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Activity Report: Uganda
In Wakiso District near the capital city of Kampala, education program is being organized. People of community contribute materials and labor for the projects. In the future a number of projects we planned, including adult literacy course, agriculture training, vocational training, safe water, and public toilets.
■ Report
YEH plans vegetable cultivation project.
Everything is now ready and the project will start as soon as the rainy season ends.
Workshop on Tomato farming |
Taking notes to teach other members |
Demonstration at the model farm used for training |
According to the data from Uganda Central Bank in 2004, Uganda’s unemployment rate is 38% (Source: website of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs). It is vital to increase employment opportunities in order to tackle with poverty.
Uganda chapter of Youth Ending Hunger (YEH), HFW’s youth organization, plans a vegetable cultivation project which provides an opportunity for young people to be engaged in farming. Uganda has lands suitable for farming, and with appropriate skills and tools, farmers can produce various crops through which they can earn an income and obtain self-sufficient life.
YEH began preparation in March 2005, by calling the youths to form groups in five villages. Then they conducted a two-day farming training by agriculturists for twenty youth representatives selected among the groups. The training not only taught them how to grow vegetables, but also provided useful information such as storing, wrapping and cooking. The representatives are now teaching what they learned to the groups in their villages.
The seeds and seedlings of Tomato and cowpeas will be provided for free to 40 members in each village and the actual farming will start in June when the rainy season ends.
During the project, they are planning to organize consultation meetings and give advice to purchase farming tools and establish the “Seed Bank” by the groups’ joint investment. The Seed Bank is a system where farmers who do not have the capital can borrow the seeds. They will return the seeds or equivalent amount of money, which will be used as the capital of the bank. (2005.5)
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Message from Uganda |
 | It may take time for the youths to realize the importance of cooperation and stop thinking about their own benefit only. But we wish to change their mind set through trainings and workshops. This is because not just some people who participated in the trainings, but all the members must share the benefit. We thank YEH Japan members who supported us to implement this project. (Irene Kirabo, YEH Uganda National Coordinator)
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List of development projects: Uganda 2004, 2005 （Project name／Target group, number）
■ Past Field Reports; Uganda （Project name／Target group, number）
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