The CanUgan Project was a joint project between the Hindu Society of Ottawa Carleton 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 Carleton 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 Carleton 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.