Halfway done, halfway to go

 

It's been a while...

What’s been happening here in Uganda in the meantime?

At work, most of my time is spent conducting digital competency training courses. In May, I began working with two organizations: Mengo Youth Development Link (MYDEL) and Community Empowerment for Village Development (CEFOVID). Throughout the course sessions, we covered various topics such as Google tools, safety and privacy, and online opportunities, and much more aiming to enhance smartphone proficiency. Last week, the training course concluded with CEFOVID, and the week before that with MYDEL. 

CEFOVID group

MYDEL group

So far, I feel this initiative has had the most significant impact on the local community that I've managed to create.

However, days vary; some are more challenging, while others leave me with a sense of satisfaction after completing a session. Next, I'll be starting with two other organizations: Centre for Special Abilities (CeSA) and UPA Central Branch, with a week's break in between.

Data collection by using semi-structured interview

Additionally, I'm gradually collecting data for impact assessments to understand the contribution of international volunteers to local host projects in Uganda. For this, I use semi-formal interviews as a method of data collection. This is also one of my main aims that I want to accomplish by the end of my deployment. Throughout my professional life, I have mainly focused on quantitative research, and to broaden my skills, I wished to apply my knowledge to qualitative research. Somehow, it has always piqued my curiosity how people perceive and describe different topics.

Initially spending more time in the office, these activities have now allowed me to move around different organizations. I think it’s great because it aligns with one of my initial aims: to have the opportunity to visit different places, organizations, and meet new people.

Meanwhile, I've reached my three-month milestone in Uganda. Time indeed flies, making me wonder if I'm managing to accomplish all the tasks during my deployment. It sometimes feels rushed, and recently, I've found myself forgetting to enjoy the moment. 

Chips enjoying life

Outside of work, I've learned many lessons. For the longest time, I stuck to Plan A. Uganda has taught me the importance of having Plan B, C, and maybe even D, as unexpected situations can arise. It’s crucial to remain flexible and adapt accordingly. While I considered myself calm and flexible before, the situations here have tested and strengthened those traits even further.

"When it rains, it pours," they say. Life in Uganda pauses during heavy rains. Transport, such as boda bodas or taxis, can become impractical at times. Thankfully, these rains usually come and go quickly.

Traditional clothes for wedding.

Making ciabattas

Kampala continues to surprise me. There are days when I struggle to be punctual, something that might not be very common for me. But that's life in Uganda – you never know what's there for you.

Until next time!

Kaisa

Nakivale Basketball Outreach (Microfinance Project)

 For my second Microfinance Project I travelled to Nakivale Refugee Settlement.

Around the time when my initial project with MACAFS wasn't working out I began to use Basketball as an outlet for my frustration. Little did I know it would lead me to this project. While playing basketball at local courts I met a group of people from Uganda and South Sudan who run a basketball foundation focused on helping refugees - Naath Basketball Foundation.

Naath Basketball Foundation use basketball as a tool for education, hope and peacebuilding in refugee communities around Uganda. Immediately I developed a good friendship with the people involved and over time I realised that collaborating with them would be a great use of my remaining Microfinance budget - to do something sustainable, impactful and enjoyable with refugee youth.

We travelled to Nakivale Refugee Settlement in May, to carry out a 4 day basketball outreach for the youth there. We brought with us lots of basketball equipment and refreshments.

The outreach was a huge success - over 150 people attended! The first 3 days consisted of morning basketball sessions, followed by afternoon holistic development sessions (speaking about the importance of education, sports as a means to stay out of trouble, success stories of refugees). In the evenings we played friendly basketball games and experienced what life was like for locals living in Nakivale. This insight was very interesting - the locals call the settlement Naki-City, since it has been around so long and is very self-sustaining, with plenty of businesses, places of worship and bars throughout the camp.

Aside from the basketball, we were able to connect the local coaches there to other NGOs which can help provide more equipment to the children in future (shoes, socks, jerseys). We also connected them with schools in Kampala, for children to receive scholarships to study for free if they show potential talent in basketball. We had ‘visibility sessions’ with them to discuss ideas of how they can promote the Nakivale Basketball Academy and receive more resources for youth development.

On the final day we held two tournaments, for boys and girls. Each team of refugees had their own Mondo/Naath coloured jerseys. The talent, competitiveness and enjoyment on show throughout the tournaments was amazing to see. We also held a dunk contest and 3-point contest, much to the excitement of the beneficiaries! The tournaments concluded as the sun was setting, yet players and coaches remained on court for the medals ceremony and to thank us for bringing joy to the Nakivale community over 4 days. This outreach was definitely the highlight of my deployment. It will remain in my memory, and the memories of the coaches and youth of Nakivale for a long time!

Amuno Rural Hub (Microfinance Project)

For my first Microfinance Project I travelled to a small village in Eastern Uganda - Kachumbala. Here is the home to Amuno Rural Hub.

Amuno Rural Hub is an NGO which teaches literacy to youth in the Kachumbala community. Children come from far distances to learn to read, use the library and learn English. Hundreds of youth regularly visit Amuno Rural Hub after school, and during school holidays it becomes even more busy. Youth are divided into 3 classes based on reading ability (red, yellow, green). Older students in the green group become ‘literacy champions’, and help the younger ones learn to read. Amuno Rural Hub  also has a food programme for the youth, a rabbit breeding programme for self-sustainability, and a savings programme for parents.

Kachumbala is located in a dry part of Uganda and many community members struggle with access to clean drinking water. During school holidays there is often a shortage of drinking water at Amuno Rural Hub, due to huge numbers of the children spending their whole day at the centre. The current water filtration system often breaks down and when it is working, it takes over 5 hours to filter 20 litres of water. This is not sufficient to meet the water needs of Amuno's beneficiaries.

After spending time at Amuno and seeing the great work they are doing in the community, I decided I would use some of my Microfinance budget to help them with their Water issue. I collaborated with the Ugandan Water Project, in order to implement two new, more efficient water filters at the centre. These new systems can filter 20 litres of water in just 30 mins, providing safe water to both the students and the wider Kachumbala community (on very hot days it is normal for people to stop by Amuno and take some water).

After delivering the filters to the centre with Sam (UPA), myself and the Amuno staff set the two new systems up in the courtyard and I trained them in proper usage and maintenance of the filters. I involved the staff in demonstrations of correct filter cleaning procedures and what to do if the filter gets blocked. This is to ensure the filters remain effective for a long time (Ugandan Water Project state 10 years if managed properly).

After a busy morning of implementation and training it was time for lunch! I joined the staff in preparing Posho (a Ugandan staple), Beans and Vegetables for the 200 children present at Amuno Rural Hub that morning. The younger children then returned home with full stomachs, leaving behind the staff and the literacy champions for our afternoon activities.

These activities consisted of various educational games with the literacy champions; teaching them about water-borne disease transmission (from faeces to mouth) and dividing them into teams to discuss methods of prevention and best practices for hygiene. I showed them the classic 'black pepper' hand-washing experiment, which demonstrates the importance of using soap (which we made 50 L of the week before at a liquid soap making class, and provided to Amuno Rural Hub). We also played games that touched on the topics of clean latrine standards and behaviours for infection avoidance. The idea behind doing these games with the literacy champions was so that they are more impactful with a smaller group and then they shall educate the younger children about what they learned.

Tony (founder of Amuno) informed me that they were able to do this the following week and that the younger children also enjoyed. He also mentioned that Amuno is already seeing great results with their new systems. Overall it was a successful Microfinance project, with long lasting impact to the community of Kachumbala!