Kamwenge Project Stakeholders Sharing Baseline findings in Kamwenge

Compiled by

Jeff, Project Assistant - KALI

The picture below, the RDC making his remarks during baseline findings dissemination to project stakeholders in Kamwenge.

The dissemination of survey findings was held on 18^th May, 2017; the function was officiated by the RDC Kamwenge. The findings disseminated were a baseline survey carried out in July 2016. RWECO through KALI shared the findings. The survey was under the supervision of Dr.Mugumya Firminus of Makerere University.  He used Qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain survey findings. The findings provided two outputs among them; document stakeholders’ knowledge and understanding of triggers of conflicts and human rights violations and document existing community based actions and interventions aimed at prevention and management of conflicts and human rights violation in the region.   A total of 37 (M=24, F=13) stakeholders participated in the meeting. these included,the LC.V,RDC,DISO,Education department,District Community based department,Religious leaders,peace ambassadors from 10 CBO, 5 Sub county C/Persons of project work, Police  among others.

Critical issues identified

-Land conflict was highlighted the highest cause of conflicts in communities followed by Domestic Violence across Kamwenge district.

-Conflict exists in most sub counties where the survey was conducted.

-Most people in communities, rights are violated

-Foot Peace Ambassadors are needed to promote conflict prevention for peaceful co-existence

-The strategy of KALI to strengthen CBOs capacity is required to cause a positive impact

Action Issues

- Community policing and sensitization on community rights and responsibility.

- Follow up on bi-laws in place which were enacted on markets, schools dropout and drinking places by Kahunge S/C.

- Popularizing existing laws and policies e.g. The succession act.

- Coordinate and network with different stakeholders within the district.

The RDC in his closing remarks, appreciated KALI and RWECO for coming up with a project to address conflict related issues in Kamwenge and mobilizing all parties that were invited. He challenged KALI to invest in behavior change to reduce conflicts in communities.  He cited that conflict is sometimes becaused of poverty.  The RDC advised that new projects should target livelihood activities to support affected families in Kamwenge.

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHANCE TO SUCCEED IN LIFE

Hardly a day goes by without a headline in our news media about the social and emotional development of our youngest children. Strictly speaking, the articles might not say that’s what they’re about, but they are nonetheless. If it’s a story about crime trends, education, or even economic development, it’s also a story about early social-emotional development.

What exactly is social and emotional development? It’s the change over time in the way children react to and interact with their social environments. A child is not born with the ability to identify his emotions, control his impulses, or understand his place in the social world. These fundamental social and emotional skills are learnt through experience.

Knowing the rapid growth of brain is between birth and age 3, its important to know that  early experiences can have long-term consequences in a child’s life. Infants and toddlers need nurturing parenting and stable environments that provide safety and security and support learning and exploration. Without them, a child is unlikely to reach his or her potential.

Pupils presenting to their parents during school open day at St. John's Bukangara

 Due to community, children develop a strong social-emotional foundation that in turn improves their social economic competitiveness. This is because the social and emotional skills that children begin learning in infancy are strongly related to later outcomes like readiness to attend school (Like my daughter Daniella Asinja finds herself home alone and thus the urge of joining her elder sister (Isabella) to school). Even at a later stage this affects their attendance and later adult earnings.

Mr.Peter Kabwana, the LC III of Nyakiyumbu sub county in one of the stakeholders meeting said that, “Early childhood intervention…is the deciding factor between being a successful community in the future or simply maintaining the status quo or more of the same.” Committee recommendations included sub county taking a leading role in strengthening families through the SOVC (Sub county Orphans and Vulnerable Children committee) that are supposed to make home to home visits discussing parenting, advocating for a friendly school environment to attract children to and stay in schools and advocating for redress of all issues affecting children.

The benefits of this concerned attention to early childhood will be seen in lower rates of student drop out, reduced crime rates among our adolescents and youth, higher graduation rates, better educated and equipped workforce, and decreased “brain drain.” However like any investment, this positive change will never be realized in a short period of time. Behavior change of parents, teachers, leaders and our children will take time but time that is worth waiting for.

With evidence, children who receive sensitive, responsive parenting during infancy and early childhood tend to have better outcomes in the first grade, greater academic competence going forward, better social skills, and better relationships with teachers and peers. It becomes mathematical that due to these social and emotional skills, they tend to group up to adults of good health, responsible citizens (away from crimes) and model parents.

Note that the first three years are fundamental in child development. Clearly, these first three years are a time that cannot be wasted. This is when children begin to develop self-confidence, curiosity, empathy, and self-control. But they need positive and nurturing parents and caregivers because these forms the framework for how children see themselves (gives them a self belief) and how they interact with their world.

Our goal as KALI is that all of us not only nurture the children in our own families, but that we advocate tirelessly for the interventions and investments that gives every child a chance to succeed in life. We advocate for public funds spent on early childhood social and emotional development and not a handout for children and their families, but a solid investment in a better future for Memphis. ALUTA CONTINUA

Prepared by

Masereka Gilbert

Empowering the women economically will reduce violence against children

            KALI visited Bukangara Twanzane Women savings and credit at their premises in Bukangara Trading Center in the early hours of the morning. KALI wanted to hear the stories from these CBO about their livelihood.
     The group is comprised of 30 members of which 27 are women plus three men who act as advisers.

Mrs Kabugho Jane welcomed KALI and prayed  thanking God for the day and prayed for journey mercies for everyone after the meeting. The members through the chairperson showed their gratitude for having received goats from KALI. KALI gave them five goats and these were distributed to the five members who grazed them on behalf of the group. Then KALI supported them with a skills training from which members learnt how to make shopping baskets. The skill was welcomed by members who in turn made many shopping bags that were ready for marketing. Unfortunately, the market was low and the group decided to sell off the baskets and finance another skilling in making baskets used for serving food. However, the balance after procuring the basket materials was used to procure one goat. This was in addition to the five goats KALI had procured. The five goats earlier procured produced four kids. In May, KALI added the group 6 goats. This in total made it 16 goats (Multiplying effect). its projected that in one year every member of the group will own a goat.  Mrs Masika Mary further explained how the different sensitization meetings have opened their eyes in terms of knowing how parents violate children and how this can be stopped. She talked about mid day meal as one of the ways of violence against children. She was surprised to realize how hard an adult can react if denied food or served food late yet its these same adults who send their children to school without food. She said its impossible for such pupil to concentrate in class mostly after lunch hours. Bukangara Twanzane Women group have been trained on how mobilize and organize a neighborhood assembly and they held a neighborhood assembly at Bukangara Catholic church to discuss issues concerning children. KALI trained them on how to conduct a neighborhood assembly and this has increased their confidence and improved their public speaking skills. She gave an evidence like when she attended the district dialogue meeting a forum of district leaders represented from Local council I level to the Local Council IV level, civil servants and other stakeholders. In this meeting she presented without fear which she could not do before KALI intervention. Ms Joy Mbambu also affirmed that the group intra relationship has increased. 
 

Mary Masika presenting her group during the district dialogue meeting

Women have realized that their group is growing and they want to grow with it. She said that KALI trained them in group dynamics, book keeping and these skills have improved their SACCO in terms of transparency and also built trust amongst the members. The group meets every Monday for savings and crediting and that after this activity, members also talk about their family issues where they share and give advice to the grieved, share good practices for other members to copy and apply.

Members of Bukangara Twanzane group receiving their goats

Bukangara Twanzane Women group posing with their goats

They also have a task to sensitize other families in the neighborhood to prevent violence against children.

      KALI then visited Katwe Tourism Information Center located in Katwe Kabatooro

      Town Council. 

     This community entirely depends on two economic activities mainly fishing and salt mining. The fishing community basically relies on the sale of fish to the out communities. This has activities like fishing, net drying and reloading fishing nets. It is evident that most laborers here are children and adolescents. The chairperson narrated how they received KALI to work together in prevention of VAC. She said that they then received training in capacity gaps that the group had requested to be trained in. They trained in group dynamics, book keeping and how to make energy saving cooking stoves. After this training, KALI gave a grant of five hundred thousand shillings (500,00/=) of which KATIC members agreed to start up a saving scheme. They however requested all members to boast this SACCO with 50,000/= each to increase the loan portfolio for members to be able to save. KALI then supported them with a training in making shopping baskets. KATIC received a trainer who camped for three days and all members got the skill of making shopping bags. KALI then handed them materials to use for the training and after training and they weaved many baskets. However during the sunny season, members decided that money from the baskets be used to stock their fridge for demand for cold drinks was high. The  group also agreed that money in the SACCO be invested in buying salt from the salt mines and be sold during the rainy season. This could double their income after the season and resume with their SACCO. KALI then added them a grant of five hundred thousand shillings to continue with their savings and credit scheme and again members are boasting it with a minimum savings of fifty thousand shillings only.

The women group members are so happy to work with KALI and also that the empowering program has reduced violence against children since members are able to provide through a small loan scheme or through the sales from the art items to children and able to send them to school. Some members of these groups are model couples and others participated in the selection of model couples to boast them do the prevention work. Group members have also taken it to themselves to sensitize their neighbors on VAC and how it can be prevented. All the above groups have counseling sessions after the group activities to advise some members who need advise on matters concerning parenting and domestic violence.

Prepare by 

Gilbert Masereka