The communities that work with us on our successful Obumwe Micro Finance scheme take their responsibilities seriously. They have decided to set up a committee of 10 members to represent the two sub-counties where the loans are distributed. This committee will be responsible for vetting loan applications and ensuring that repayments are made on time so that the next groups in line can benefit. This is a great example walking alongside communities and providing opportunities not aid.
Archives for January 2016
The boy who ran away to sit his exams!
Meet Cuthbert Ainembabazi, a remarkable boy and regular attendee at Amasiko. In October last year Cuthbery disappeared for a few days and we started getting worried about him as living on the streets is a dangerous activity. It turns out that Cuthbert had gone back to the school that he had once attended to sit his Primary Leaving Exam – One wonders how or whether he had been revising with the streets of Kabale town as his place of abode! How many children in more developed countries would show so much commitment?
Cuthbert has just brought our Director in Uganda his Primary Leaving Certificate – he passed his exams and achieved a total aggregate score of 22; Grade/Division 2. This is not the highest score but in view of the circumstances this a star performance and we wonder what he could do if had had a normal education. This brought our Director to the point of tears. As well as being gifted and committed Cuthbert is one of the best footballers in team Amasiko FC.
The tragedy is that Cuthbert does not have a sponsor and so as things stand his formal education will now end. If you can support Cuthbert, or the namy others that we have on our waiting list please contact us at enquiries@alongsideafrica.org or go to http://goo.gl/XXOkJn
Alongside Africa and Farsight work together in Uganda
Farsight and Alongside Africa, two UK charities and members of Uganda Networks, will be coming together to run a workshop in Uganda in February concentrating on mental health issues. Lydia Miller, Director and Founder of Farsight contacted Alongside Africa Uganda and Alongside Africa in the UK after finding them on Uganda Networks. After a meeting with Lawrance Titterton, Chairman of Alongside Africa, it became clear that there were many synergies between the work of the two organisations and they agreed to explore ways of working together.
On a forthcoming trip to Uganda Lydia will be travelling to Kabale in the far south west of the country to spend time at the Amasiko Street Children programme where she will be able to advise staff and volunteers, and then will facilitate workshop for Alongside Africa Uganda staff and other community representatives covering such topics as:
- An introduction to common mental health disorders & how they manifest / signs and symptoms.
- Providing in community care for those with mental health disorders.
- Challenging stigma and discrimination in the community.
This workshop will be particularly relevant to Alongside Africa Uganda as they deal with children from troubled backgrounds on a daily basis within an environment that regards such children as a problem rather than people who require additional love and attention.
Alongside Africa Uganda in turn will mobilise the local community in order that the skills and knowledge gained on the workshop can be shared as widely as possible.
This initiative, which both organisations hope will be the first of many interactions, would have happened without Uganda Networks.
Obumwe loan recipients conserve their environment
The women’s groups that we support through our Obumwe micro-finance scheme come together for many reasons. The Muko Obumwe group was initially formed to counter the increasing land degradation in the region through soil and water conservation techniques. Hence they planted Elephant Grass among several other agro forestry species. They also excavate ditches to check soil erosion and as catchment for rain water, especially over very steep terrain.
We are proud to support The Muko Obumwe group and others like them through provision of opportunities, not aid.
You can support our Obumwe micro-finance scheme, which has a 100% repayment record, by making a donation to the scheme. Just click here
Alongside Africa’s 2016 Goals
We are planning for a fantastic 2016.
We have set ourselves a number of ambitious goals for 2016.
The most important of which is to do everything we can to keep our programmes running for the whole year and beyond.
To achieve this we have four goals
First – to increase our donations so we can sustain our current programmes – this is our 1000 Pledges campaign.
Second – to obtain sponsorship for 12 critically needy children to attend school. Or more if we can.
Third – to gain sponsorship to build a half way house – phase 2 of our Amasiko programme.
Forth – to secure funding to expand our highly successful (100% repayment to date) micro finance scheme.
If you can help us please make contact – you can follow the links to find our more