HISTORY OF SAIPED
Father Ernest SUGULE one of the main founder of SAIPED is a Catholic
Priest. He has master in Counseling Psychology from the United States
International University. The LRA brutal attack in 2008 especially the Christmas massacre where
more than 800 people were killed in one day was the beginning of much
suffering, displacement, abduction, rapes, killings, and other uncountable
sufferings upon people of Haut and Bas Uélé Districts. After coming back
from Nairobi from his (Fr. Ernest Sugule) Master studies in 2009 he
started a psychological program and radio program as well to help people who
were over traumatized. He was overwhelmed by the number of people
who turned up and he decided to train other people so that he could work with
them. After 3 months of work, the workload was too much and Internally
Displaced People were confronted to other problems as well such as food
problem, access to cultivable land, access to education, continuous abduction
from LRA etc. Therefore the psychological support they were giving was not
enough that is why they decided on 14th of September 2009 to create a Non
Governmental Organization that will bring integral assistance to Destitute
People as opposed to partial assistance of psychological assistance only.
They said as well that they should be in Solidarity with these people, work
with them, put them at the center of their activities, etc. So they decided to
create this Organization saying that we should have Solidarity and bring
Integral Assistance to Destitute People. SAIPED’s
vision is “A world without Destitute People”. SAIPED’s principal mission is to
promote actions for peace and socioeconomic development for rural communities
in Democratic Republic of Congo without discrimination. SAIPED privileges
participatory approach where local initiative and innovations are
encouraged and sustained. Thus, SAIPED role is limited to supporting,
educating and training local leaders and various stakeholders to make good
decision for their community and be the epicenter for the change in their
community. SAIPED works with local committees, local agriculture cooperatives
and women cooperatives; and gives special attention to women and to destitute
people such as elderly, children, displaced, refugees, orphans, widows,
widowers, victims of various conflicts or natural disasters, etc without
discrimination of religion, race, gender etc.
To respond to various conflicts emerging as result of LRA conflict, such as conflicts on natural resources like water, firewood, access to cultivable land, etc. to name the few. Therefore SAIPED decided to work with local people through local committees of protection who understand the dynamic of these conflicts better than anyone else. These local committees of protection are trained and equipped to solve various conflicts in their own community.
To respond to various conflicts emerging as result of LRA conflict, such as conflicts on natural resources like water, firewood, access to cultivable land, etc. to name the few. Therefore SAIPED decided to work with local people through local committees of protection who understand the dynamic of these conflicts better than anyone else. These local committees of protection are trained and equipped to solve various conflicts in their own community.