Background of ARYA
ARYA is an acronym that stands for Acholi Renaissance youth Association. It is a voluntary, non-partisan, nondenominational, non-profit making and Non-Governmental Organization with its origin in Uganda. ARYA is founded in the year 2002 and registered with Non-Governmental Organization Board, Ministry of internal affairs - Kampala under registration No S.5914/4653 and file No. 4307 on 30th September 2003;
On 13th May 2004 it was registered with Ministry of Justice and Constitutional affairs - Kampala as a company limited by guarantee under registration No. 63969.
For recognition at district level, on 22nd April 2004 ARYA got registered with Kitgum District Local Government as a Community Based Organization under registration number 00171. This registration is applied to all other districts of its operation besides signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with all those districts.
With umbrella organizations at district level and in all the districts it operates, ARYA got registered as a civil society organization e.g. in Kitgum district, ARYA is registered with Kitgum NGO Forum (KINGFO) on 9th September 2006 under registration number 064. ARYA is also a member of the Uganda National AIDS Service Organisation (UNASO).
Overall Goal
To advocate for and improve on impact oriented service delivery to the community and to stand a platform for the plight of vulnerable people for health, education and agriculture.
Vision
To be a stable and community owned organization with holistic service provision to the community.
Mission
To work with grass root community, government of the republic of Uganda, international and local organizations and other actors for sustainability and development of community through their effective participation towards improvement of health, education and agricultural services with culture, gender, environment and peace building as cross cutting concerns for self reliance.
Core values
Transparency
Equality
Accountability
Commitment
Hospitality
Quality
Teamwork
Objectives
1. To contribute to improved access to HIV/AIDS care and support services of people living with HIV/AIDS and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Acholi sub-region.
2. To contribute to reduction in the illiteracy rates in Acholi sub-region
3. To contribute to food security of households in Acholi sub-region through improved agricultural practices.
Accomplishment and what has already been done for the community
Since its inception and for the community of Acholi sub-region, ARYA has successfully implemented many projects in different thematic areas as follows:
1 – Health with HIV/AIDS in particular
The intervention has ever been supported by various donors such as Uganda Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Program (UGFATMP), Save the children in Uganda and International Rescue Committee (IRC).
This intervention has
contributed to reduction of spreads of HIV amongst the community in Acholi
sub-region and is confirmed by testimony from some of our clients, that ARYA
has already saved some human lives in the community as far as HIV/AIDS. In its
struggles, ARYA has established a functional mini medical laboratory for
diagnosis of HIV. The laboratory which is housed in ARYA office premises serves
people from Kitgum, Lamwo, Agago and Pader districts. ARYA also recruited and
trained 42 volunteers at parish level where it operates and each of the 42
volunteers are equipped with a bicycle to facilitate their duties in the
community.
This project was funded
by World Bank through Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF to advocate for
and transform Acholi Community to a better way of thinking, analyzing
situation, planning and strategizing rightful methodologies in solving problems
for better Acholi community by 2007. The project unified all youth especially
the Larakaraka dancers in Kitgum district under one leadership without violent
in all the dances performed in the community despite of hatreds that were
created amongst the community during war time.
This intervention is
also ever been supported by President’s Emergency Plans For Aids Relief
(PEPFAR). Firstly through Core Initiative and World Vision, and secondly now
from the US embassy in Kampala, community grants to combat HIV/AIDS program.
Here, ARYA has established an income generating activities for the OVC to help
sustain them at school and to cater for other core program areas such as
psychological, spiritual or social services and health care among others. The
project which is established in ARYA’s land is about piggery, poultry and goats
rearing. Thus, ARYA has a land measuring 50mx70m in size which is a very good
achievement for the organization.
With technical and
financial supports from Pathfinder International, together with other agencies
working for children in Acholi and Lango sub-regions as well as other actors in
the sub-regions, ARYA fully participated in developing the National Quality
Standards (NQS) for protection, care and support of OVC in Uganda. A tool now
used countrywide in supporting the OVC in Uganda.
As far as
administration is concerned, ARYA has achieved highly in terms of staff
capacity building since its inception in to operation in 2004. This is through
series of capacity building trainings by various institutions both locally and internationally
and the available staffs have good experiences in management and implementation
of any project and the organization as a whole. Despite of some logistical
challenges, ARYA however has most of the key important office facilities that
helps in its day-to-day running. These include sets of computer, printer,
office desks, chairs file cabinets, tables, a motorcycle though it is not in good
working condition and many more smaller items. More importantly, it is an
achievement for ARYA to have a five years strategic plan that will guide its
operation throughout the five years (2011 – 2015).
ARYA has a functional
board who dare giving all their available supports to the organization at any
time it is required.
