CanUgan Project
The CanUgan Project was a joint project between the Hindu Society of Ottawa ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ and the Kasese District Union of Persons with Disabilities in Uganda. This project, headed up by Navin Parekh, raised money to support a local enterprise that manufactures hand cycles for individuals with disabilities in the district.
The READ Initiative brought ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ expertise to bear on the production process as well as the communication and organization strategies of the project. A $7,000 commitment of support was received from Tony Bailletti and the OYE Program to allow two ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ students—Cam MacIntosh and Edward Ndupo—to help with the development of the READ Institute’s collaborative strategy. Funding ($50,000) was approved from IDRC for a grant to support the two fourth-year industrial design students in product development with the CanUgan Project. The project included a workshop in Ottawa and a trip to Uganda to work with the local manufacturer on new designs and products. Additional collaboration with the Institute of African Studies and Technology, Society, Environment Studies (TSES) involved a series of meetings and lectures in conjunction with the workshop.
This project was completed in May 2012.