Tag: KCDO

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
Kasita Kennedy in Welding Training
Mother of Nasazi Merisa at St. Joseph’s Kibulala Primary School
Nabuwembo Jemina at Kyamaganda Primary school
Nakamwagi Shirat of Mbirizi HIgh School
Kiganda Vincent, father of Lutaaya Jamewo
DDumba Simon Peter of St. Bernards College, Kiswere
Matovu Justine of Roya Primary School, Kinoni
Kiyemba Robert of Kyamaganda Primary School, with his mother
Ms. Naluwu Rosemary, mother of Galabuzi Lawrence, St. Joseph Kinoni Primary School
Meanje Henry of Kyamaganda Primary School, with grandmother Nasali Josephine
Walakira Denis of Namulanda Primary School, with his uncle
Ssebuliba Vayaney of Kyamaganda Primary School
Matovu Anthony of Bunyere Primary School
Kemirembe Josephine at Mama Herbert Hair Training Salon
Damba Emanuel of Kyamaganda Primary School, with his grandmother, Nakasolya Mangadelena
Katende Francis of Kyamaganda Primary School
Namugerwa Winnie, with grandfather

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.

Single Mother of 12 is Assisted

Nakatereke Paulina is a single mother aged over 50 and resident of Nakateete Village, Nakateete Parish, Kisekka sub-county in Lwengo District. She is the household head of a family with seven children and five grandchildren, including OVC.

The household’s economic, health and social status is low, which prompted Kyamaganda Community Development Organization to enroll the household in OVC Program in October 2019 with the goal to improve their economic, health and social status.

According to the household assessment that was conducted in October 2019, the household was found in a critical state with no income-generating activities, poor hygiene, nutrition and health, surviving on hand-to-mouth agriculture.

The source of food in this household was the return given after work and and this was supplemented with the home grown food which could hardly sustain the large family of more than twelve members. The household members survived on a single carbohydrate meal per day, mainly porridge. As a result, children manifested signs of malnutrition.

Household members receiving mosquito bed nets

Some children dropped out of school at an early age and some of them are child-mothers. According to the care giver, this is because the low household economic status cannot uphold children in school. Family members were prone to malaria as they were not sleeping under mosquito bed nets.

In response to this unpleasant situation, the household was provided with mosquito bed nets from the Peace Corps and the US Presidential Malaria Initiative, which greatly improved the health status of the family members.

Family receiving economic booster packages from KCDO: pigs and maize bran

In addition, Kyamaganda Community Development Organization, with support from Rakaii Health Science Program, provided a booster grant of one pig and maize bran in October-December quarter, with hope that this income generating activity will have a multiplier effort to sustain and uphold the household. The household will also receive farm inputs to improve food security and to improve the nutrition of members, especially the children. The household will be monitored closely in the subsequent period to access the progress that will be made.

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”.