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Partners in International Development

INNOVATION.EDUCATION.EMPOWERMENT

AFPF is a US 501(c)3, community of friends in North America established in 1981. Together with our partner, the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT), a Ugandan NGO, we have supported innovations in development by empowering rural communities to create for themselves: peace, health, prosperity, freedom, and happiness. We achieve this through fundraising to support programs in rural Uganda. Read more.....

AFPF friends
URDT girls school

To provide financial and strategic resources to support sustainable development and education in rural Uganda. For over 40 years, we have partnered with Uganda Rural Development & Training Programme (URDT), a secular organization run by local Ugandans who are true innovators. Read more....

In honor of Silvana Franco Veltkamp, the co-founder of both AFPF and URDT, we have established a fund to support the sustainable growth of the institution she envisioned to transform how rural development is carried out--both in Africa and around the world: The African Rural University for Women.

English Subtitles
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We are happy to announce that AFPF's Board Member Robert Fritz's book as narrated by Rosalind Fritz

was selected as the No.1 in creativity on the Amazon Hot New Releases 2023. Enjoy reading or rereading this book (first published in 1984), now available in Audible. 

Our innovations so far to serve these ends, at work in Uganda and centered at URDT and their African Rural University – the first African rural University for women, include:

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Structured curriculums and workshops in the creative process, systems thinking, and sustainable development – for schools and grassroots learning

The 2-Generation Approach to Education, with Back Home Projects

Community Radio Listener Development Groups

The Epicentre Manager profession, filled first by women, provides a reliable

feedback loop between fieldwork in local development and academia

Women’s Learning and Leadership Circles (under development, for schools and the

field)

“Work, Learn, and Earn” Vocational Training, where already viable businesses

become training centers for the next generation (under development in partnership with the Master Card Foundation)

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 #NonprofitProfile. Learn how you can support us and make a difference. 

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The African Rural University (ARU), needs your support to build the Multipurpose Resource Centre (MPRC) a requirement from the National Council for Higher Education—to attain a charter. By supporting us, you're not only aiding construction but also ensuring that ARU's heart continues to beat for rural transformation and women's empowerment. Read more....

  • 80+ young women Rural Transformation graduates

  • 51 of them are employed as URDT Epicenter Managers.​

  • 540 artisans who were trained by URDT 

  • 34,000 young people. 19,000 of whom have already become entrepreneurs in the last two years.

  • +200 young women and their families educated at URDT Girls School

  • 1,000 young visionary leaders & change agents

  • 4,000+ Back Home projects 

  • 12 additional public schools that are using—two-generation approach

  • 13,500 family members in producing sustainable income 

  • 3M Community Radio Listeners in 10+ Districts Read more...

Silvana Veltkamp

Silvana Veltkamp
Co-Founder AFPF/URDT

Linking young leaders in African development to Fritz, Senge, & and many U.S friendsIt could be said that without Silvana, AFPF would not have been founded. She officially retired from her work in 2007 to return to Italy. Silvana grew up in Italy, visited Somalia as a youth, and fell in love with her African brothers and sisters. Before she left Somalia, she put a handful of red dirt in her pocket and swore that she would come back someday.

Read more....

Martha Dolben at URDT

Martha Dolben
Chair Emeritus

Martha Dolben, our Chair Emeritus, visited URDT 19-20 times between 1998 and 2019. Each time, with the support of Mwalimu Musheshe and various URDT women from the administration, faculty, and student body, she convened small women’s circles. Together URDT women now have made great strides in creating a new kind of circle meeting that reliably serves lifelong learning, friendship, and community development.

Don Dolben: Her husband, maintains the “silver cord” of friendship between us (in the U.S.) and URDT. Read more......

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Patty Seybold

See bio

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Robert Fritz

See bio

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Tatra M

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Alec Mashall

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