Blog

Nantajja’s Successful Apprenticeship Graduation

Caption: Nantajja (on the gown) receiving  toolkit from Hon. Mbabali, as Mr.Monday Philip the OVC manager looks on, this was at the Apprenticeship graduation and giving away of toolkits at KCDO offices in qtr Oct-Dec,2019.

NANTAJJA AUSI’S SIMPLE BIOGRAPHY

Nantajja Ausi is 18 years old, lives with his elderly grand mom aged 90 in Sseke village, Busubi parish in Kisakka Sub county, lwengo district.

He is an orphan, the father died when he was at the age of 12, left him under the care of elderly caregiver who was in a complete despair, without any standby source of income, at his early childhood, he faced a lot of challenges, having access to two meals a day was a golden festival, cassava and plane porridge was a complete meal all days and nights, putting on a “shoe” not even mere “Nigiina” was never dreamt of in his life ,whenever he felt sick the old woman could go and harvest local herbs from the bush, luckily he could get cured “Nantajja narrated”.

In January-March quarter-2019, KCDO received a referral from CDO Kinoni town council reflecting economic strengthening as one of the weakest areas to be assisted in, KCDO social worker made arrangements and planned household assessments, conducted assessment on this household and scored 72% being moderately vulnerable and was eligible for OVC program, the OVC was enrolled on the program and on a proud note he was enrolled on apprenticeship to study welding in one of the welding workshops in Kinoni Town council. Nantajja loved the course which enabled him to complete the training and received the toolkit.

VERBAL TESTMONIAL SUCCESS MADE BY NANTAJJA

During apprenticeship follow-up and motoring, our social worker got a chance to interact with him about the progress and success so far registered since he received the toolkit .In his response, he notified as “I Nantajja after having graduated and received the toolkit, because I was disciplined and committed to my work which made me attain welding skills, my trainer master Mugabi Ronald called me back and employed me, meanwhile as I look for financial strengths to withstand my welding workshop. Indeed I don’t regret in life, I feel my brain is now washed, my job is now my shield because i even support the old woman (grand mom) who is in a disadvantaged state, no longer productive, Indeed most times i feel like dreaming when I also carry a kilo of meat and sugar to my grandmom,am so thankful beyond words”.

Additionally he revealed to our staff that out of  70,000shillings he earns on a weekly basis, he has so far bought a machine grinder at 350,000/=,Welding cable ,Handsaw and welding oil in preparation to establishing his own welding workshop by February,2021.

KCDO staff  interrogates Nantijja at his work place. 

APPRECIATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In his words he quoted that “I can’t thank KCDO and Rakai Project enough, but I appreciate for the generous parental hearts showed to me to ensure that at least I also enjoy this happy life through giving this golden opportunity of facilitating me throughout my training process and start-up kit, I request you to pass on my appreciations to them and I ask God to give them whatever their hearts desire and continue serving humanity”.  

PPE Arrives from California

A very generous contribution of cloth and plastic face masks, as well as other Personal Protection Equipment, which will protect our KCDO staff and community members, arrived today from California. The package was prepared by Dr. Eliza Lo Chin, MD, MPH, Executive Director of the American Women’s Hospitals Service, a program of the American Medical Women’s Association, https://www.amwa-doc.org/, and by her friend, Khawaja.

It has taken several months to organize this donation as Dr. Eliza had to get permission from her organization to export these critical PPE items. Khawaja then FedExed the package to Wonderland BookSavers, who then sent the package by DHL to Kampala. From Kampala, Ms. Sarah sent the package by taxi to Kyamaganda, Here at KCDO, the items have been distributed. We continue to work for the safety of our community members during this difficult Covid-19 pandemic. Many thanks to Dr. Eliza Lo Chin, Khawaja and the American Women’s Hospitals Service!

Rakai Health Sciences Supports Community

We are so grateful to Rakai Health Sciences Program for their continued support of our KCDO community. This week Rakai supported 35 households with items that will enhance agricultural production of foods, both for family use and for sale at market.

Agricultural support items include spray pumps, improved maize, fertilizers, and herbicides; all of these will allow for the community to support themselves through producing maize on a commercial level.

Additional information was shared from an environmental engineer in the US. Stephen Henshaw writes, “Please read the labels thoroughly and make sure that the children are not exposed to harmful chemicals. Skin absorbs chemicals. Chemicals also go into ground water and travel from fields to other areas. Do not let children touch herbicides and fertilizers. Children should never be near bottles or mixtures with these chemicals.”

Willy responded, “Great for that technical guidance and hope the engineer can give us timely guidance to overcome environmental pollution and related long-term undesirable effects.”

Thank you SO much Rakai Health Sciences Program! The KCDO women, children and families are so grateful for your continued support, and are proud to have the opportunity to produce quality maize for commercial sales in the market.

Peace Corps Donates Mosquito Nets

Willy writes, “I Am happy to inform you that we secured 400 mosquito nets for our supported children.”

“The nests were donated by Peace Corp Uganda through Lwengo District local government.”

“Uncle Jackson Wadidi and leader of the Catholic laity, Mr. Lubega, showing how to lay out mosquito nets before use, and sharing learning materials to study at home with children.”

150 homes have been served with mosquito netting and Covid-19 health information

“We are happy and hearts rejoicing today as we have distributed mosquito nets and lockdown learning materials to vulnerable households in Lwengo District.“

Rakai Health Sciences Program promotes Women’s Entrpreneurships, supports Child-headed Households

This morning KCDO gratefully received direct assistance from the Rakai Health Sciences Program, an organization sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. Rakai has previously provided 5 years of HIV medicine and research for local KCDO children afflicted with HIV.

Bukenya Willy, Executive Director of KCDO, writes, “Am happy to inform you that Rakai Health Sciences Program has supported more women and child-headed families with income generating projects to ensure sustainability and family improvements in income levels.”

Bukenya Willy continues, “The support includes retail shop items, charcoal sellers, farm inputs like vegetable seedlings, herbicides, fertilizers, spray pump.”

“Watering cans were given to all HIV positive children so that they can help in the gardens.”

Receiving these gifts is both a great achievement and a great blessing. KCDO’s ongoing positive relationship with Rakai has helped secure this important assistance. These products will give women and children the ability to work to sustain their own families so that they can have independence and security.

Covid-19: Food and Water?

While the world is held hostage by this terrible virus, and children everywhere are told, “Just keep washing your hands!” the children of KCDO are wondering not only how to wash their hands without water, but also wondering how to get food, now that everyone is under quarantine.

The lack of running water is always a problem, but during this pandemic mothers and children are doing the best they can.

This young woman is using stockings as a mask.

One of the main difficulties that families are facing is the lack of food. Fortunately the Wonderland BookSavers Go Fund Me page funds sent to KCDO are enabling the community to purchase beans, rice and cooking oil.

This KCDO community leader is delivering sacks of food to the many villagers who are suffering starvation due to this pandemic.

Thank you so much to the many American donors who have enabled this supply of food.

Please keep remembering these children in your prayers. They are praying for you as well.