Background

The Acholi of northern Uganda have experienced horrendous violence due to the long-lasting war between a rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and the Ugandan government. Youth have been hit particularly hard — 32,000 have been abducted by the LRA and nearly 200,000 orphaned. Additionally, they are at risk for experiencing violence perpetrated by their families, neighbors, and local authorities. Past research suggests many are facing undiagnosed and untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, and other psychosocial developmental delays.

What is the API?

The Acholi Partnership Initiative (API) is a team of interdisciplinary scholars from the University of Minnesota and Gulu University seeking to bring resources to bear on this humanitarian crisis. API members have expertise in the study and treatment of aggression and victimization, child maltreatment, post-traumatic stress disorder, optimal development of children and adolescents through participation in sport, self injurious behavior, depression/anxiety, neurobehavioral development, and psychophysiology.

The activities of the API will be based upon four strategic core precepts: knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, outreach through civic engagement, and sustainability.

What is the API doing?

Currently we are pursuing a Memorandum of Understanding with Gulu University in order to establish the framework for a long-term partnership focused on a greater understanding of the human consequences of the Lord’s Resistance Army War by marshalling the strengths and utilizing the full capacity of our respective institutions. All partners will be committed to using this knowledge for the development of relevant, culturally-based resources and interventions for promoting mental health and systemic change.

In addition to the formal agreement we hope to initiate two cooperative programs with Gulu U during the 2009-2010 school year. The first is a virtual ‘brown bag’ series conducted over the internet where students, staff, and faculty can a) share information about their areas of interest and expertise, b) discuss future research and intervention efforts, and c) develop greater cross-cultural understanding and awareness.

Additionally we would like to develop a graduate student — undergraduate student mentorship program. Gulu U has neither a social sciences post-graduate program nor the resources to offer talented undergraduate students advanced research training. Via email and voice over internet services (like Skype) we hope to marshal the expertise of our graduate students and extend the support needed for these undergraduates to take their education to another level not previously attainable.

Sounds interesting. I am interested in getting involved!

We are committed to including all interested persons, regardless of their personal or professional affiliations, in order to make the API and its initiatives a success. Please contact Peter Ralston via email (ralst003@umn.edu) or phone (612-625-6874).