Wawoto Kacel Cooperative Society Ltd. is an organization that works to support vulnerable people in Gulu. Our members are people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, former LRA captives and returnees from the bush, single parents and orphans.

In 1997 in Gulu, Northern Uganda, a group of women living with HIV/AIDS, unable to continue their traditional and tiring agricultural work due to health demands and congestion in IDPs as a result of war, started a new alternative self-sufficient economic activity with the help of the Ugandan NGO Comboni Samaritans of Gulu , together with the continuous economic and organizational support given by the Italian Organization Good Samaritan Onlus.

Step by step these women, sick but not destroyed by their drama caused by AIDS and war, in 2004 officially registered a social art & crafts cooperative named Wawoto Kacel Cooperative Society Ltd. - which means “Walking together” in Acholi, the local language- to empower the marginalized and to improve their household income.

In few years the good results obtained, both in terms of positive impact on the health of the members and of good economical outcomes, brought many people to ask to join the cooperative; the social base of the Cooperative has become larger to include other vulnerable categories: disabled, sick people with chronic diseases, war veterans, orphans and single parents.

The members look at the Cooperative not only as a precious opportunity to gain but also as a therapeutic place where to get psychological and spiritual support. Working together and sharing the experiences gives them courage and strength. Particular attention is given to their health through food and medical support and to their skills through the development of their talents and creativity.

Nowadays the Cooperative is constituted of more than 70 members and 13 staff working together to cause change in our community.