Update on our work in Uganda

Recipients of AWFFI loans at Wakiso Epicenter.

THP-Uganda is now working in five epicenters and two sub-epicenters. The newest epicenter to be built in 2004 is in Mbarara, in the western part of Uganda. THP-Uganda has now been working for four years, implementing programs that are empowering our partners to take self-reliant actions to fight hunger and poverty on a sustainable manner.

Vision, Commitment and Action Workshops: Animators

THP-Uganda continues to organize the VCA workshops every month in all four epicenters and sub-epicenters. So far, THP-Uganda has given the VCA workshop to over 8,000 men and women and over 200 trained Animators. The animators are working hard among in their own villages to support and empower the communities to be self-reliant in their economic and social development. The reports that we receive from THP-Uganda indicate clearly that our partners and local government officials are very pleased about the workshops’ impact in mobilizing and empowering people to work to end their hunger. The work of THP in Uganda, as in other countries, has come to be recognized by both the local and national government as a symbol of our partnership.

<< An AWFFI vegetable vendor; she is part of the Wakiso Epicenter.

Increased food production and food banks

Our partner communities in Uganda are organized and mobilized to work together on communal land to produce food that will be stored at the epicenter food bank, resulting in food security. THP-Uganda is also offering improved agricultural seeds and diversification of crops so that our partners can work on their land the whole year, using irrigation.

Access to Credit

The women have secured credit to purchase improved seeds and to engage in poultry rearing, fish farming and other income-generating activities. The initial results show that women in Mpigi Epicenter are engaged in lucrative income-generating activities, enabling them to earn money to purchase food and essential items for their families. To date, THP-Uganda has issued loans to men and women and the rate of repayment for both genders is over 95%.

<< Women from the Iganga Epicenter receive their AWFFI loans.

Education and Literacy

Women are participating in functional literacy classes in local languages. This enables them to participate in income-generating activities. Thirty-six instructors or teachers have so far trained a total of 752 people, 68% of whom are women (515 women).

At the epicenters, there are five trained personnel provided by the Ministry of Health who work on a full-time basis. A medical doctor visits these epicenters once a week. So far a total of 1,430 people (800 women and 630 men) have been treated at the clinics, and 12 healthy babies (7 boys and 5 girls) have been born at the maternity center. All expectant mothers come for periodical checkups, and home visits are also organized by the medical staff to see sick people in their homes. Currently, an immunization and vaccination campaign for the children is being carried out.

It is a matter of great satisfaction to see that at the meetings held in the epicenters, women do not sit separately from men. They know that partnership between men and women is essential if hunger and malnutrition are to be eradicated. In the partner villages, women stand up and declare their commitment to work tirelessly to ensure successful implementation of their projects. They have set a deadline of the year 2005 to end hunger in their villages.

<< The nurse at Wakiso Epicenter weighs a baby during the measles vaccination campaign.

Since last year, THP-Uganda has reinforced its program of preventing the spread of AIDS. The program is currently is implemented in all our epicenters and sub-epicenters and both men and women are becoming clear on the objectives of the program. THP-Uganda reports that the early negative reaction of men has gradually disappeared. The idea of the inequality of the sexes as a cause of the spread of HIV/AIDS is becoming a better understood concept. Many specialized animators trained by THP-Uganda are indeed committed and very active with the population, and it is one of the reasons why this approach is well accepted by the population.

The role of animators is crucial to hastening the work of ending hunger in Uganda. To achieve this purpose, THP-Uganda holds monthly VCA workshops at the epicenters. After the VCA workshops, a group of young men and women farmers are selected and further trained to become animators. These dynamic young leaders travel to villages throughout their districts to empower and support the villagers, enabling them to realize their goal to eradicate hunger and poverty. So far, over 1,000 people have attended the VCA workshops and of these 347 animators have been selected to work in their respective villages. In addition, 19 Trainers of Trainers received further training to enable them to train other animators in their respective regions.

THP-Uganda is in the process of working with the appropriate Ministry and local agency to establish officially recognized Rural Banks as official financial institutions in one or two epicenters. The establishment of these rural banks will definitely empower women and men by creating ongoing access to micro-credit, savings and investment programs. The purpose of these banks is also to facilitate income-generating activities in agriculture as well as in the growing of coffee and pig raising.

A total of 3,000 learners have so far been registered to attend the Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) classes, of which 70% are women.

The learners, especially the women, generally are more confident and are able to communicate and take on leadership roles as a result of attending these FAL classes. For example, one of the partners, an elderly woman, came to sign for her own money at the bank after attending the adult classes for three months. Women have learned how to read and write and have been equipped with various skills in nutrition, good farming practices, health and family planning.

There is a spirit of teamwork among the partners as they have been doing practical lessons together. A number of partners are showing willingness and confidence to pro-actively take on income generating activities. Notable changes in attitudes and behavior within the community have been seen. Respect among men and women within the communities is beginning to emerge.