Uganda: Community Development and Rural Transformation

Image of Godfrey and women in field of onions.

Assist volunteers in Northern Uganda in their commitment to better the lives of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Project description

Mercy Samaritans for Community Transformations (MESCOT) is a registered Community Based organization formed in 2019 in Amaru District, Northern Uganda. MESCOT's main focus is empowering women, young people and persons living with HIV/AIDS. The founding members have experience and backgrounds  in community development and rural transformation with specialties in child protection, youth development, human rights work, and gender studies. They established the organization to address the widespread social injustices and neglect of disabled people, women and vulnerable youths in Amuru District and post-conflict Northern Uganda. The war in neighboring Southern Sudan led to an influx of refugees and the displacement of youth. Issues related to poverty and parental neglect have led to early child marriages, teenage pregnancies, and abandonment of elderly persons. 

  • Vision of the Organization: An empowered inclusive society where women, girl child, orphans and vulnerable children, youth are respected and economically empowered for self-reliant.
  • Mission of the Organization: A fully transformed community minds and attitudes through action for Health, education, advocacy for youth, children and women’s rights to be empowered and be self-reliant.
  • Goal of the Organization:  A fully transformed community Attitudes and restored Hopes to make a difference.

Current Programs

  • Psychosocial support, counseling and suicide prevention 
  • Civic education and training (promote access to information on human rights, governance, leadership, land rights and ownership) 
  • Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA)
  • Sexual and gender-based violence sensitization 
  • Child protection 
  • Clean water and sanitation  
  • Securing access to health care for the most vulnerable (adolescents, women and orphaned children, people with disabilities and those living with HIV/AIDS) 
  • Sexual and peproductive health education 
  • Economic: promoting access to employment, economic resources and entrepreneurship especially for women and girls

In order to build capacity in this areas, the leaders of MESCOT have expressed a desire for a website. 

Project outcome

Specific project outcomes will be customized through communication with NGO partners. Past examples of global projects have included:

  • Marketing and content development for websites and social media 
  • Research and resource sharing
  • Mentoring and networking 
  • Program and curriculum development 
  • Grant writing

Please note: In addition to the options above, partners may have specialized project requests.

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Variable
Start time Any time
Level of collaboration Variable
Benefits Global project experience
Who is eligible All undergraduate students

Core partners

  • Godfrey Ocittiugi

Project mentor

Mara Huber

Associate Dean, Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning; Director, Experiential Learning Network

24 Capen Hall

Phone: (716) 829-2834

Email: mbhuber@buffalo.edu

Start the project

To apply for one of the limited spaces, send an interest email to ubeln@buffalo.edu with the following information and one of our staff will respond with more information via email :  

  • Share relevant background information about yourself and why you are interested in a global project.
  • Review the list of current global partnerships, list the three you are most interested in working with and explain why for each.
  • Explain what you hope to contribute to and gain from a global project.

Note that global partners rely on the contributions associated with ELN student projects and commit their limited time and resources to working with students. Accordingly, different projects will require varying amounts of time and strong commitment and follow through.  

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

  1. Examine the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the history of the framework. Then select one SDG to focus on as you work through your project.
  2. Download and complete this PowerPoint template.