Our partner: IYEP

IYEP - The Information for Youth Empowerment Programme - is based in the Gulu District, and was formed by those who had themselves been abducted to try and build peace and reconciliation between the returnees and the community.

What is remarkable is that some of its 1,130 members now rub shoulders with the person who abducted them, making forgiveness an essential part of the IYEP message.

Trying to reintegrate is a long, slow process, but the challenge is to empower the young returnees and child mothers, the vulnerable orphans and children born in captivity and those maimed in the war.

IYEP is helping those who were abducted find ways of earning an income, to learn business and vocational skills, to improve their literacy after years of missed schooling.

Most importantly, IYEP is running Peace Clubs across camps and villages, encouraging the young people to share their experiences, undergo counselling and to support one another. Together they are working for a peaceful and harmonious existence, such as they have never known in their lifetime.

Cord is helping to build their organisation, its infrastructure and good governance, and encouraging their self confidence in taking the initiative to help themselves so effectively. Motorbikes have been provided to make it easier for the IYEP team to move between the camps, and a drop in centre, offering counselling and advice, has opened in Gulu town centre.