GUSCO - "Breaking the Cycle of Violence"

Hon. Betty Akech Okullu MP (Gulu District) Chairperson, GUSCO

GUSCO - "Breaking the cycle of violence" Summary

The paper talks about GUSCO: Gulu Support the Children Organisation. an indigenous NGO founded in response to the needs of abducted children \\ho return home from captivity in the Sudan in 1994.

• It gives the objectives of GUSCO and its appropriateness in addressing the needs of such children.

• It shows that GUSCO’s work represents the highest level of love, forgiveness and reconciliation which helps to break the cycle of violence in Acholiland, and that the people of Acholi are willing to welcome back home their sons and daughters involved in the war even those who are not children by their involvement in GUSCO activities.

• It highlights the achievements of GUSCO to date and gives a list of GUSCO supporters and donors.

The paper ends with an appeal to the Acholi sons and daughters in the Diaspora to rethink their roles in the war and re-channel their energies towards the socio-economic transformation of the Acholi sub-region through support for such NGO’s. such children and the traumatised and impoverished Acholi people in general

Dear brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, ladies and gentlemen. First of all I would like to thank the organisers of Kacoke Madit 1998 for once again making the meeting a reality. Secondly I want to thank all of you participants for your total commitment in searching for the ever-elusive peace in Acholiland. I hope that together we shall find it.

What is GUSCO?

GUSCO is Gulu Support the Children Organisation. It is an indigenous charitable NGO formed by mostly Acholi women leaders in 1994 in response to the needs of child soldiers and child abductees who return from rebel captivity mostly in the Sudan. GUSCO handles children from (0 - 18years.

The state of children on return

Because of their experiences in the bush, which included being forced to commit, atrocities on other people children against their own will or being raped and defiled in the case of girls. Such children are highly traumatised on return. They suffer from hallucinations they are frightened and withdrawn. Most are severely malnourished and diseased. GUSCO realised early in 1994 that such children needed special treatment and attention. We felt that left unattended to, such children would grow up believing that violence is a normal and accepted way of life in Acholi. They would in future be the perpetuators of violence in Acholiland and Uganda at large, creating a phenomenon of cyclical violence in the area.

GUSCO’s Orientation

Our field of interest and area of concern as far as such children are concerned to:

1. Return them to normal life and reunite them with their families and reintegrating them in the community.
2. Provide them with basic essentials such as food, clothing and medical care.
3. Provide psycho-social support to them through counselling using culture specific approach e.g. story telling.
4. Give skills training, basic and formal education to them.

GUSCO 'S Philosophy

GUSCO’s philosophy is centered on Reconciliation and Forgiveness. In our approach to the children we do not believe that they are helpless victims but survivors. We do not blame them for what took place in the bush. We do not blame them for nor remind them of what took place in the bush. We want to show these children that we at GUSCO and the Acholi community at large welcome them back, love, value and care for them and want to protect them from further harm. In consonance with these, we in GUSCO;

• Advocate for the respect of children’s rights. We believe that children’s rights should be inviolate whether in normal times or in armed conflict.
• Sensitise the community leaders, teachers, religious leaders etc. to understand the plight of children in war situation and give them more psycho-social support while in the community. We do not want these children to be stigmatised by society.
• Support community CBOs and other NGOs initiatives, which are related to improving the well-being of the child in war situation.
• upport income generating activities for children affected by war and their families as a means of their occupation and sustenance.
• There are the efforts of GUSCO which are aimed at trying to break the cycle of violence which can easily be created in Acholiland if the plight of such children are not addressed.

• Resettle and reintegrate over 2000 children with their families since 1995
• Give vocational training to 200 children by placing them with local artisans for apprenticeship.
• Assisted 248 children re-enter primary schools
• Sensitise 165 teachers, women, community leaders on how to handle traumatised children
• Developed a cordial working relationship with local authorities, the Central Government Representatives, and the donor community.

We have been supported in our efforts by DANIDA through Red Barnet (Danish Save the Children), UNICEF. WFP, The British High Commission – Uganda, The Netherlands Embassy and some other well-wishers, some of whom wish to remain anonymous.

Conclusion

In conclusion I wish to state that GUSCO’s efforts and those of other NGOs will come to naught if the abductions continue. There is always the danger of re-abduction of children who have already been counselled and resettled thus nullifying the whole efforts made. We in GUSCO abhor abductions and use of children as soldiers and wives in a war they (children) do not comprehend. We urge those concerned especially rebels to release all children in their captivity. Too many of our children have been killed because of the war and many have missed education opportunities. Let us give our children a chance to life a new life devoid of violence by ending this war. Let each one of us here present engage in critical self evaluation. Let us ask ourselves what parts we have played in this war. Are they negative or positive? If negative then let us stop it. If positive then let us continue. Together we should channel all our energies towards rebuilding our shattered community. I shall now introduce two children from GUSCO to tell their story.