Friends for Peace in Africa

Friends for Peace in Africa has two projects in Uganda with which we are partnering:

the Friends for Peace Scholars program

& the Hope Plumpy’Nut Cooperative.

Marcellina Otii is our connection to this fantastic organization. She is a dear friend & elder to our family. We esteem & are inspired by her vision & way she navigates her full life as a mother, wife, and an educator.

There has been over 20 years of violent civil war in Uganda – the children, women, men, & elders of Uganda have been profoundly wounded. But, Marcellina & Friends for Peace in Africa are doing their part in bringing hope, healing, & peace to these dear people.

Other ways to partner with Marcellina & Friends for Peace in Africa:

…Volunteer. There are lots of opportunities – call us, tell us what you LOVE to do & we’ll delight in finding a place for you to join us.
…Grant-writing. We could use a person who has experience writing grants or is a gifted writer – we have a list of grants for which we would like to apply.
…Advocate. See the “What to Do” sheet by Friends for Peace in Africa. Write a letter, sign an online petition…learn!

The mission of Friends for Peace in Africa (FPA) is to facilitate and mediate through dialogue, advocacy, and empowerment, the implementation of conditions that enable every individual in all regions of Africa, to live and develop to his/her fullest potential in an atmosphere of peace.

FPA was incorporated specifically to:

• Directly engage in peace talks and provide forums and facilities to warring groups, factions, and nations on the continent of Africa to seek diplomatic solutions to their conflicts, and to end hostilities;
• Give direct food, shelter, medical, clothing, and educational aids to demographic groups affected by wars in Africa;
• Support African governments that are implementing post-conflict economic, cultural, developmental, and educational rehabilitation and reconstruction programs;
• Collaborate with, support, and/or give direct assistance to local, national, and international programs that seek to stop countries in Africa from internally displacing their own citizens;
• Advocate for the recognition of internally displaced persons (IDPs) as refugees by UNHCR definition and for their qualification for all rights and privileges presently reserved for refugees without their countries’ borders, including resettlement in other countries;
• Create opportunities to get directly involved in any peace efforts in Africa,
• Develop credible sources of information and
• Collaborate and partner with other relevant peace and human rights organizations working for peace.

Friends for Peace Scholars

When Albert and Marcellina Otii, co-directors of the Peace Scholars program, visited Gulu, Uganda this summer, they found that the students are doing very well in their grade levels and show progressive promise, but the level of need in the overall community was overwhelming.

“As we walked through different schools and camps,” said Marcellina, “we noticed the worn-out uniforms and lack of basic school supplies. One of the most glaring observations was the many children in the streets and camps who were not able to attend school.”

Marcellina highlighted areas which continue to be problematic. “The need for school fees in secondary and post-secondary schools, uniforms and basic supplies in primary schools kept coming up. The primary reason for children and youth to not or stop attending school is financial.”

Giving Suggestions:
1 Year Full Sponsorship is $400. “Adopt” one secondary school student for a year. Sponsorship includes school fees, uniforms and basic school supplies. You will receive quarterly updates on your scholar’s progress.

Books and Supplies Sponsorship is $120. A contribution of $120 will pay for one year’s school supplies, uniform and other incidentals for a secondary student.

The Hope Plumpy’Nut Cooperative
The Hope Plumpy’Nut Cooperative is designed to work alongside UNICEF, NGOs & other local non-profits to fight the after-effects of the 20-year civil war in Uganda. This self-sustaining micro-enterprise program offers an innovative approach to combating the enormous challenge of unemployment among the 1.6 million refugees in northern Uganda.
This transformative program provides training, work, empowerment, and hope for nearly 100 women, about 20 of whom are “child mothers”. These young women were abducted and kept as sex slaves during the war and became mothers in their early teens. Our family spent time with these dear ones when we were in Uganda in June of 2007 - indeed, they are amazing!

While providing employment opportunities, the cooperative also creates a consistent demand for locally-produced peanuts. The finished product is then sold in Kampala to NGOs working to fight malnutrition all over Africa. A portion of the proceeds are reinvested in the project, with the employees taking home the remainder – often the first salary they have ever earned.

What is Plumpy’nut? It is said to be “Africa’s Miracle Food.” Plumpy'nut, more commonly known as Plumpy, is a peanut-based food for use in famine relief which was formulated by André Briend, a French scientist in 1999. It is a high protein & high energy peanut-based paste in a foil wrapper that can be distributed to children at home rather than in specialist feeding stations & can be eaten without any preparation. It tastes like a slightly sweeter kind of peanut butter.

Want to give a gift that will

make a difference?

You can give a Seeds Gift in honor or celebration of someone you love or simply give a donation.

To make a tax-deductible donation, please make your check out to:

Friends for Peace in Africa.

Kindly mail your check to:

Seeds of Exchange

2095 Cherry Street

Denver, CO 80207

For more information...

Contact Marcellina Otii: 303.618.2627
motii@comcast.net

Seeds of Exchange
building bridges of friendship • creating sustainable livelihoods • expanding perspectives
720.301.1510 • sarah@seedsofexchange.org • www.seedsofexchange.org

The Peanuts are Growing!

In April of 2008, our family sent several hundred dollars from our first Seeds Savings Fund in order to help our sisters at the Plumpy’Nut Cooperative buy and plant their first crop of peanuts.

The peanuts are growing!

How exciting, indeed!

This is important for several reasons:

1) Because of 2-decades of civil war in Northern Uganda, 2 million people have been displaced from their homes and farms. The women of this generation have lost an essential connection to the earth and traditional farming practices. Our leader and collaborator, Marcellina has said that “digging” and growing peanuts is key to the healing of body, mind and spirit.
2)And if this weren’t enough, this healing is also connected to an additional income-generating opportunity for our friends, as they will sell these peanuts to the Cooperative to use in the Plumpy’Nut production!
3)Finally, these women will have the opportunity to empower other women and their work, as they will pay back half of the peanut-loan that was given to them. We will then share this with another group of women!