HEALS (Health, Education, Arts, Literacy, Sports) is an after school play therapy outlet for the war-affected youth of northern Uganda. This amazing program is the dream of a remarkable woman called Jolly Grace Okot. Many of you who are familiar with the movement of Invisible Children are already acquainted with Madame Jolly. Jolly was one of the first female child soldiers as a product of Joseph Kony’s nightmare of a war that has been oppressing the beautiful people in northern Uganda for now 24+ years. Now that the north is relatively peaceful, there is much rehabilitation to be done. Our goal is to build HEALS into a stronger, more sustainable program that empowers and enriches the students that we sponsor. HEALS is an after school outlet where kids can be kids. They come to our facility to play traditional instruments, learn traditional and hip hop dance, do art, photography, play football (both American and European), learn to read, and grow as positive figures in society.
As of now, HEALS is SOLELY funded by a non-profit cafe called, Kope Cafe. Lindsey and I are basically going to mold this project and make it our own. We plan to (but aren’t limited to…ideas encouraged) create a steady flow of volunteers (which is highly lacking currently), continue to grow in numbers of students we sponsor in the program (which includes supplying them with school fees since secondary school in Uganda is not free), make sure Kope Cafe has adequate and quality equipment so they can continue to sustain a steady income for HEALS, and eventually start a scholarship program for our students to continue their education and be strong members of their society.
Please direct all questions to heals.gulu@gmail.com
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