URDT: Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme

URDT

Monica's family was able to construct a new cement home (left) as a result of their Vision/Action Plan. Their mud hut home (right) is now used as their kitchen.

"Before my child went to URDT Girls' School, I had nothing in life, even the house I lived in was rented. However, when my daughter starting schooling at URDT, I was taught about making a vision. When I made my vision, I was able to buy a plot of land and build myself a house. I also started projects, for example, piggery, farming of potatoes, and cassava."

- a URDT student father

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Listen to ARU Students Describe the University
ARU students describe their experiences at the new African Rural University for Women. (3-minute or 8-minute versions)
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Our Mission

To create "rural development through human development." URDT trains people who live on less than $1 per day to take a visionary, entrepreneurial approach to developing their own lives, families and communities. Read more

About URDT

The Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT) is a non-profit organization that provides education and training for rural development in the very poor Kibaale District of Uganda.

URDT promotes integrated rural development, teaching people to address the interconnectedness of health, education, financial self-sufficiency, civic participation and human/gender rights within their lives. The other unique aspect to our approach is our visionary leadership - we teach people how to create a specific vision for their future and then take specific action steps to achieve it. We have demonstrated that more powerful results are achieved when people focus on "creating a desired outcome" rather than on "fixing problems."

We carry out our mission through an award-winning Girls' School, Vocational Training Institute, Community Radio Station, Microcredit Fund and village extension programmes.

Since URDT arrived in the district, the rural village where it is located has become a "boom town," growing tenfold in size. URDT graduates have created many local businesses that employ themselves and others, and URDT has worked with villagers to improve local roads for better access to markets. Other indicators, such as health, sanitation and girls' education, have also improved markedly.

Focus on: African Rural University for Women

URDT has launched the African Rural University for Women to develop a new generation of visionary women leaders in Rural Development.
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