The Contribution of World Vision in Socio-Economic Transformation oWar Victims in Gulu Municipality of Northern Uganda

Abstract

This Study Examines The Contribution Of World Vision Towards Socio-Economic Transformation Of The War Victims In Northern Uganda, Particularly In Gulu Municipality. The Study Is Both Qualitative And Quantitative. The Study Was Guided By The Following Specific Objectives Such As To Examine The Impact Of Scholarship And Other Scholastic Materials Provided By World Vision In Transforming The War Victims, To Explore The Effect Of Rehabilitation Given By World Vision To War Victims In Gulu Municipality, To Analyze The Effect Of Reintegration Activities By World Vision In Transforming The Lives Of The War Victims In Gulu Municipality, And To Evaluate The Impact Of Economic Support Provided By World Vision In Transforming The War Victims In Gulu Municipality. The Study Was A Cross-Sectional Survey And Involved A Sample Of 381 Respondents That Were Randomly And Purposively Selected From The Sampled Area. Structured Questionnaires Were Administered To The Respondents To Collect The Data Required To Address The Study Problem. In Regard To This, The Data Collected Was Analyzed Using Descriptive Statistics. During This Study, The Researcher Found That World Vision Is Already Responding To Rehabilitation And Reintegration In Order To Support War Victims. It Is Also Observed That World Vision Uses Participatory Approaches To Identify Key Issues Affecting The War Victims In Order To Provide Necessary Support. The Study Found That World Vision Has Provide Scholarship And Other Scholastic Material To War Victims In Gulu Municipality. It Assist In Their Enrollment Into Various Level Of Education. The Organization Also Sponsor The Educational Activities Of The War Victims Up To University Level And This Had Significantly Helped The Victims Who Lost Their Education While In Captivity. In Addition, World Vision Has Involved In The Provision Of Scholastic Materials Such As Books, Chairs, And Tables, Construction Of Classes And Renovation Of Classrooms To Schools In The War Affected Areas Of Gulu. Secondly, World Vision In Its Recovery Efforts In Post-Conflict Situation In Northern Uganda, Established A Rehabilitation Center In Gulu For The Rehabilitation Of The War Victims. The Study Confirmed That World Vision Has Established And Funded A Rehabilitation Center Known As Children Of War Rehabilitation Center, A Place Where War Victims Were Rehabilitated And Transformed By The World Vision In Gulu Municipality. The Study Found That This Rehabilitation Center Was Used In The Treatment Of Psychosocial Trauma Of Former Child Soldiers In Gulu Municipality. Thirdly, Study Found That World Vision Helped The Abductees By Reintegrating Them And Take Them Back To Their Families. For Instance, Findings Show That Many War Victims Were Supported By World Vision Through Reintegration Activities. This Is Because, The Rejected Formerly Abducted Persons Were Later Accepted And Reintegrated In The Community. Finally, Study Found That World Vision Has Involved In Training Of The War Victims With Vocational Skills Training Which Helps In Improving Their Socio-Economic Status. The Study Further Found That War Victims Who Lost Their Agricultural Activities And Other Economic Opportunities Were Financially Supported By World Vision Through Small Business Start-Up Capital And Also Provide Them With Agricultural Skills That Helped Them To Boost Their Agricultural Activities.