Following the phase out of Rakai Health Sciences Program funding to KCDO, the funding ended in September 2020. However because of covid-19 pandemic, the graduation could not take place.
Using the scientific new normal, we decided to have graduation of children who completed the courses in three phases and today Wednesday, we have had second day of graduation; tool kits have been given out and certificates, as seen in the photos.
This year 2021 there will be no more support to the vulnerable children because of no more funding for such.
We are very proud of our graduates, and know that they will go forward making a positive difference in our community. We pray that more graduates will be able to follow in their footsteps in the future. KCDO will need new funding for future students. We strongly believe God will do above all we think and ask. We have prayed for it on this Ash Wednesday.
We are very proud to announce that our Ndagwe sub-county apprenticeship students who have participated in our KCDO programs have graduated and are ready to begin their skilled careers. They have been trained in motorcycle mechanics, hair dressing, tailoring and knitting. They have been trained for one year under local artisans in their home area. They have been examined and certified by the government of Uganda and awarded with certificates and tools to start their own business. In addition to receiving individual tools, they have also received toolkits as as group to encourage working together. Individuals are grouped into small groups. Each group of 5-10 people has received a startup fund of $90 for renting a house where they can start and set-up their joint businesses. This success story was made possible with the help of Rakai Health Sciences Program, Lwengo District local government and KCDO. We are most grateful to our partners. Through their generous support, these young people are enabled to achieve financial independence. As a group, they will strengthen our local economy.
Household in Nakateete Village receiving mosquito nets donated by Peace Corps UgandaKinoni Town Council Community Development (CDC) officer meeting Child Protection Club at Kinoni Integrated Secondary SchoolKCDO supporting households in Kinoni T/C, Kisekka S/C and Ndagwe S/C with kitchen gardening suppliesKCDO staff and social worker Mr. Muyanja Sam distributing farm implementsKCDO field officer Mr. Wadidi Jackson attending to Village Savings and Loan Association )VSLA) group in Kikenene Parish, Kisekka sub-countyPeace Corps volunteer from USA, Iman Morgan, teaching women’s group on the making of liquid soapTool kits given to apprentices who successfully completed their coursesGraduation ceremony of apprentices successfully completing their coursework OVC receiving scholastic materials packages through KCDO educational support programHousehold that received IGA from KCDO, progressing wellSome of the OVC children receiving clothes donated by USACF and Wonderland BookSavers (USA), Kisekka sub-countySome OVC and trainers participating in start-up business skills training, organized by KCDO and Peace Corps volunteer Iman MorganHand washing material donated by Giz to KCDO to support Covid-19 hand washing, Director Bukenya Willy and Father Vincent receiving itemsIn response to Covid-19, KCDO, with support from Giz, conducted radio talk shows for sensitization on risks and preventative measures of Covid-19KCDO staff, Mr. Lubambula Max and social worker conduct home visitsCommunity members receive IGSa and booster grants from KCDOAgricultural officer demonstrating kitchen gardening techniquesKCDO staff, Mr. Ndaula Jude distributing food to community members during Covid-19 lockdownKCDO Chairman of the Board, Reverend father Vincent Kateregga with KCDO staff and volunteersKCDO Board and staff members reviewing KCDO financial policyApprentices learning tradesOVC supported with sports equipment and trained in soccerKCDO piggery projectKCDO Library enhances research capabilities within the communitySchool teachers and students in ICT trainingOVC receive solar water purifiers from KCDOKCDO staff participating in weekly staff meetingOVC and caregivers participating in Positive Parenting sessionKCDO distributes Covid-19 protection face shields to essential workers and field staff
TRAINING OF COMPUTER TEACHERS AND STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES ON E-LEARNING NEW PI TECHNOLOGY AT KCDO OFFICIES IN LWENGO DISTRICT
Fig. 1 showing IT person KCDO staff directing the participant while in the training.
KCDO has worked in collaboration with the schools with the major aim of improving the education of children in the sub counties of Kisekka and Ndagwe and Lwengo district at large through distributing learning materials to the children, providing the children with scholastics materials and fees through our different partners to the vulnerable ones.
Training objectives
To train the computer teachers and students on how to install the Pi device and how to go about it on the way how it works.
To agree upon the dates on which the installation is to be done
To discus on the content of information uploaded to the device whether it fits the standard for Ugandan learners.
Target
This project targeted 3 schools.
Training program
Arrival & registration
Prayer and Self introductions
Overview of how to connect the Pi device and how it works
Reactions
Closing remarks and departure
Arrival & registration
All the participants registered upon their arrival
Prayer and Participants’ introductions
The prayer was led by one of the teacher from Kyanukuzi Secondary School who asked the Almighty Father to lead us through the training and whatever being discussed be understood. All members introduced themselves, mentioning their titles and the school they came from, this was ideal in that each participant came to know each other.
Overview of how to connect the Pi device and how it works
KCDO director Mr. Bukenya George Willy,
Officially appreciated the participants for coming in the training, He described the Pi device as it’s to be used in e-learning where the learners will be able to exploit resources uploaded on the devices for their research purposes, the device have got different topics of different subjects and can be accessible within the range of 20 – 100m
He a emphasized that head teachers of those particular schools to which these devices are to be distributed to take good care of the Pi devices once given to them and said whoever damages it will be reliable to paying a fine equivalent to the price of the device.
He added that these Pi devices are to be given free of charge to the selected schools but appealed to the responsible parties to take maximum care.
He requested them to find a possible ways of protecting the device either by placing the device in a box and placing it in a well ventilated place for easy distribution of signals for the smooth accessibility.
He later invited KCDO IT technical person to take the participants in the next session on how to connect and install the Pi device.
Fig. 2
A photo above shows KCDO IT technical person during the training session.
Session conducted by the IT technical person included the following below when directing the participants.
Procedures from KCDO ICT officer.
Turn on the Raspberry Pi. if it’s on, you will see a light flashing green and red.
Phone or tablet connection
Enter the settings app on your phone or tablet.
Search “cellular data”
Click on “cellular data”
Turn off “cellular data”
Remain in the settings app, and click on “Wifi”
Once “wifi” is on, select Your Digital Library Uganda 1 or Your Digital library Uganda 2 from the options listed. It may take a few moments for these options to apper.
Open a browser, such as chrome, and search “10.10.10.10/html/wordpress/”
Enjoy learning!
PC connection
Open settings
Enter “wifi” or “Network” settings
Select Your Digital Library Uganda 1 or Your Digital Library Uganda 2 from the option listed. It may take a few moments for these options to appear
If you get the message that there is no internet access or no internet, open, do not worry.
Open a browser, such as safari and search 10.10.10.10/html/wordpress/
Enjoy learning!
Reactions
Meeting of the head teachers date was set to be on 17th
Installation date was set to be between 26th – 28th of January 2021
Training of teachers date was set to be between 2nd – 4th of feb 2021
Students training date was set to be set between 8th – 12th of feb 2021
Comment from the participate
Ugandan content should also included on the system
Exercise where the students attempt after reading
Content should be grouped into levels for example O & A level
Accessibility to the content requires that leaner’s access the gadget
Closing remarks and departure
The training was officially concluded at 4:00pm by Mr. Bukenya George Willy-KCDO director who argued the participants to share the skills and expertise got with their fellow staff, also requested the students to share the knowledge to their fellow students for the betterment of their school so that in case they leave the school there is someone else to take over him or her, wished all the participants safe journey back.
During our home visit in the household, we found out that most of our clients get water from different sources like boreholes, harvesting it from rain, wells, streams, ponds among others. Through the assessment done by the staffs Kyamaganda Community Development Organization(KCDO), most of the households in sub-county of Kisekka access water for drinking from streams and ponds which expose them to taking contaminated water thus likely to be exposed to water born diseases like typhoid fever, is well-known in extremely poor parts of developing nations; it’s estimated that up to 20 million people worldwide suffer from the illness each year. It’s spread through contaminated food, unsafe water, and poor sanitation, and it is highly contagious, Cholera which is commonly found in humanitarian emergencies or marginalized villages where poverty and poor sanitation are rampant. The disease is spread through contaminated water and causes severe dehydration and diarrhea. Cholera can be fatal within days or even hours of exposure to the bacteria, but only 1 in 10 people will develop life-threatening symptoms, dysentery also a waterborne disease characterized by severe diarrhea as well as blood or mucus in the stool. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites in unsafe food and water, Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by consuming contaminated food and water, rural communities with poor sanitation and hygiene management are most exposed to the disease.
Photo below shows children fetching water in a stream in kisekka sub – county
Following the observation in the introduction above, with support from USA-KCDO Partners Kyamaganda Community Development Organization (KCDO) implemented Health Systems Strengthening Project in two sub-county Kisekka sub – county and Kinoni Town Council targeting households infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable Status. This was achieved through working with different stake holds I.e health centers, Village Health Teams(VHTs) Community Development Officers(CDOs)Local Council Leaders (LCs) Para-Social Workers(PSWs) and Volunteers that deliver comprehensive services of Health and treatments to affected and infected households by HIV/AIDS and other Economic empowerment and Water and Sanitation to different vulnerable people in the community.
A total number of 100 household were reached and received solar bag for domestic use.
KCDO staff demonstrating how to use solar bag. KCDO staff handing over solar bag to a client
ACHIEVEMENT:
Since these Solar Bag is a sunlight-activated reusable water purifier that destroys or reduces the broadest range of contaminants without pumping, electricity, chemicals or replaceable components. This has reduced the spread of various water born diseases as the members are able to purify water to kill all the germs and Chemical Contaminants like; Pesticides, Herbicides, Insecticides, Cleaning Solvents, Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Pathogens- Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa before drinking through simply placing the Solar Bag in the sun for a few hours, and enjoy purified water.
While caring out a follow up and monitoring on the usage of this purifiers in the community and household being supplied with the water solar bags, we observed that these water solar bags have helped the individuals so much, in the way that individuals use this solar bags on the daily basis to purify water for drinking, they extended their sincere appreciation to kcdo and our partners at large for bringing up such a wonderful idea of protecting and living a health life. One of the household of lutaaya jamewo upon reaching there on the ground, we found children happily looking on as the solar bag full of water placed on the Jeri can.
KCDO staff conducting a follow up in kyasonko village kisekka sub- county
KCDO staff and a child from the home study taking water purified using a solar bag.
Conclusion
The needs of OVC or otherwise made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS are cross cutting as many of them dramatically escalates from economic, health and household social issues. It would be necessary for KCDO and partners to jointly continue to work with local families, communities, and other organizations in a similar setting to focus their program and policy development efforts on ensuring the survival of these OVC households in breaking the cycle of poverty, despair, in regard this can make positive and measurable contributions to the improved health, safety, and happiness of the HIV+ (OVC) in the most appropriate environments for their development. We extend our warmly appreciation to our partner who donated us the purifiers to improve on the life of the people in rural based communities of kisekka and kinoni and ready to continue working with them in any way, God bless.
We are happy to celebrate our annual Children’s Party in which we join together with one another to learn, reflect, pray and share entertainment.
The Children’s Party is an opportunity for the HIV/AIDS afflicted children to share joy with their community. The day includes providing life saving information regarding AIDS and Covid-19. Additionally, encouraging message are shared, including prayers from friends both locally and internationally.
Gifts are shared along with food, speeches, song and dances. Every child is given their own rosary.
We are all grateful to share in the beauty, and bounty, of Christmas.
“A merry heart does good like medicine.” Proverbs 17:22
