November was a month of “new” activities and many opportunities to learn from them. In the first week four elected members from the coffee and fruit projects along with two members of the Healthy Vine team attended a week long training course at the Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute at Kwanda near Kampala. The aim was to enhance the knowledge of each group into producing better crops, better crop husbandry and disease awareness. This was a combination of theoretic and practical training.
Another HVT member attended a workshop on Child Protection and Gender issues both of which are important topics and a great cause of concern in Uganda. Although this is a recognised problem at all levels it is difficult to see this changing in the near future. Assault and violation, especially in some rural areas are prevalent and because advocacy is poorly represented in some cases, very little is done to counteract this tendency. It is acceptable for a man to chastise his wife if, in his eyes, she has done something wrong. It is also accepted by many parents that to invest in a girl child’s education is foolhardy as she will probably become pregnant before she attains any recognisable standard. There is much need for advocacy not only in schools but also in family homes since only a sustained and combined effort will transform people’s character.
Towards the middle of the month another group from the community visited a Heifer project in Wakiso, approximately 20 km from Kampala. It is a self-sustaining organic farm run on a commercial basis with a number of domestic animals but it is also a teaching centre. As the HVT will shortly be commencing on another project – a Heifer project we thought it best for the group who will be involved to go and see an actual working farm. The farm is run by a Dutch farmer and is well organised. The community members all found it very interesting but almost overwhelming at the efficiency of the centre. One member said that he never knew that there was so much available knowledge in Uganda.
a Wakiso Calf (left) and a Wakiso Heifer (right)
Towards the end of November the almost completed Mputte Primary School had a work day to try to clear the compound of rubble and greenery so that a proper playground could be established and fenced. There was a good turn-out thanks to the efforts of two volunteer members of the HVT, the Field worker responsible for Mputte and the Steering Committee Chairman.
Sekamuli work day kids working and the whole Mputte-workgroup
The Sekamuli borehole is finished however community members are working on the surround and are determined to make it a good example for other boreholes of the future. They are extending the run off to provide a trough for the animals to drink from.
clockwise: Going to the borehole... Waiting for water, Borehole, Animal trench