Hi Christopher

Thanks for all the answers!

I agree with what Raul posted yesterday. Finding out what skills the community already has makes a lot of sense to me too as you may find that people can teach each other.

Just one thing to add...

You mention that there are two main issues related to education.

Firstly, that some parents/guardians find it hard to pay fees, which should become easier as they start to find ways to generate income for themselves.

Secondly that you want to improve the facilities available at the school. Other than the fees paid by the parents, does the school have any other sources of money at the moment?

I ask as some schools run successful small businesses of their own, making money for the school. I don't know if this would make enough to pay for big projects such as building work, but may make enough to cover smaller items such as providing more school equipment and books.

If the students were involved this would also be a way for them to get real practical business experience which will be useful for them once they leave school, will give them a real sense of achievement, and is also knowledge they may be able to pass on to their parents.

I know from reading your water harvesting document that the school teaches a variety of vocational skills so you may be able to develop small busiensses around these.

Mary

Hi Christopher,

Have you had a look at our comments about the way forward?. It would be good to start discussing more about what can be done.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Raul

Hi Christopher,

Can you give us an idea of what you feel could be the next step based in our latest discussions?

Raul

Dear Raul, Mary and Friends to Masaka Village,
It is long since we communicated. We had power problem once again and we were also installing the Solar System at school donated by our twinned sister school Blessed Thomas Holford UK.
Last week we had a meeting and the main agenda was about projects to be started at school and community following the Participatory Rural Appraisal exercise and comments from Nabuur Friends.
It was resolved that Rain Water Harvest starts first followed by piggery demonstration Project as an income generating activity for the School and the village community.
Rain Water Harvest Project was preferred first because of the great need of cleam water for drinking, cooking and sanitary purposes.
This Rainwater Harvest will begin at school and will be extended to 103 village members identified during the PRA Exercise in the greater Masaka.
The Rain Water Harvest was overwhelmingly voted for because the school had a large roof surface for tapping water, the rains are throughout the year in Masaka and there were 15 experts in the locality in Rain Water Harvest.
The start date of the Project was set to be August 2008 and End date was set for October 2008.
It was also resolved that the Piggery Demostration Project get started as an income generating Activity and to work as a demonstration for the school students and communit village members.
The products of the piggery project will be:
1) improved Piglets for sale and distribution to the village community members who will be in need to start individual piggery projects;
2) The mature pigs /sows for sale and supplenting school diet;
3)Dung for organic farming and school Biogas plant (to start in 2009).
4) To act as a demonstration for both students and community village members in the greater Masaka.
Mr. Balyana Stephen(consultant) has already accepted to design better proposals for both projects.

Hi Christopher,

It is great to hear from you again.

It is very important to post messages as often as possible to be able to stay in touch with the volunteers in Nabuur.

It is also great that you managed to discuss the results of the exercise. Great for the solar system as well. How did you get in contact with your twin sister school? Is is part of a bigger program in Uganda?

I think it is very important to recognise the importance of the rain water project. Also great that they have recognised the piggery project could work as a way if generating income.

In my view and based on my experience with Nabuur projects, it is very important to concentrate in one project at a time and I think the one that could help the community generate income to address all other issues would be the first one to start with.

In the case of the rain water harvest project, I only see o project that requires funding and we have explained before that finding funding is not the type of approach we like to take in Nabuur. A project that could help the community generate and income would be a project that would be sustainable in the long term. Projects that are only based in funding generate dependency.

I hope we can focus in projects whose objectives are to help the community become empowered by helping them carry out activities to become independent.

Look forward to your comments.

What are your thoughts Mary?

Raul

Hi guys!

Christopher thanks for the update. It is good to see you back online.

As with Raul I can see that there will be big benefits from both projects, both in different ways.

I like the idea of the piggery as it will directly create income for the school and for individuals. Also the experience gained will help setting up other businesses in the future.

Having the rainwater system up and running could also lead people to greater independence, also have health benefits, as the school and in the longer term individuals, will have easy access to clean water, which may mean extra time to concentrate on other activities such as education and generating income.

I do agree with Raul that searching for funding through Nabuur is not an easy process and its better if this is not the only focus of a village - many have tried, and only a very small proportion have succeeded. I do not necessarily agree that outside money leads to dependence - sometimes a project will need money for startup but, once up and running, is able to fully sustain itself.

I see that for both, you are working with Stephen to produce proposals.

Please can you give us more information on what assistance you would be looking for thorough Nabuur for each of the two projects?

Mary

Hi Mary,

Fully agree with your comments. I need to be careful in the way I word posts sometimes. Yes, money could be needed to set up a project and without creating dependency. I just feel it should be directed into activities that would bring more income.

And yes, I agree it is very important to hear what Christopher thinks we can help with.

Look forward to your comments Christopher.

Raul

Thanks dear Raul , Mary and friends to Masaka Village.
Your discussions were so fruitful and I must thank you the input.
It is virtually important for both projects to start .However , as Raul said , we have to start with one at ago.
It is crucial to start with the Rain Water Harvest and end with Piggery demonstration Project.
Pigs need a lot of water for their survival.The pig dung for biogas plant will need water too.
Once the rain water harvest system is installed both at School and in the community piggery projects will be a great success.
Rain water harvest may not create dependency because it takes over 40 years for the system to depreciate grossly.
What we shall need is the cleaning of the reservoirs and minor repairs.
The Rain water harvest will be so cost effective in the long run both for the school and the Masaka Village.
It is very true that an income generating activity is paramount important but it can only be a great success if there is water first for life and sanitation.
Your comments are still highly welcome.
It's after your comments that we shall design the project proposals.
Christopher.

Hi Christopher

You have identified many possible uses for water - will the collected rainwater be for people, while pigs etc will use other local supplies? Have you been able to come up with estimates of water requirements for the school/local community, and confirm that the collected rainwater is likely to meet these needs?

You already have a basic project doc - the Project Profile that you posted on 26th March which is at http://www.nabuur.com/modules/newbb/dl_attachment.php?attachid=120653266... - are you hoping to expand that to include more information, or have your plans changed since you wrote that?

As mentioned yesterday, I am trying to understand what assistance you would like from neighbours to help you move these projects along. The more specific you can be about this, the more likely you are to succeed through Nabuur.

Mary

Dear Mary,Raul and friends,
Thank you so much for the contribution.
However,this serves to inform you dear friends that the project proposal for both Rain water harvest and piggery projects will be designed by the volunteer consultant Mr.Stephen Balyana.
There will be 2 project proposals designed.
1.The rain water harvest project will be wider because it will include our project for the school and the community.
This project will be designed next week according to the consultant.
2.The piggery project will be designed starting from 2nd June 2008.
Of course after the design,we shall need your input and advice.

Good to hear from you and look forward to looking into the project proposals so we can offer advise and identify how we can provide a concrete input.

Raul

Hi Christopher

Thanks for letting us know. Please let us know when there is something neighbours can do to help.

Mary

Dear friends,
Thank you so much for the contributions so far made to our village.
Now the project proposal writting is in progress.
Christopher

HI Christopher,

Is there a date for the proposals to be ready?

Have you thought how you want to receive support from the Nabuur volunteers?

Raul

We are in the process of developing the proposals.
l will come back to you.
Also with all we shall require from the nabuur volunteer.