPU, and Emma as part of a series from the Street Business School. The trainings teach persons with disabilities how to start and sustain businesses on the street (e.g., selling produce). Attendees were primarily women and ranged in age from a teenager to a more elderly woman.

Attendees at the Street Business School training

I watched Patrick come alive in the training as he very sincerely and earnestly shared knowledge with the attendees. The training was verbally taught in the local language Acholi, translated into Ugandan Sign Language (USL), and written on poster paper in English. I imagine that a space like this, with simple but meaningful efforts to ensure the information was made as accessible as possible, is not a common experience for the participants. The attendees clearly found value in the information – every person was listening/watching intently and taking notes. It was the perfect introduction to GDPU and the impact their work has on their community.

(From left to right) Nancy, Patrick, and Emma teaching the training

Over the course of this week, I was introduced to the full GDPU office team – Patrick, Emma, Faruk, Mary, Joe, Walter, and the GDPU Board members. I was also lucky to meet other members of the Gulu community: Brenda, a teacher for the GDPU  vocational skills program; Nancy, an Acholi/English/Uganda Sign Language translator; Steven from Explosive Network Ordnance of Survivors; Caesar, the District Education Officer, and many more. It is unsurprising that people stop to come meet the “mzungu” (white person) that is suddenly in their space, but I am surprised and honored by the warm welcome each person has given me to the place they call home.

I will leave you with a few new phrases I’ve learned in Acholi. While the country’s official language is English, the people of Uganda speak over 70 different languages. My new Acholi vocabulary includes:

• Kapongo = Hello
• Itiye ni ning? = How are you?
• Atiye maber, kono in? = I am fine, and you?
• Icho = Good morning
• Iree = Good afternoon/evening
• Afowyo = Thank you
• Tima kica = Excuse me/sorry (a very important one for a foreigner in a new place)

Afowyo! See you!