Adopt A Village Project At Ongongoja
LOCATION:
Ongunga, Ogetoma, Asuret and Adurukoi villages, Usuk County, Katakwi district, Uganda
LOCAL SPONSOR: Rotary Club of Soroti Central, District 9211.
BACKGROUND:
Uganda is one of the least developed countries, located in East Africa. It has a population of over 45 million people; over 85% of the population live in the rural areas and are subsistence farmers. Most of the people live below poverty line, thriving at less than 1 US$ per day. Despite the fact that recently the government of Uganda has introduced universal primary education, up to 40%, mainly women are still illiterate. Poverty coupled with low levels of education makes the economic situation even worse. And more so the people of the above villages and other surrounding villages in Usuk County were displaced by the Karamojong cattle rustler during the 1979 war, and hence lived in the camps till when peace returned. The communities in these villages are now faced with a lot of challenges.
Source of livelihood;
90% of this rural community mainly grows crops at subsistence level. It only has a little excess which is sold locally. A small proportion of the community grows cash crops including green grams, millet, sorghum, and groundnut while a few others undertake petty trade. The annual average income is less than US$ 50
Demographics
Population (4 villages) 2045
Children under age of 15 30%
Number of households or families 448
Distance from main road 4-8 km
Mode of earning money Peasantry
Average land ownership More than 1 acre
Land legal status Customary Land
Electricity 0%
Health:
Major causes of illness throughout the year:
Malaria/Typhoid 80%
Diarrhea (mainly water borne diseases) 10%
Worm infestations 20%
Anemia (esp. children & women) 15%
Malnutrition 10%
HIV/AIDS 30%
Sanitation:
Distance to water sources 2 - 4 km
Water source Under ground water holes / Borehole
Water contaminated Yes (underground) / Boreholes (No)
Is water free? Yes
Cooking fuel used Firewood
Cooking fuel collected by the peasants Yes (women & mainly girl child)
Nearest medical clinic 8 km
Do they have and/or use latrines? Yes. (At least 30%)
Adequate water sources near villages? No
Food production
Families farming for subsistence 90%
Do the men or women do the farming? Women and children do 80% of the farming
How much land does a typical family own or farm? More than 1 acre
Any excess farm produce they can trade Very little - less than 5%
Trade localized or with other villages and market places? Localized and sometimes with other villages
Do they need fertilizers? Yes (organic manure)
Do they use or need irrigation? Yes (using watering cans)
Do they have draught animals or mechanized equipment? Some have and some don't. (draught animals)
Are farm yields increasing, decreasing or staying the same? Decreasing due to poor soils management and an predictable rain patterns.
Education
How far is the local primary? 2 - 5 km
Children going to school 40%
Children not going to school 60%
What prevents them from going to school Lack of scholastic materials, long distances to walk, cultural bias against the girl children, home duties, lack of funds to pay school fees.
Children going to secondary schools? Only 5%
How far is the secondary school? 6 - 10 km
Is transport available? Yes but expensive
How many adults are illiterate? 60%
Language taught at school Ateso and English
Language spoken at school Ateso and English
Are there enough teachers at schools? No
Problem Statement:
90% are peasants practicing subsistence farming earning less than USD 50 per year. The farm produce is used for home consumption with very little excess that can be brought to the market to earn an income. Poverty breeds hunger, disease and curtails development within this village.
Vision:
A rural community with reduced poverty, hunger, improved literacy and lessened incidences of preventable diseases.
Mission:
To improve the general livelihoods of the 448 families in the four villages through empowering them to practice basic community health care and promotion of sustainable land use, applying good soil management and water conservation techniques and integrated farming.
Objectives:
To improve access to safe water by providing boreholes.
To improve community health by preventing malaria.
To improve community income and diet through imparting knowledge of sustainable integrated organic farming by training and providing farming inputs and implements
Health, Clean Water and Sanitation;
Problem Statement:
The village residents have water sources for their domestic requirements which are more than 2 km. However, during rainy season they are able to get water by hand digging the ground which are prone to contamination. Presently water related diseases constitute up to 20% of all the morbidity cases reported within the village. Average daily per capita water consumption stands at 100 litres per household, but due to distance most households are able to fetch water for cooking and drinking only. The low water consumption compromises household hygiene and sanitation leading to frequent morbidity.
Project objectives
To construct 4 deep bore holes fitted with hand pumps for water abstraction in the four villages.
To sensitize the beneficiaries and school children at the school about the importance of maintaining a sanitary home environment, safe water chain, proper use of latrines and give them tips for the operation and management of the improved water sources.
Provide farming implements and inputs to the community for economic empowerment.
Provide scholastic materials (text books) to the nearby primary schools where the village children study.
Target group:
The entire village communities and the school children/staff
Project Strategy:
All the beneficiaries will be mobilized to appreciate the importance of good sanitation practices and environmental protection
Work-plan and budget:
Objective Activity Whose responsibility?
1. Drilling of 4 boreholes Identification of contractor R.C. Soroti Central
2. To sensitize community on good hygiene and sanitation practices. Identification of service providers. R. C Soroti Central
Budget for Water & Sanitation Activities:
Health-Clean Water
Drill 4 new boreholes $27,778
Hygiene & Sanitation Training $6,667
Total $34,445
Health
Malaria Prevention:
Problem Statement
80% of the villagers suffer from at least two to three bouts of malaria per annum. Children below five years and the pregnant women are most vulnerable. These frequent malaria attacks, weaken the bodies and retard economic development and productivity as a lot of time and money is spent on them.
Project Objectives;
To sensitize the community about the prevention of malaria.
To provide long-term insecticide treated mosquito bed nets to the beneficiaries.
Project Target Group:
The entire village community especially children and pregnant women.
Project strategy:
The community will be mobilized and sensitized about the causes and dangers of malaria, proper sanitation and the importance of environment conservation.
Work-plan and budget:
Objective Activity Who will be responsible?
1. Sensitization Mobilization & training
2.Providing mosquito bed nets Procurement
Health:
Malaria prevention budget:
Health-Malaria Prevention
Mosquito bed nets $ 5,000
Sensitization meetings $444
Total $ 5,444
Economic empowerment & organic farming training budget
Hunger-Seeds & Implements
Beneficiary training $ 438
Procure assorted seeds $ 5,000
Procure farming implements $ 3,000
Better Farming Methods Training $ 1,950
Total $ 10,388
Project implementation and management:
The project will be implemented by the Rotary Club of Soroti Central in conjunction with the local government administration and the leadership of the four villages within a period of one year.[12 months] The Rotary club of Soroti Central will be responsible for administration of the project resources, procurement of technical services and will closely monitor and follow up on the implementation of the project through site visits and frequent monitoring of the project activities.
However the day today management of the project will be done by the local council 1 and village leadership through an established village based project committee. After expiry of the 12 months the village based project committee group together with the Rotary club of Soroti Central will continue to support and follow up on the beneficiaries to ensure continuity of the project activities. The village based project committees will be formed as a Rotary Community Corps.
BUDGET SUMMARY:
Project Budget
Health-Clean Water $ 34,445
Health-Malaria Prevention $ 5,444
Economic Empowerment $ 10,388
Monitoring & Miscellaneous $ 5,000
Total project cost $ 55,277
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