History

Time line

1984

USDC was founded by Sir David Scott, a former British High Commissioner in Uganda (1967-1970) and by Leana Arain, a Ugandan Barrister. Together they decided to set up a charity for children who had been disabled by the Ugandan Civil War in the 1970s and 1980s.

1985

Jonathan Hett was hired to run the charity and to set up projects in Uganda. For the next 15 years, USDC would be managed from the London office. Disabled children were identified, given assistive devices or surgery that they needed, and were encouraged to attend school, through assistance with school fees.

1990s

Back in the UK, a Fundraiser, Ting Plaskett was hired in the 1990s and Sir David Scott continued as USDC President until 2000. USDC also began to do Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR). This meant working with communities so that attitudes towards disabled children could begin to change. USDC also started to build the capacity of government so that they could more effectively support disabled children and young people.

2000

In 1999, a decision was made by the Trustees that USDC should be locally run. A Kampala-based Board was set up, and in April 2000, all management responsibilities and assets were transferred from the UK to Uganda. USDC Uganda became an autonomous NGO and the two organisations became legally distinct, but continued to share similar aims and a close working relationship. The partnership is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding. In 2000, Stuart Craig was hired as the UK Representative and Fundraiser, and worked for USDC for four years, developing the organisation’s fundraising strategies. Parent Support Groups were also started so that the parents of disabled children could meet and support one another, could advocate for their children’s rights and could help to reduce the stigma attached to disabled people by the community.

2004

In 2004, Mary Ann Mhina was hired as USDC’s UK Representative. A new office was opened in 2005 at Southbank House and USDC’s remit in the UK was expanded, creating a new brand and strategy for the organisation.

2006

In June of that year, USDC held a dinner in the UK to commemorate its 20th Anniversary, attended by almost 200 people. USDC Uganda organised a concert by the South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela.

2007

USDC UK changed its name to AbleChildAfrica and our work in other countries, initially Kenya, began. After assessing what support existed for disabled children and young people and what capacity could be built, partnerships were agreed with KEDAN and Little Rock Early Childhood Development Centre in Kenya. AbleChildAfrica continues to operate through local organisations rather than local offices and is exploring partnerships in other countries in the region.

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