Hi Raul

I haven't seen those tools before but I will have a look (but not tonight!). If they will help with defining tasks then that sounds like a great idea! Have any of the other Featured Villages already tried using them as it would be good to learn from their experience.

Hi Christopher

I agree with what Raul said - no one is going to laugh at you about your use of computers. The more you do it, the easier you will find it. One of the amazing things about Nabuur is being able to connect with people from all over the world with all sorts of different skills and interests so that we can all work together on projects like yours.

I too am pleased to see that you are starting to have a discussion on a wide variety of things as well as the water - I wonder if it would be possible to get some of the children at the school involved in that process as well as the adults?

Mary

Hi Mary,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes let me know what you think of them. We have adapted them specifically to try them out in this featured villages so I am trying to encourage their use in all of the new featured vlllages that are new to Nabuur.

Look forward to your comments,

Raul

Dear Sir,also i have been talking to a certain Rev.Fr.Robert who welcomed the idea.But also advised that we get intourch with him and he can assist us to write out using the docs you gave us and we produce out what is called a 5 year development program,that will include the school,community in sorroundings and greater parts [meaning that we work together,with children,teachers and perents and the general erea community]
What would be your comment on this?
After comments,then The Rev,will start helping us here.
NB:The type of 5year Development Program will include all and such things like ,Health,Poverty reduction programs,Water and sanitation,income generating programs,classe and dormetories extentions,housing,just to mention but a few.
Otherwise thank all that have had an intrst in our village /Masaka

Hi Christopher,

I think it will be great to get as many members of the community together and as explained in the documents, make a long term plan that is based on what the community has done in the past and combine it with what they feel they would be able to achieve as a community as well as deciding what would they available to put as a contribution to make those dreams as reality.

We will be here to support you in any way we could that could include expertise, revising proposals, mentoring, researching, looking for best practices and maybe once the community will have already taken some steps towards a sustainable development we might also be able to support helping you identify funders to approach.

Really Christopher you have all the power in your hands and with the involvement of all you community you would be able to achieve anything you might want. You can do it if you work together. I have seen it in many cases.

We will be here to help in the process.

All the best and look forward to hearing form you,

Raul

Hi Christopher

I agree with what Raul has said. Its good that you are getting a group of people together, starting to talk and make plans for the future. You cannot do everything on your own as one person, you are far more likely to succeed with a committed group around you.

And you do have the power to change things, to have more control over what happens in your area. Like Raul, I have seen this in other places, sometimes starting with one person believing things can be done, who has then encouraged others to believe in it too and become actively involved. It will take time and commitment, but you are starting to move in the right direction!

Hi Raul

I have been looking at those tools you mentioned and think that the We Can Do it and Power ones could lead to a lot of interesting discussion locally. I suspect that with a group of people working together they would come up with many good ideas. I like the fact that they are very much focused on looking at the positive things already achieved, not just at the problems the community has.

A few comments about the Community Assessment one (not sure if this is something I should post here or on the tools discussion page):
I don't know what ORT is (question 6).
Should there be a question 19 and 20 - currently it repeats question 1.
Score Guide - the second one should say 21-40.
I think one important thing is that, even if the scores are very low, not to see that as meaning that there is no hope that things can get better i.e. it is simply measuring the current situation as a starting point for deciding what the community would like to change and in what order.

I have the feeling that these tools could be good for many Nabuur projects not just the Featured Villages...

Mary

Thanks Mary,

I missed those errors in the Community Assessment tool but will have a look and will rectify.

ORT = Oral rehydration therapy

Christopher, it will be great to hear from you and about the steps you are planning to take.

Raul

Hi Mary,

I have fixed now.

Raul

Thanks Raul!

Mary

Dear friends,thank you so much for the nice and encouraging descussion to our village.
l,togther with a CONSULTANT who also work with a village not yet featured "Unity Women is stengh Associaton" Mr.Steven Balyana,have spent some time here consulting the people communiies,teachers and some pupils as regards our Masaka Village,but using the some of the information /form you gave us/Raul.
However,an assessement form has been filled and attached here for you to view and descuss.We have the hope that this will give a better picture of masaka village.
Mr.Steven Balyana,has also promissed to come over for futher descussion of our village.
Hope together,we can now talk.
We do here by call upon all friends for a further descussion for a lasting solution.
Christopher

masaka community assessment tool.doc

Thanks for this Christopher

I will have a look.

Did you find it useful?

Can you tell us a bit more about the meetings?. How did they go. Who was there? What were the comments?

I will look into the document now and comment.

Raul

Yes,but i will tell you as the line here at the internet/and time paid for is finished.
Thank you

Hi Christopher,

Would you be able to tell us more about the meetings you had?

Any discussions on the other two methods?. Can we maybe have a chat and discuss more?

THanks,

Raul

Hi Christopher

I too would be interested to hear how things are going - from your post last week it looks as though you are beginning to get lots of local people involved and are starting to come up with ideas?

Mary

Dear friends to Masaka/Notre Dame School village,sorry for taking all this long time without writing back.We
have been experiencing consistent power shortages in this area and our Cafe Internet had no access to generators.
I the the facilitator and consultant Mr.Balyana Stephen of Unity Is Strength Women's Association perused through the Community Assessment Tool and found it inefficient to determine the particular community projects.
We discussed that better method of determining community projects were needed.
We agreed to run further a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)where all community members will participate so that they feel they own the village projects.
In Particular the PRA will be carried in the following fields:
# Natural resource management
# Agriculture
# Poverty alleviation/women in development programmes
# Health and nutrition
# Preliminary,primary and secondary education
# Village and district-level planning.
Below is the timetable of carrying out the PRAs

9th -11th April 2008 PRA and on 12th April 2008 debriefing
14th- 17th April ' PRA and on 18th " " "
25th -28th ' " and on 30th April " "
3rd 5th May ,2008 " and on 7th debriefing
9th-12th " " " " and on 14th "
Methodologies used according to the research carried will always be highlighted.
The results of the PRA will determine the projects to be carried out.

In determining the projects to be carried out both the Community Assessment Tool and the PRA will be used.
The task is big and need your prayers too.
So let us tomorrow.
Best regards.
WAMALA CHRISTOPHER-VILLAGE FACILITATOR
BALYANA STEPHEN-CONSULTANT

Hi Christopher

I look forward to hearing how the meetings go and whether there are areas where you think Nabuur can assist.

I came across this and, although not directly related to your current projects, thought it may be of interest to you.

The Pencil Project
http://www.thepencilproject.com

They may be able to link you with a group who can send you pencils, and possibly other education-related supplies. And once linked with a group, there is always the possibility that this could become a more lasting partnership...

I posted this to some other villages a few days ago, and after getting in contact, the Pencil Project has agreed to assist some of them.

About
http://www.thepencilproject.com/aboutus.html

Questions page http://www.thepencilproject.com/resources.html includes

Contact details are at http://www.thepencilproject.com/contactus.html

Mary