October 2007

The Hunger Project-Uganda

Mbara Epicenter loan group with their income-generating activity.

Mpigi Epicenter

Start year: 1999

Phase: 4

Major accomplishments this period:

· Harvested and collected food from the communal gardens and stored at the epicenter food bank through the food committee (100 bags of 100kg).

· Distributed seeds to improve on the food production and food security (300kg of beans) and (200kg of maize).

· Monitored communal gardens clearing and cultivation for planting this season (22 acres to be planted with maize, and 11 acres to be planted with beans.).

· Maintained 11 protected springs for clean and safe water.

· Conducted VCA training for the partners: attendance was 1,614 (1,214 females and 400 males).

· Conducted monitoring and evaluation training sessions that were attended by 191 partners, from whom 31 animators (14 females, 17 males) were selected to form a people’s research team.

· The nursery school has been maintained with total attendance of 76 children (34 girls and 42 boys).

· Mpigi health centre has provided health services to 3,672 partners.

· A total of 355 children were immunized during the quarter.

· Distributed mosquito nets to 1000 children under five years of age.

· Mobilized a functional adult literacy class in partnership with the district community development office and a total of 51 partners (31 females, 20 males).

· Repaired the milling machine at the epicenter.

Kiringete Epicenter

Start year: 1999

Phase: 3

Major accomplishments this period:

· Harvested and collected 700 kg of maize and 300 kg of rice for storage in epicenter food bank.

· There was seed distribution to the partners: 140 kg of improved maize, 50 kg of soya, and 140 kg of beans were distributed for planting this season.

· Maintained the protected spring at Kagezi for clean and safe water. Conducted 7 workshops in health and hygiene in all parishes, with attendance of 1131 partners (843 females, 288 males).

· In partnership with the district acquired a bore hole at the epicenter.

· Conducted VCAs for all catalytic programs, the total attendance was 463 partners (269 females, 194 males).

· Conducted monitoring and evaluation workshops for all the animators and partners, 120 partners (85 females, 35 males).

· A team of 39 animators (14 females, 25 males) were selected to work as researchers/ data collectors.

· Mobilized for functional adult literacy (FAL) classes at the epicenter and conducted VCA for FAL instructors, attended by 12 instructors (5 males, 7 females).

· Maintained the Nursery school to provide education to the children below the primary school age. A total of 43 children (27 girls, 16 boys).

· Mobilized for tree planting.

· Participated in the national sanitation week.

· Conducted credit recovery follow up and savings mobilization.

· The health centre provided services to a total of 4,232 partners. (Under 4 years=2,284, above 5 years =1,948).

· A total of 307 children were immunized during the quarter.

Wakiso Epicenter

Start year: 2002

Phase: 4

Major accomplishments this period:

· Harvested and collected food from communal gardens through the epicenter food committee. (6,000 kg of maize).

· The communal garden at the epicenter was opened for cultivation this season; this was after it had been left to regain fertility.

· Establishment of a 0.4 acres vegetable garden with a modern drip irrigation system planted with improved cabbage, green pepper, onions and eggplants.

· Products from the nutrition project were exhibited during the women day’s celebrations (19 packs of 200g) were sold and the partners opened up the nutrition project.

· The epicenter hosted Dr. Tadesse, on the 23^rd January.

· The handover of epicenter leadership from old epicenter committee members to new committee members, a symbol of democracy and a sign of development, was witnessed by Vice President of the Global Hunger Project, Dr. Fitigu Tadesse.

· Conducted 10 VCA workshops and in attendance were 1,171 partners (951 females, 220 males).

· VCA workshop for all animators that attracted 870 animators.

· Two new FAL classes of 21 partners were mobilized to make a total of 30 FAL classes comprising of 836 partners (531 females, 305 males).

· A total of 502 children were immunized during the quarter.

· Distributed 1,500 mosquito nets through the animators in the fight against the spread of malaria.

Kiboga Epicenter AWFFI partners.

Wakiso Epicenter rural bank president in front of her home compost heap.

Kiboga Epicenter

Start year: 2002

Phase: 4

Major accomplishments this period:

· Food production and food security; 250 kg of maize and 50 kg of soya beans were distributed to partners. A total of 30 bags (1,000 kg) are stored in the epicenter maize crib. Partners accessed improved planting materials totaling to 396 kg of maize, 50 kg of soya bean, and 250 kg of beans for increased food production.

· The epicenter food sub committee received 90 hand shellers and two hand rotor shellers from the District Agriculture Department.

· VCAs were conducted and a total of 24,347 partners (13,470 women and 10,877 attended).

· A total of 557 partners (307 women and 250 men) attended HIV/AIDS and gender inequality training.

· Access to health services; 2,492 partners (1,437 women and 1,055 men) had access to health services at Kiboga Epicenter health center.

· The epicenter nursery school has continued to provide early childhood education to 83 children (58 girls and 25 boys).

· Construction of the epicenter health staff quarters by the Kiboga community in partnership with The Hunger Project.

· 300 feet bore hole was drilled at the epicenter to improve access to safe water.

· In partnership with the Health Department 1,078 partners benefited from the Child Days Program (521 males, 557 females). Continuous provision of nutritious porridge to the epicenter school children on daily basis.

· The rural bank was officially launched and is now operational with a female manager.

· Registered 31 new partners in the rural bank with a cumulative total of 361 partners (55 males and 306 females) compared to 330 partners last quarter.

· Rural bank membership has increased from 372 to 395 (317 females, 78 males).

Mbale Epicenter

Start year: 2007

Phase: 1

Major accomplishments this period:

Conducted VCA for district leadership with 154 in attendance.
Mobilized grassroots level VCAWs with a total attendance of 424 partners.
Selected 48animators who are committed to sensitize others.
District donated land on which an epicenter will be built.
Process of acquiring land title in progress

Iganga Epicenter

Start year: 2003

Phase: 3

Major accomplishments this period:

· Mobilized communities and stored 8,200 kg of maize at the epicenter food bank.

· Monitored AWFFI and SPIA loans repayments and savings mobilization.

· Conducted trainings in agronomy of maize and rice in all sub counties.

· Conducted 34 AWFFI credit trainings in shares mobilization and village banking, bookkeeping and loan management, to all partners in all sub-counties.

· Inaugurated the Iganga Epicenter village bank mobilizations.

· Established the epicenter nursery school.

· Monitored AWFFI and SPIA loans in all sub-counties.

· Monitored community gardens of maize and rice in all sub counties.

· Established the three-acre epicenter garden of high yielding Cassava variety and vitamin A potatoes.

· Acquired a 6,000 liter epicenter clinic water tank.

· A total of 40 deliveries were made (24 females and 13 males).

· Number of children immunized is still progressing to over 1,000.

· Monitored communal gardens of maize and rice and also multiplied orange fresh vitamin a potatoes, in all sub counties.

· Stocked the fish pond at Bwanalira parish, with 800 fingerlings of the type Claris.

Mbarara Epicenter

Start year: 2004

Phase: 3

Major accomplishments this period:

· Stored 2,550 kg of harvest in the epicenter food bank for food security.

· A total of 32 acres of land planted with improved varieties of seed, and well maintained.

· AWFFI loan repayments and savings mobilization stands at 102% and 80% respectively.

· Purchase of furniture for the epicenter building.

· Mbarara Epicenter health centre provided health services to 1,650 partners.

· Monitored loan repayments and savings mobilization at 107%.

· In partnership with the AWFFI epicenter committee, carried out credit training to SPIA and AWFFI groups comprised of 557 partners (222 females and 335 males).

· A total of 315 (165 females and 150 males) partners attended VCAs.

· AWFFI repayment maintained an average loan repayment rate of 100% and savings mobilization at 40%.

· 60 children (31 girls and 29 boys) continued to attend the Mbarara Epicenter nursery school.

· A total of 3,350 partners continue to receive health services from the epicenter health clinic (under 5yrs = 655, while 5 years and above = 2,695 patients).

· Selection of new epicenter leadership committee.

· From local government partnership, Mbarara Epicenter received a check from Kagongi sub-county in material contribution towards the construction of the epicenter facilities.

Kiruhura Epicenter

Start year: 2006

Phase: 2

Major accomplishments this period:

· Conducted VCAs for the local leaders and partners in Kashongi, with a cumulative attendance of 895 partners.

· Opened five acres of communal garden at the epicenter land.

· The Kiruhura Epicenter ground breaking ceremony was held on January 23^rd, 2007.

· Mobilized communities for construction of the epicenter building.

· Conducted VCAs for the local leaders and partners in Kenshunga and Kanoni with attendance of 4,700 partners (2,100 females and 2,600 males).

· Elected Hunger Project local Leaders and animators in Kenshunga and Kanoni sub-counties from village level to sub-county level (220 leaders elected with; 110 women and 110 men, and 168 animators of which 96 were women).

· Identified FAL learners, 40 FAL instructors and 54 traditional birth attendants.

· Opened five acres of communal garden and planted 200 kg of improved maize and beans in the epicenter land.

· Mobilized and sensitized partners to contribute materials for epicenter building construction.

· Starting on the process of surveying of the epicenter land in order to acquire a land title.

· Set up a demonstration garden on the epicenter land.

· Identified individual communal gardens in Kashongi and Kanoni.

· Opened a communal garden at the epicenter.

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