Kyamaganda Community Development Organization

Understanding the Value of a Community Library

By Charlotte R. and Willy Bukenya

The St. Nicholas Community Library is poised to become a vital resource for our local Ugandan community, offering access to knowledge and opportunities for all. With over 2,000 children, 1,000 adults, 16 primary schools, 3 secondary schools, and a local community of 250,000 people, the impact of this project is significant.

Our local community is very supportive of this project, “My name is Richard Ssengoba, local council chairman of Ddongwa village where St. Nicholas Community Library is located. In all my life, I have never seen a community library in the region, it’s the first of this nature. We are excited to host it, many children and youth struggle to find good books for reading, books are only in urban schools. St. Nicholas Community Library will serve our rural communities. We are glad for Wonderland BookSavers and Book Fairies support to see our dream happening. We pray that it is completed such that the children can read, get knowledge and improve on the English fluency in our education curriculum.”

Current Status of Library Project

We are collecting books from through out our community. Wonderland BookSavers has previously donated books. Book Fairies UK has recently sent us 396 books. Our library, pictured above, is 60% complete. We are currently working on completion of toilets, water well and water tanks, gate, perimeter wall, urinals, reading share area and tree planting.

Book Fairies UK has contributed partial funding for all manufactured building materials, a total of UK pounds 2,670.

We are lacking key library supplies that include: furniture (bookshelves, tables, chairs), solar power, as the area has no hydro power, technological tools: computers and printers.

Kyamaganda Community Development Organization and all local communities have contributed 12,000 bricks, 20 truckloads of sand, food for workers, and supplied unskilled workers and project supervision. This contribution is valued at UK pounds, 3,517.

Addressing Challenges Head-On

As with any ambitious project, we have encountered some challenges along the way. However, we are committed to overcoming these obstacles to ensure that the library becomes a reality for our community. Here are some of the key challenges we are facing and the strategies we are employing to address them:

Infrastructure: The muddy compound is a significant challenge to the usability of the library. We recognize the importance of providing a conducive environment for users, which is why we are working to cement the compound to enhance accessibility and safety. We have mobilized the community to continue contributing locally available materials, such as sand and bricks. Construction of an adjacent 3-room staff house for library workers will enable librarians to reside at the library, providing professional assistance and support for library users.

Painting: Inadequate funds have delayed the painting of the library building. We are seeking additional support to complete this essential aspect of the project, which will protect the structure from wear and tear.

Female Urinal: The construction of the female urinal is only 40% complete. We understand the importance of providing adequate facilities for all users and are prioritizing the completion of this crucial aspect of the project.

Reading Shade: A permanent roof is needed to protect library users, and books, from the elements. We aim to construct a reading shade with a permanent roof to ensure the safety and comfort of users, especially during inclement weather, additionally protecting library property during the rainy season.

Lighting: The area has no hydro power, solar installation for light and electricity is key. This will provide power for electronics and light and security at night for both librarians and users.

Furniture: We welcome contributions toward supplies, chairs, tables, book shelves, laptops, and of course BOOKS.

We Request Your Support

Despite our great progress, we still need additional funding to complete the St. Nicholas Community Library. We have mobilized the community to contribute locally available materials, but additional funding of US $8,237 is needed to complete infrastructure improvements, facility enhancements and book purchasing.

We are almost there! Please join our effort to support literacy in the Kyamaganda community!

donate to st. nicholas community library, support literacy

KCDO Supports Students with Scholarship Funds

KCDO, in partnership with US-Africa Children’s Fellowship, and Wonderland BookSavers, has enabled children to continue their education in 2022.

Kigozi Eddrian of Kyamaganda Primary School

Kiyemba Robert of Kyamaganda Primary School, with his mother

Ssebuliba Vayaney of Kyamaganda Primary School

Katende Francis of Kyamaganda Primary School

Water Harvesting Barrels Distributed by KCDO

Willy, KCDO Director reports, “Christian greetings! Am happy to inform you today we are making market survey for water tanks and water drums from hardware shops in the city. This will enable us to get the quotations and compare prices such that by the time we have funds we procure and pay off. It’s so rainy currently and is a good time for water harvesting.” (Rainy season)

“We have been able to identify the water harvesting facilities supplier. We have selected also the households to be supported but those with old caretakers who have 70+years and with more than 3 children in the household.”

“The water harvesting procured for 20 households. Each can store 450 litres of water.”

Procurement of these water barrels was accomplished in partnership with Wonderland BookSavers and USA Interns.

The importance of this accomplishment can be seen in the attending officials who presided at the distribution of the water barrels.

Willy stated, “Children and caretakers receiving water harvesting facilities and the function was officiated by Assistant Health Officer, District Water Officer and Assistant District Governor”

Growing Food for Vulnerable Children

In February 2021, KCDO appealed to WBS about the need to procure a plot of land which was adjacent to the piggery project that was on sale. KCDO currently has 35 children on ART (ARVs) under our care at the centre. The main challenge was lack of food and malnutrition challenge that cause non suppression and timely sickness.

Through A miracle, we sold some pigs to raise local contribution and Wonderland BookSavers contributed a bigger percentage to raise the 70% first installment that was needed. We paid off and we immediately set nursery bed for cabbage, maize, and soya peas with active involvement of children themselves, Director and the mother who cares for the children.

Water was a challenge and we had strong rosary in which we eventually received rainfall. We transferred the seedling from nursery bed to garden as photos indicate. We used the pigs’ dung to fertilize the garden and we expect the following.

Expectations.

If all goes well, the garden will yield:-
6bags of maize each with 100kgs valued at $85.
2000 cabbages from the harvest costed at $285.
10 baskets of carrots with a value of $57.
10 bags of Green paper with value of $171
300kgs of soya peas $153.

Once the harvest period is ready in July, the following challenges will be overcome.

The cost of buying food will be reduced by 85%.
The nutrition of vulnerable children will be boasted and their health immunity improved.
The children and Kcdo benefiacries will acquire modern skills of farming which can be passed over to other households.
The garden serves as adomostration site for the community and this can be replicated to other surrounding villages.

Challenges.

The need to have KCDO spray pump and enough fertilizers through adding on number of pigs and a cow project for cow dung supply and milk supply too.

Another Graduation!

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.

Apprenticeship Graduation

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.