Friends of Orphans (FRO) was founded and is administered by former child soldiers, orphans and abductees from the Pader District, all of whom are still affected by the war in Northern Uganda. It is a fully registered not-for-profit non-government organization of Uganda. The registration number S 5914/5010.
FRO founder Ricky Anywar Richard and others conceived Friends of Orphans in 1999 while pursuing degrees at the University of Makerere. Besides displacement, many of the original founders have lost family members, friends, and neighbors. These experiences have led them to commit to the on-going and unmet needs of their community-much of which is still displaced in IDP and resettlement camps.
Through our university educations and work experiences, we at FRO, have become professionals in fields including: education, medicine, administration, and environment. This enabled us to organize a community-based organization.
The mission is, to contribute to the empowerment, rehabilitation and reintegration of former child soldiers, abductees, child mothers, orphans, and to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.
To rehabilitate, reintegrate and empower those impacted by the conflict and HIV/AIDS in Northern Uganda. Friends of Orphans aim to do this through education, health, and peace-building activities.
We use arts, music, dances, drama and cultural activities to mobilizes and encourage different communities to engage in peace building
Anywar Ricky Richard
