About the LRC Project

Library & Resource Center

We Are Building a Library in Gulu Today!

Why This Project

Fourteen years ago, THRIVEGulu opened its doors to provide trauma counseling to women who had returned to Gulu after twenty years of war and confinement in IDP camps and the atrocities that came with it. We created northern Uganda’s first (and only) drop-in Trauma Healing and Recovery Center.

But Psychological trauma often comes with poverty and a wounded spirit, so we formed Empowerment Groups to help the women step forward with a sense of hope and security, providing ways for them to support each other emotionally and financially.

But the women needed more.

Literacy Learning

It quickly became evident that Literacy learning was vital to their future since they had been deprived of an education growing up during the war. In the last 6 years, you, the supporters of THRIVEGulu, have helped more than 1,500 women and men achieve basic literacy in both English and their native Acholi.

Our THRIVERS want to share their new skills and passion for reading with their children and grandchildren, but they don’t have the resources to do so. Books are scarce in Gulu, and there are no free, public libraries.

Our THRIVERS have started businesses, but they don’t have consistent access to electricity and internet to promote their businesses in the 21st century economy or to search for and apply to jobs online.

Our THRIVERS are working hard to stay in school, even as teen parents, but they they tell us how helpful it would be to access resources on reproductive health and safe parenting practices.

Other Services

THRIVE embraces holistic support services in all of our programs. In addition to literacy activities, the Library will provide:

A Reading Room for literacy learners to read to their children and grandchildren, stocked with culturally appropriate and locally sourced books
A meeting space for story times and activities for children and their teen parents, exposing young children to the joy of learning
A multi-media center that includes computers with Internet access, modern technology for group meetings and video conferencing, and other digital equipment, supervised by a librarian whom we will hire
A resource center with information and workshops on topics like parenting skills, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, & reproductive health
Access to many mental health and support services, including counseling and domestic violence support, as well as information about other resources that are available in Gulu

What You Can Provide.

The construction of the library building is fully funded, and the construction is nearly complete!!! You can still leave your legacy in Gulu with support of the programming that we will provide. You can help generations of Ugandans for years to come.

$2,500

Multi-media Educational Sponsor

Provide an individual technology station, complete with desk, chair, and computer… plus contribute toward lighting, internet, a projector, PA system, and digital cameras.

$1,000

A Bookcase Filled with Books

Provide a wooden cabinet with a supply of culturally appropriate and/or locally published books for individuals and families to use at our center.

$500

Comfortable Reading Space

Provide indoor necessities such as soft seating, wooden chairs and tables, rugs, and materials for both individual and small group activities.

$250

Outdoor Amenities

Provide amenities for extending the center’s use outdoors like mats, sunshades, park benches, patio space, and plastic chairs for group activities.

$100

Educational Materials

Support the work of the literacy program by providing a supply of educational materials and school supplies to our literacy learners.

Other Amount

ALL contributions are welcome!

Help bring our modern library and resource center to life to help the people of Gulu continue on their ongoing journey to self-sufficiency and personal empowerment!