Farm development

Besides the work on the eco-san toilet we are also working on the development of farming activities. One very interesting innovation is the purchase of a treadle pump, a water pump with a capacity of 3000 L per hour operated by stepping.

before we had to fetch water for the shower and for irrigation by hand with jerrycans. Now we pump it within a few minutes up to about 10 meters high, which is a real improvement.




Actually we were eating fresh roasted maize and fresh vegetables during the dry season when all surrounding fields were dry.

we also started a trial to plant Irish potatoes durign the dry season in double dug beds. By planing early before the rain start we hope to prevent the infection with fungal airborne diseases. we we will see.

Back in the air!

Well it has taken some time, but finally we are back in the air. Our Internet service has been terribly poor and almost not accessible. Since a week it has improved so let me try to write some news.
We have been very much restricted by our finances. I had the opportunity to go for some very interesting consultancy work in Karamodja, 1000 km east from Kabale. And this time was lost for Amasiko work. Actually this remains a challenge. Working for family income reduces the time available for Amasiko.
We have got some small funds and are now busy building some essential infrastructure such as an Ecosan (composting) toilet, shower, a wooden house, camping site. As I wrote some time back, we got a machine to make Interlocking Soil Stabilised Blocks. (ISSB). we made some trials and the result was surprising. The blocks are strong and heavy. We left some of them for 24 hours submerged in water and they stayed perfectly well. We are now using those for the Ecosan building.




Although the place is not ready, we think that we should start operating as soon as the shower and toilet block are functioning. We have got some tents (Christina thanks again for all the equipment you left behind). Many youth are coming to us asking for training opportunities so its time to start with the little we have!

Back in the air!

latest news

Dear friends, my excuses for not updating the blog. We had a serious problem with the Internet connection which made it almost impossible to send any mails. Seems to be solved and its time to continue writing!
Well many things happened:
Hamukaaka village has really managed to start their projects. Groups are meeting once a week to work together and plan for the next steps. Now Irish potatoes are planted, handicrafts are made weekly in the group.
Some basket made in Kabale,

And the first 11 pupils have started schooling.

Our Appreciative Inquiry team went out for a second time and worked with another community. This was also successful, Similar groups are made. Main Target is to expand the existing primary school from 2 to 6 classrooms.

Mukurizi (old man, a respect in Rukiga) and his wife, The two eldest participants in the AI workshop

Ans myself I am working on some guidelines for the use of Appreciative Inquiry in rural communities.
In Kabale the rainy season has actually started. Farmers are busy planting. At our side we have constructed a few ditches and trenches along contour liens and planted leguminous scrubs (Typhrosia) and grass (Vetiver grass and Rhodes grass) for soil stabilisation and as fodder. between the trenches we inter-cropped beans and maize in rows. Our neighbours watched full of amazement, how someone can spend all that time on planting in rows. Their broadcasting is much faster, so why wasting time. Now we are praying that we have a good harvest to show the benefit!
Kabale has strange soils. Dusty during the dry season, very had with a slippery surface in the rainy season. This makes roads on hills and slopes almost impassible. even fur wheel drives glide sometimes of the road. So every planned journey starts with a look to of the window to see if rain is preparing come. Last Sunday rain surprised me on the way from Amasiko to Kabale (20 km) going down the slopes was like driving on black ice and it took me almost one hour.
Will I reach in this rain?

Africa remains a Continent full of challenges, surprises, magic and miracles.

Hamukaaka Community Primary School takes off!

On Friday, community members sat together at the church and took some good steps to get the so much desired primary school going. First they agreed on a name: Hamukaaka Community Primary School. A school development committee of 7 people was selected. The members agreed to start in February with a nursery class of 35 children. The class will be held in the church. Next week the members will come together an start constructing a pit latrine. The committee appointed a young lady as nursery teacher. The lady has a certificate as nursery teacher and some working experience. Also a budget was prepared with necessary equipment and three months salary for the teacher. Parents have agreed to pay each 4 Euro as school fees to cover this expenses. what a wonderful development!

The appointed teacher presents one of the action plans during AI

2nd Appreciative Inquiry at lake Bunyonyi

After the 1st AI session we went back to Kabale town for a hot shower, a nice evening out at our local pub with the two teenagers and some shopping for Christmas. Then back to the Lake, buying a sheep, slaughtering it and hanging it for the night in a cool hut. Next day marinading and roasting it on a slow fire for hours and finally enjoying tender lamb with roasted potatoes and a glass of red wine. What else do we need in such a place? We had a nice and relaxing Christmas, with swimming, canoeing and giving swimming lessons to some kids from the village! Imagine, people are living at a large lake, using dug-out canoes and don't know how to swim! This week gave us really a taste how visitors can come, relax and enjoy their stay here.

After Christmas, we had planned for a second AI session. On arrival at the venue, we were so surprised about the impact the previous session had made.The community had actually formed three groups and registered participants for Poultry rearing, Handicrafts project and communal Irish potato growing respectively.
The poultry group registered 70 members, each had contributed Ush 1000/=, a location for a chicken house was found, and a day set for construction of the house, whereby each member will bring construction material and participate in the construction.
The handicraft group had registered 24 members, all contributed Ush 1000/= . A leader was identified based on her knowledge of weaving local baskets.
The Irish Potato group registered 14 members so far, but more wanted to come. Each person had already paid an amount of Ush 3000/=, a sac of seed potatoes collected and a piece of land for rent was identified and a rent of Ush 80,000/= agreed with the owner.

Finally the community discussed about the purpose of these income generation activities, namely to construct a primary school nearby. They agreed that the first step is to start a nursery class. The catechist agreed that the first class will start in February in the nearby church.

The community appointed a leader for the school project and planned for a meeting on 9th of January. During the meeting, they will select a school committee and agree on conditions for the appointment of a teacher.
What a transformation, from asking for hand-outs to so much self-initiative!!!