Dear Neighbors,

On behalf of the Bwimaniro Development Foundation (BDF) and the community members of Kyarumba, I want to thank you for taking time to review our work and efforts. Please share your comments and suggestions on any of the information below!

Overview of the BDF

The Bwimaniro Development Foundation (BDF) is community based organization (CBO) that works with the women of the Rwenzori Mountains to holistically address issues affecting their livelihood. Established in November 2007, the BDF is striving for “a community of empowered women living with respect and dignity.”

The BDF was formed to build on the experiences and values of the mother community based organization, the Bwimaniro Women’s Club (BWC), that has been working with women at community level, promoting girl education and women’s socio- economic empowerment for more than a decade but with limited impact. Among other partners, the BWC remains a key affiliate of the BDF to reach the community.

The BDF aims to:

o Promote equal access to quality education for women
o To improve the economic security of women and their families
o To understand and improve health issues affecting women and their families
o To advance equal opportunity and the rights of women
o Contribute to infrastructural development in the region

The BDF programs are implemented through joint planning with community based organizations managed by women and or whose activities focus on women’s empowerment. The BDF believes that beneficiaries must take responsibility for their development; therefore, accountability, education, and sustainability are central to all their efforts.

The BDF also forms strategic partnerships with other development partners and local level governments supporting its objectives.

The BDF is registered at the sub-county level in Kyarumba and at the district level in Kasese. The organization is considering registration at the national level.

2. Current Projects

Project Name: Income Enhancing Poultry Project in Kyarumba Sub-County, Kasese District, Uganda

Goal: To elevate the socio-economic status of women in Kyarumba through an empowering poultry income enhancing program.

Objectives:
•Increase family nutrition
•Forge stronger links to education and enable the girl child to remain in school through increased awareness, ownership, and financial means
•Increase the capacity of participants by promoting collaboration, learning, and community development

Present Status:

This project has completed an initial participatory planning phase with key members of the community, two out of three training sessions with the final session this week, animal housing inspection to ensure compliance and success, and hen procurement. Most participants are equipped with birds and raising them. Within a few months, the second generation of women will receive five hens.

Participant Stats:

Average Age: 37
Average Number of Children: 7.3
Average Age Married: 17.6
Average Education Level Completed: P3
Over 95% are peasants
100% of participants’ incomes fall below Millennium Development Goal of $2 per day

Project Outputs
•86 women trained to execute poultry farming as a business
•86 women benefit from business training and life skills training
•43 women equipped with starter kit of hens and accompanying improved breeds of roosters
•Model established to facilitate sustainable growth in Kyarumba

How can you help?

We are looking for advice on how to keep the project sustainable. Does anyone have tips on revolving projects or experience with poultry projects?

Project Name: Grass-root Community Tourism Project in Kyarumba Sub-County, Kasese District, Uganda

Goal: Promoting Kyarumba and establishing an independent income generating activity for the BDF that promotes cross-cultural understanding and awareness.

Objectives:

•Increase incomes for families hosting tourists
•Educate visitors about the issues present in rural Uganda
•Build a network of international supporters
•Establish volunteer tourism model for the region

Present Status:

We have embarked on a partnership with InterConnect Uganda (ICU) and Nabuur Foundation to promote our community tourism project as part of a larger grass-root village tourism project across Uganda. Families and facilities were identified and we have hosted a small number of tourists.

Project Outputs:

•BDF establishes independent way to generate organizational income
•BDF and Kyarumba linked to an international audience
•10 identified families will benefit from increased incomes, improved facilities, and cross-cultural awareness

How can you help?

Please look at the tasks associated with this project.

Project Name: Skills and Enterprise Development for 60 girls excluded from basic education in Kyarumba Sub-county, Kasese District.

Goal: To equip 20 out of school girls per year for a period of three years with vocational and life skills as means to improve their livelihoods

Present Status: We completed community participatory planning, identified areas of vocational training and associated trainers, and selected the beneficiaries. The said beneficiaries have organized themselves, meet on a weekly basis, developed and performed educational dramas and songs across the sub-county to fundraise, and are contributing to community development initiatives. This project is awaiting final approval from the Swiss League of Catholic Women.

Project Outputs:
•20 girls per year for a period of three years identified and attached to local artisans/vocational schools for skill development
•Local artisans and trainers engaged to provide 6 – 12 training to the targeted girls
•Revolving schemes among the girls established
•Girls trained in mentoring, counseling, life skills and business skills
•Girls groups are provided with marketable startup kits to help them begin own group enterprises

How you can help?

The girls will be trained on handicraft so we are looking for international markets and innovative designs. Any thoughts?

We also would like to hear your thoughts on sustainability.

3. Proposed Projects

In addition to the aforementioned projects, we have designed a number of other projects that will enable the women and community to improve their livelihoods.

Project Name: Promotion of Girl-Child Education in Kyarumba, Kyondo, and Mahango Sub-counties in Kasese District, Uganda.

Goal: To promote girl child education and retention in the girls themselves, homes, the community, and schools through awareness, girls empowerment, and capacity building of community and school structures.

Objectives:
• Promote and increase parental involvement in education
• Promote girl child education, retention, and completion in schools
• Involve and train local leaders on issues girl child education issues
• Empower the girl child to stay in school
• Increase knowledge and access to protection and social services for vulnerable girls

Present Status: We have researched potential partners and entered discussions with the local government and successful multi-lateral organizations. At this time, we are seeking a partner to execute this program.

Project Outputs:
• Clans mobilized in three sub-counties and given strategies for addressing their children’s education and village courts formed in each of the parishes addressing girl child education issues
• Sustainable learning materials on girl-child education created and disseminated
• 50% increase in the number of girls motivated to keep in school
• Good cultural practices harmonized with girl child education
• Increased awareness of school children about girl child education and child rights in the 30 schools and entire communities
• Over 150 teachers empowered to provide counseling and guidance to girls; Gender, counseling and child rights education mainstreamed in schools
• Increased community support to girl child education; Increased allocation of resources to girl child education.
• Improved community, parent and teacher relationships
• Girl child priorities captured through education committees
• Reduction in the drop out rate with an increase in girls completion rate
• Increased awareness on the implications relating to child violence
• Increase in the amount of reported violence against children
• Children safeguarded from violence at school

Project Name: Livelihood Enhancing Piggery Project in Kyarumba Sub-County, Kasese District, Uganda

Goal: To build the capacity of women in Kyarumba through an empowering piggery income enhancing program.

Objectives
•Increase food security
•Provide an avenue of equal opportunity for women
•Equip beneficiaries with knowledge on relevant animal husbandry techniques and accompanying business skills training

Present Status: We see this as an expansion to our current poultry project. We are researching organizations who may support this initiative based on its proven success elsewhere in the District and based upon the results of our poultry initiative. Overall, seeking partners and funding. We have a site visit from a VGIF rep. in the next few weeks.

Project Outputs:
• 40 women trained to execute piggery farming as a business
• 40 women benefit from business training and life skills training
• 20 women equipped with starter kit of piggery and accompanying roosters
• Expansion model established to facilitate sustainable growth in Kyarumba

How can you help?
Help us identify the details of this project. We have not yet determined the risks with piggery nor have we determined how many pigs and which breed is appropriate.

Beneficiary selection? Should successful women from the poultry project receive pigs or a new set of women?

In addition, we are always working on building our network. Things are starting to move! LET'S TALK

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