Description
Uganda is a country recovering from decades of war and conflict. Our project seeks to enable individuals impacted by war to regain independence that was reduced by the war. The goal of this project is to address the problem concerning the use of pit latrines in Uganda by individuals who have been handicapped by landmines. Our objective is to construct low-cost, portable assistive devices that solve physical limitations and socially stigmatic problems for those with disabilities using the pit latrine, which are just simple holes in the ground. Since those who have been impaired by landmines have difficulty squatting or standing up, it is impossible for them to independently use these pit latrines. The impact is two-fold. We will also be stimulating the local economy and providing jobs to the landmine survivors who will produce these seats. Our aim is also to combat the negative social stigma of those with disabilities by providing ways in which they can be independent.
Donations are applied to...
Donations will be used to furnish ten landmine survivors with tuition to attend vocational school. The money will also provide the materials for each of these initial ten landmine survivors to each produce ten latrine aid devices that our partner organization, the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association (ULSA), would then purchase from the survivor, at a profit to the survivor. ULSA would distribute the devices to other identified survivors in need of the device. Another benefit to this system is that ULSA already has a network across the country of landmine survivors, so it is much easier for the devices to reach a greater number of beneficiaries. This project is designed to empower the landmine survivors and restore independence by providing knowledge and skills rather than charitable donations without direction. Furthermore, if the market for assistive devices were to be exhausted and no revenue could be generated for a survivor to subsist upon, the survivor could be employed or contracted as a craftsperson of carpentry and metalworking by others in the community.
Personal Message
Thank you so much for your generosity and for taking the time to learn about our project! We are constantly working on this project to make sure we create and devise the most effective and appropriate solutions. We are committed to this project and to the people we met in Uganda. We have chosen to complete this project as a Senior Design Project at USD because we believe it is a valuable cause and learning endeavor.
Why are donations necessary?
Every donation makes a difference. Even small donations can be put to buying supplies for devices for the production in Uganda. Disabled individuals are constantly overlooked and marginalized in Uganda, and this project has worked long and hard to develop a system that will combat the unfortunate circumstances that these humans have met with.