“Awareness for Survival”
FINIDP started by doing much more of sensitisation work among the school children and the local community on topical issues such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive health issues and family hygiene. We have found these very effective in ensuring behavioural change among the children. We adopted a model of ensuring that we create peer educators’ groups for sustainability in each of the target schools. We shall continue with these in more schools and communities of Mukono district, though we plan to include career guidance as well so that we impart life skills to especially orphans and vulnerable kids.
Livestock for Livelihoods Projects (L4LP), “A Gift with a Multiplier Effect”
Majority of people in rural areas of Uganda lack the capacity to start affordable and self-sustaining income generating projects. To respond to the problem, FINIDP promotes community-based livestock for livelihood revolving projects. FINIDP trains families on proper animal care, then provides qualified families with goats, pigs, cows, sheep or chickens and thereafter monitors the progress of the project and periodically reports to development partners. Beneficiaries are required to give a certain number of offsprings to other families in the community. Because of the project design, the livestock given out is referred to as “A Gift with a Multiplier Effect.” FINIDP trains these new recipients, and the sharing cycle continues, multiplying the number of needy families supported year-after-year. Families are able to sell some of the off-springs, eggs, milk, or meat at the market to generate sustainable incomes or use the products to provide food for their families.
Currently there are two on-going livestock for Livelihood revolving projects namely:-
The Nama Livestock for Livelihood Revolving Project (NL4LRP) supported by Rhodes Scholars Southern Africa Forum, RSSAF (www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk) and Northside Baptist Church, US,A targeting mainly women in Nama sub-county. In this project, goats, pigs, chickens, or sheep were given to women. We anticipate that year after year, one or more of the offspring and knowledge will be passed on to others in need. This will create a network of informed people, hope, dignity and self-reliance. We envisage that this project might trigger off other developments in the area such as enhanced capacity of parents and guardians to feed and educate their children. In addition, our hope is that the proceeds from this project can go a long way in improving the home hygiene and family welfare.
Livestock for Livelihoods Project (L4LP) supported by Hope for Africa (www.allianceafrica.org). The project initially targeted 25 households, each receiving 1 male and 2 female goats. At a later stage, after the first batch has reproduced and the families have accumulated a reasonable herd; we will embark on a redistribution phase targeting fresh beneficiaries
Nabbaale Sub-county Schools HIV/AIDS Awareness Project
In its HIV/AIDS community intervention, FINIDP is working in schools to increase awareness and risk perception of catching HIV/AIDS and STDs among school children. Many HIV/AIDS orphans were identified in schools in this area, which warranted urgent sensitisation as a precautionary measure. Following the successful completion of the "Nama Family Hygiene Improvement Project" mentioned earlier in this report, FINIDP submitted another proposal to the Rhodes Scholars Southern African Forum (RSSAF) in Oxford, UK, and received a grant of 1,000 pounds to implement the "Nabbaale Sub-county Schools HIV/AIDS Awareness Project". The project commenced in June 2005 and is still ongoing.
A total of 4 schools, which included Kazinga UMEA, Nakifuma Church of Uganda Primary School, Naggalama Islamic Institute and Nakifuma High School were identified. Upper primary pupils and all students in the target secondary schools were involved in general sensitisation and awareness seminars. The theme in these seminars was "Controlling HIV/AIDS and STDs in Schools". Training of peer educators was also done in these schools to sustain the activities of the project. Peer education committees and anti-AIDS clubs were formed in each of the schools to co-ordinate HIV/AIDS/STD control activities and promote understanding of reproductive health issues. A teacher was appointed (but in many situations volunteered) as the patron to each of the schools and is also to act as FINIDP’s contact person. The project ended in September 2005. Evaluation and follow-up visits are ongoing to ensure that the planned objectives are achieved.
Nakifuma Women HIV/AIDS Awareness Project
To increase HIV/AIDS awareness among our target communities, FINIDP members have mobilised funds to sensitise 50 mothers in Nakifuma-Nankulabye. Our intention is to target women who can pass along information to their family members.
Kisenyi Persons with Disabilities HIV/AIDS Project
FINIDP in collaboration with Disabled Women in Development (DIWODE) carried out this project targeting persons with Disabilities (PWDs) of Kisenyi L.C.I. The Theme was on HIV/Aids awareness and the importance of book keeping in small income generating activities. It arose out of request by the PWDs who knew that FINIDP had the expertise on the above subjects. It was carried out in January 2005 at Kisenyi I. Kitawuluzi. A total of 13 PWDs (men, women and youths) were trained.
Kasenge Environmental Education Project
In 2005, FINIDP assessed environmental problems in Mukono district. In Nama Sub-county, FINIDP identified the need to impart environmental education to stone miners in Kasenge. Together with stone miners, several intervention areas were identified, including:
- Restoration of mined sites through filling
- Planting of trees on mined sites
Environmental education activities to raise awareness: Due to limited resources, FINIDP has so far managed to implement a one-day environmental awareness activity with leaders of stone quarry sites. This will be up-scaled in our next strategic plan.
Restoration of degraded wetlands
FINIDP has established linkages with brick-makers, especially in the wetlands of Ntaawo, lumuli and Nyenje, with the aim of minimizing negative impacts on Uganda's wetland ecosystems. Due to insufficient institutional capacity, environmental groups have been unable to combat the unprecedented degradation of wetlands. FINIDP has conducted seminars to train brick-makers on conservation practices and alternative energy sources. FINIDP has submitted a proposal for further work to the UNDP-GEF, Kampala office.
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