IRFF Europe funded the workshop with the support of the IIFWP Foundation. 93 participants attended it from five districts. IRFF staff and facilitators were 10. Originally the workshop was intended for those ex camp members from Lira and Apac districts, (60 members) but we were happy to receive participants from Soroti, Gulu and Kitgum in addition to Lira and Apac. It then became a Regional workshop, for the North.

Activities Carried Out
Below is a summary of the activities of the workshop:

1. Growing of Matooke (bananas) and coffee in agro-forestry, bananas for consumption at home and coffee for income generation. Excess matooke can also be sold locally to other cities.
2. Tree nursery construction and management, for growing seedlings of environmentally friendly trees and fruits trees. Fruit trees supplement fruits in the family while other trees provide wood for fuel, and create a good environment friendly home.
3. Composting, grafting and backyard gardens and soil and water management practices in the gardens. This helps in managing domestic wastes, construction of the 'A' frame for water management in the soil, backyard gardens for the vegetables for the family and any excesses for sale to the local markets. This helps to ensure that the family gets a balanced meals.
4. Visiting nearby homes and construction of energy saving stoves in the homes.
5. Visiting local farmers to study banana management practically.
6. Compound designing and making our homes a lovely environment. This was done at the school also where the school compound was designed.
7. Different films were shown on moral uplifting and different lectures given on family values and good methods of conflict resolution.

Items Given to the Participants by IRFF

• One hoe, for digging.
• One slasher for cutting grass and bushes.
• One axe for splitting firewood and cutting bushes
• Various seeds to be raised in their own nurseries, for both tress and coffee and vegetables.
• Various seedlings to be planted in their gardens or compounds
• Neem tree seedlings

Daily Highlghts
On 9th May, we officially opened the workshop. 82 members were present. The Assistant RDC came as the guest of honor. Speeches from the local leaders, the representative from Nema and IRFF were given. The RDC then spoke. He encouraged the participants and gave very good advice on how they should behave. He quoted the Bible the story of the prodigal son and said that as a father the President is ready to welcome all his children. He thanked IRFF for recognizing the need for peace especially in the northern Uganda. He said that the government is ready to support the activities of those NGOs who are helping in the peace building in northern Uganda.

After the opening, the participants went for their first practical lessons. These men shocked us when they cleared and dug an acre of land in less than two hours. This same spirit continued all throughout the workshop. By evening the field had been marked for the planting of the various seedlings. Rains disturbed work on and off but not the spirit.

On 11th of May The RDC of Lira town who had been in Kampala on the arrangements for Vice Presidents coming returned. He visited our site. We took him round and he spoke to the participants in the field. He was very impressed with the workshop. He felt that this type of teaching would benefit the participants even more than the monetary benefits they get from other NGOs, because we were training them to survive. The day continued with the practical lessons as per scheduled timetable.

On 12th May, the morning was spent in the field. In the afternoon we went to a neighboring village to learn the banana growing and see the rice fields. We hired a bus. The participants were in such high spirits and went singing all the way to the banana site. Lira had many workshops going on including the MTN mobile phone inauguration. We had to scramble for space on the road, because the main street is narrow. MTN, Nile Breweries had their huge cars with loud speakers moving on the left side and us with our members shouting on the right side. People crowded along the street and although we had not planned it we ended up on television program that had been arranged by MTN. Because we had the 'rebels' we got a number of seconds and our banner was clearly seen. The reporter mentioned that the town was prepared for peace now that the rebels were 'crying peace'. It was good surprise for us.

Hon. Omony Ojok who is the Minister in charge of Northern Region, visited our site. Hon. Ojok was very impressed with the project he donated a sack of neem seedlings to the participants in their absence. He comes from Karamoja, one of the dry areas in Uganda. He requested IRFF to take the same program to Karamoja.

13th May, 00 was our closing day. Our VIPs included Hon. Betty Okwir, the Minister in the Vice Presidents Office and Women's Representative in parliament for Lira district. The RDC Lira district was there. The Army commander Lira barracks was also present.

The Women and Youth leaders of the district, mobilizer's in the RDC's office. We started off by showing the guests what we had done. The participants themselves explained to the minister what they had learnt and showed them what the facilitators had taught them. The minister was very impressed. In her speech she said that after what she had learnt briefly, she needed to overhaul her farm and use the new techniques from Nema. Members said that she had delivered the longest speech ever. They said that normally she speaks for about thirty minutes but this time she spoke for two hours. The minister gave certificates, a book from Nema, the tools and a neem tree seedling plus other types of seeds to each participant. The participants were clapping with joy. We had lunch then said goodbye to everybody. We left the premise about 7:00 p.m. when all had gone. In the following weeks, after the closing of the project, more then 250 rebels from the region, surrender.