Hashtag Gulu

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Hashtag Gulu We are driven by compassion & are motivated to identify pressing needs in the community, we mobilise resources to collectively redress their root causes.

Reflection of the Week: Strengthening the Work, Deepening the ImpactSometimes, the most important part of our work is ta...
17/10/2026

Reflection of the Week: Strengthening the Work, Deepening the Impact

Sometimes, the most important part of our work is taking a step back to reflect on what we are doing, what we are learning, and where we need to grow.

This week, we had several opportunities to do just that.

As the Voices of Resilience Project comes to an end, we welcomed a team from Restless Development for a monitoring visit to reflect on the project’s reach, achievements, impact and sustainability.

We also participated in an Organization Capacity Assessment facilitated by Modern Karema from Menta Leadership Academy to reflect on our organizational strengths and identify areas that need further strengthening. Together, we examined different aspects of our organization, from governance and leadership to program implementation and staff management.

This spirit of reflection continued into our Quarter Three Evaluation Meeting which gave us space to assess our milestones, acknowledge gaps and strategize for our next quarter.

But strengthening our work also means paying attention to the people who make it possible. At our Farm in Paicho Te-Olam, our Staff Peer Review shifted our attention to another equally important aspect. We had a session on hidden hunger and discussed about workplace stress, staff wellbeing, stress management techniques including deep breathing and muscle tensing and ended the day with team-building games. Through this, we were reminded that the people behind the work matter too.

This week has been a great reminder that beyond the activities we implement, we need strong systems, continuous learning and people who are supported to do their best.

As we continue working alongside young people, we remain committed to using our experiences and lessons to improve our approaches and build the capacity to make our work more meaningful and sustainable.

We are grateful to Restless Development, and all our partners for being a part of this journey of learning and growth.

Sometimes, we hear someone's story without truly understanding it. We listen through our assumptions, our experiences an...
10/10/2026

Sometimes, we hear someone's story without truly understanding it. We listen through our assumptions, our experiences and our judgements.

But what might change is we chose to listen differently? If we made room for people's experiences without rushing to judge, dismiss or define them?

This World Mental Health Day, we invite you to reflect with us.

What do you think would change if we listened to understand, not judge?

Happy Independence Day, Uganda! 🇺🇬For many young people, independence also means the chance to learn, earn a living, mak...
09/10/2026

Happy Independence Day, Uganda! 🇺🇬

For many young people, independence also means the chance to learn, earn a living, make their own choices and be heard. Too many still face barriers that hard work alone cannot remove.

At Hashtag Gulu, we see young people rebuilding relationships, learning new skills and taking steps toward the future they want. Their determination gives us hope. Our responsibility is to stand with them and create more opportunities for them to succeed.

May this Independence Day move us all to build an Uganda where every young person has a fair chance to shape their life and contribute to their community.

The weather has not been kind to farmers over the past few years. Season after season, we have endured prolonged drought...
08/10/2026

The weather has not been kind to farmers over the past few years. Season after season, we have endured prolonged droughts, making farming increasingly difficult and unpredictable.

At our farm, we have continued experimenting with different irrigation methods, including drip irrigation, watering cans and hosepipes, depending on the proximity of our water sources.

As we say in Acholi, “Lapur pe tuu, gom agoma.”

We remain hopeful and continue praying for favourable weather and sufficient rainfall in the coming seasons. The consequences of these prolonged droughts go beyond poor harvests. They threaten our food security and the sustainability of our agricultural training programme.

If we can no longer grow enough of our own food, as has increasingly been the case, the cost of feeding and training the young people at our farm will inevitably skyrocket.

For us, farming is not just about producing food. It is also about equipping young people with practical skills and building sustainable livelihoods. That is why every failed planting season affects much more than our harvest.

“No one will have peace, no matter how much money they have, if they do not do something transformational in their commu...
23/09/2026

“No one will have peace, no matter how much money they have, if they do not do something transformational in their communities to change the lives of those who are vulnerable and underprivileged.”

These words from Gulu City Resident City Commissioner, Mr Ambrose Onoria, captured the spirit of today’s validation meeting under our Voices of Resilience Project.

We brought together government leaders, CSOs, religious and local leaders, project partners and other stakeholders to validate an Evidence-Based Policy Brief and Call to Action on street-connected children and youth.

One message stood out: “getting children off the streets is not enough.” Sustainable change requires addressing the family, economic, education, mental health and protection challenges that push young people to the streets in the first place.

As Mr Onoria reminded us, everyone has a role to play. Families, government, civil society, communities, partners and young people themselves must work together to strengthen prevention, protection, rehabilitation and sustainable reintegration.

Now, we must turn the evidence and collective commitment into action.

The Voices of Resilience Project is implemented by Hashtag Gulu with support from Restless Development Uganda under the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab - Power of the Collective




Reflection of the Week: A Theatre Performance. A Dialogue. A Training. A Celebration.This week, we listened. We asked di...
20/09/2026

Reflection of the Week: A Theatre Performance. A Dialogue. A Training. A Celebration.

This week, we listened. We asked difficult questions. And we celebrated new beginnings.

But more than anything, this week reminded us that the environments around young people shape their journeys and that when these environments change, the journeys can also change.

From our theatre performance at Cong-Oloya Village, to our community dialogue in Opwoyo-Mal, Gulu City, we had conversations that reflected the realities behind street connection: family conflict, neglect, abuse, culture and other factors that leave young people without a sense of belonging or safety.

Through these conversations, we were challenged not only to look at why young people are turning to the streets, but to ask a deeper question: What is happening around them, and what can we do differently?

And perhaps that is why celebrating the graduation of our trainees felt so significant.

Bringing them and their parents together for an agribusiness training and graduation reminded us that with skills, support, opportunity and a community willing to walk with them, young people can build a different future.

To us, listening is just the beginning, a route to understanding, responsibility and creating opportunities for young people.

And that is the work we want to keep doing. Not simply responding to where young people are, but working with them, their families and communities to make different futures possible.

Our sincere appreciation to Eirene Suisse, , Restless Development and all our partners whose support continue to create opportunities that positively impact the young people and communities we serve.

What happens when the person struggling with a mental health challenge is misunderstood instead of supported?Yesterday, ...
03/09/2026

What happens when the person struggling with a mental health challenge is misunderstood instead of supported?

Yesterday, at Gulu Prison Primary School, our team brought this question to life through a theatre performance during the opening ceremony of the Mental Health Camp.

The performance explored the complicated relationship between drug abuse and mental illness and also confronted some of the misconceptions that often surround people experiencing mental health challenges. Through the situations portrayed in the performance, we showed how stigma, misunderstanding and lack of support can cause more harm in an already difficult situation.

The performance was part of a three-day mental health camp, organized by the Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Mental Health Department, in partnership with other mental health partners, under the theme: “Lives Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”

Held in commemoration of the Su***de Prevention Month and as a pre-event activity ahead of the World Mental Health Day in October, the camp is intended to provide free access to health services including mental health support and counseling, eye check-ups, cervical cancer screening, sickle cell screening, HIV testing and general medical check-ups.

This underscored the need for people to know where to turn when they are struggling, the need to be heard, support and connected to the right care. Because mental health is not someone’s problem; it concerns all of us.

***dePrevention Gulu

Yesterday, we welcomed the leadership of Paicho Sub-county in Gulu District to our training farm as we officially receiv...
22/08/2026

Yesterday, we welcomed the leadership of Paicho Sub-county in Gulu District to our training farm as we officially received more than 50 young people beginning a four-month journey of learning practical agricultural skills.

The delegation included our area Local Council Chairperson, Agriculture Extension Officer, Community Development Officer, Police OC CID and LC3 Chairperson. They joined us not only as community leaders, but also as parents and well-wishers committed to supporting young people who are rebuilding their lives and working towards becoming productive members of society.

Some of the trainees come from the streets, while others are from neighbouring communities. Together, they reflected on responsibility, respect, ownership, hard work, dedication, productivity, forgiveness and the dignity of reaping from one’s own sweat.

Over the next four months, we will walk this journey with them, planting seeds of knowledge, confidence and transformation that we hope will leave a lasting impact on their lives.

We are deeply grateful to Eirene Suisse , Omoana, Restless Development Uganda, Elephante Commons, PACTA Uganda, Gulu District Local Government and our many other partners whose continued support makes this work possible. Your investment in these young people gives them the opportunity, skills and environment they need to rebuild their lives and shape a better future.

Young people thrive when we listen to them, support them and create the right environment for them to realise their potential.

On this day in 2018, we lost our team leader, co-founder, and friend, the late Ayella Collins Lacika.Years may have pass...
12/08/2026

On this day in 2018, we lost our team leader, co-founder, and friend, the late Ayella Collins Lacika.

Years may have passed, but the vision and commitment you brought to our work remain part of who we are today. Your dedication to young people in Gulu, especially those who needed someone to believe in them, helped lay the foundation for a cause that continues to grow and transform lives.

Today, we remember you with gratitude. We honour your life by continuing the work we started together and remaining committed to ensuring that vulnerable young people are seen, supported, and given another chance.

Your time with us was short, but your contribution lives on. Rest well, Collins.

Today, we celebrate young people: their resilience, their creativity and their contribution to society.Happy Internation...
12/08/2026

Today, we celebrate young people: their resilience, their creativity and their contribution to society.

Happy International Youth Day 2026!

Address

Pece Lukung/P. O Box 1540/Plot 75 Jomo Kenyatta Road/Gulu/City
Gulu

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 05:00
Tuesday 08:30 - 05:00
Wednesday 08:30 - 05:00
Thursday 08:30 - 05:00
Friday 08:30 - 05:00
Saturday 08:30 - 01:00

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