Rotary Clubs, we need your help – you too can build a loo in Gulu!

As I’ve said in previous blogs, GDPU is a small organisation, and its M&E model can’t be expanded without solid partnerships. There’s two ways of doing that: finding on-the-ground, influential organisations who we can export the model to; or attracting donors and beneficiaries who can financially support its growth.

The latter has become especially important this year, as President Trump cut 90% of the USAID budget – amounting to almost $60 billion. Humanitarian responsibility thus falls to private donors or Rotary Clubs, if not the cash-strapped NGO budgets.

The Advocacy Project and GDPU are reaching out to Rotary Clubs who might be prepared to help. Three clubs have pledged support so far: Rhode Island (US); Gulu District (Uganda); and Gulu City (Uganda).

GDPU fan-favourite and founder of Ability Sports Africa, Faruk (second from right), becoming the youngest person in Uganda to be awarded Rotarian status. Also a Rotarian recipient was the owner of Northern Pearl (third from left), where our shower burst into flames. He fetched us the fire extinguisher and inevitably saved my eyebrows from being burnt off. Sadly, this act of heroism wasn’t mentioned in his citation.

But what does ‘support’ look like? To avoid falling into the woolliness of an ‘I support you, you support me’ trap, this definition needs to be clearly established with Rotary Clubs. Our ask is simple – we’re looking to build a consortium of global Rotary Clubs, who will lend their confidence and signatures to our funding bid for Rotary International. That way, GDPU can soften the blow of USAID cuts and claim grants of around $30,000 from Rotary International.

The President of Gulu City Rotary Club, Samuel, is an inspiring guy. In his day job, he runs the “very special” Thumbs Up Academy, which helps children with additional needs. Samuel remains enthusiastic about putting his Rotary Club as a signatory of GDPU’s funding bid, and invited us to a district-wide meeting of Clubs the next day. Clubs from Gulu to Kampala are already engaging in ambitious WASH initiatives – but GDPU needs to spread its message further afield.

At Thumbs Up Academy with Gulu City Rotary Club President, Samuel. The school has a sensory room (left) and several spaces where pupils are taught vocational skills to set them up for an independent life, from sewing to bricklaying (right).

So what if we get more Rotary support? What would getting these grants mean for the WASH project? Our M&E model ensures that any donations are stretched as far as possible. Rather than spending $15,000 on a brand-new toilet block, M&E offers a more careful approach, identifying how to repair the old toilet for just $100. You can read all about it in my previous blogs.

GDPU also identifies other low cost, high value approaches to make their money go further. Partnering schools with local health clinics – as discussed in my last blogs – is free of charge, but brings a massive impact. At Awach Primary School, after our monitoring visit helped broker a relationship, the local clinic donated over 3,000 antibacterial tablets and 200 mosquito nets. Reported cases of malaria amongst their pupils soon fell from 40 to 17 per day.

At the Rotary meeting with Club Presidents from Gulu City, Gulu District, and Kampala. The District Governor (centre of the photo) gave us a warm welcome.

A Rotary Club bet on GDPU is a good one. They spend money wisely, track progress carefully, and improve children’s’ lives endlessly. It’s been a privilege to work with them.