Grassroots Development at its Finest

I intend for this to be a short entry since I'm exhausted, but I wanted to share one of the most inspiring projects I've seen on this trip.

On Thursday we visited FDNC (Foundation for Development of Needy Communities). To quote their mission from a brochure I received: FDNC is a non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to building self-reliance and sustainable development in the most impoverished communities of Eastern Uganda through strategies that promote community participation and individual empowerment. Working in five major programming areas, including education and training, human rights, community-based health and development, music and dance, and institution building, the organization serves many vulnerable populations in the region.

In the morning we toured the vocational school. Students from around the region come to this school to get trained in skills like tailoring, hair dressing, computer skills, cement and brick-making. You get the picture. They do have to pay a fee. (If you want to sponsor a student go to: http://hugsuganda.org/.) Anyway, students receive tangible skills so they can have a trade a find work.

In the afternoon, we visited one of FDNC's partner villages. We were warmly greeted by the villagers with traditional songs and dances. We were the largest group of Muzungus (Swahili for Whites) they'd ever received. But we got to visit the projects FDNC has helped implement in the village. They have invested in a ram and goat. When kids are born, the females are distributed throughout the community. So far, 62 goats have been given away. The males are sold at the market. Only 34 families remain to receive a goat. We consider the ram to be the busiest goat in the country. :) But not only does this generate income from the sales, but the families can get milk from the goat to consume and sell. Additionally, the female goats can continue producing new goats for income or consumption. So it's the project that keeps giving. They have a similar operation with pigs.

We also got to see a rice field. They were given 10 kilos of seeds, which they had to replace from their first harvest. Now they are on their 2nd harvest. They are hoping to produce enough to sustain the community.

Finally, we saw a play the health workers put on to illustrate the importance of washing your hands after going to the bathroom and before eating meals. It was very interesting. They treated us to a feast at the end of our visit. The food was delicious! I also got to see an installed efficient stove. These things are amazing at reducing fuel consumption and piping the smoke out of the cooking area so the women are not exposed to it.

When we got back to the FDNC center, their band performed for us. (If you have old instruments you want to get rid of, talk to me. They are always looking for donations.) They were really good. They learned all the songs by listening, not by reading music. There was also a traditional dance troop that performed dances from Western, Eastern, and Central Uganda. It was a great show and a great way to wrap up the day.

Okay, that's all for now. I really encourage you to check out FDNC's website at the top of this page. It is an amazing organization doing incredible work. However, they are desperately in need of more resources to continue their work and expand their reach. What's best is that it was started by a Ugandan in an attempt to address his community's needs. Grassroots development.