GlobalGiving.org: Vocational Training for Displaced Ugandan Children

All work and no play...

Christopher Buck — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:30:39 GMT

Soccer Balls for FVS

Hi,

This is just a quick report to share with you that we sent the children at the Vocational Training Center a shipment of soccer balls for their recreation time. Soccer is a great passion in Uganda and all of Africa. When we learned that the children's request for Christmas was a new ball, we pitched in to send them a case of 25, along with a ball pump.

Although this report is not specifically about an aspect about the work being done at the Vocational Training Center, we do believe in a holistic approach to education, and structured physical activity is an important part of a child's development. And besides, there is that old adage about, "All work and no play...."

On another note, we have opened a new project on GlobalGiving that will expand the Vocational Training Center to include other skills besides the Model Farm and Livestock Management. We will be teaching seamstress skills as well. Please visit "Keep 1000 Ugandan Girls in School" at http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/pads-for-schoolgirls to connect with and read more about this project. We hope you will join us there as well.

Much Metta,

Christopher Buck

Links:

The Cows in Question

Christopher Buck — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:14:27 GMT

The new additions at the vocational center

Dear Friends of Humanity Healing,

We recently sent out a report sharing that the recent news from the vocational center at Future Victory School is that 30 of the goats were traded for 2 cows.

The cows will provide a great source of nourishment (in the form of milk) for the children at FVS and give the children in the program the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills of livestock management.

I am attaching pictures of the cows in question. It appears that they are also fond of the Learning Landscape which we recently completed at FVS. :-)

As the goats produce 2 kids per pregnancy, we expect the goat herd to come back up to size quickly.

The cow seems to like the Learning Landscape

Links:

Goats for Cows

Christopher Buck — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:14:55 GMT

Dear Friends of HHI,

Here is a quick update of the Vocational Training project at Future Victory School.

The agricultural section of the Vocational Training Center at FVS continues to expand and diversity. Recently, 30 of the goats were traded for 2 cows. This leaves a balance of 10 goats. Goats bread quickly and in pairs, so that this number will come back up quickly.

These cows will be bred so that we will be looking forward to calves next summer.

The children are excited about the new animals and are learning the proper care and handling of cattle.

We do not have pictures of the cows yet, but will post them shortly.

Much Metta,

HH Team

Vocational Center Helps Local Community, Looks to Expand

Christopher Buck — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:20:35 GMT

Cassava at Model Farm

As has been reported in the news, Eastern Africa has been hit with a famine that was brought on by drought. The cassava that is being grown at the Vocational Training Center and Model Farm is a special drought resistant hybrid. We have been sharing cuttings from the cassava plants out to the local communities to help increase food security in the region. This strand of cassava was purchased through the generosity of the community on GlobalGiving.

Our goat herd at the Vocational Training Center, located at Future Victory School, is growing. From an initial start of 30 goats, the herd is up to 40. We are currently looking to trade/sell some of the goats to purchase some cows which can be raised along with the goats. The cows we intend to raise are local but exotic by a percentage of 50%. These are resistant to the climatic conditions of Uganda and requirement a minimal veterinary expenditure compared to the 75% or 100% exotics. A young heifer of 5 months old costs about 500,000 Shillings (1.00 USD = 2,500.00 UGX) but since we were proposing to exchange with goats, we are yet to know the number of goats that they may need from us. The cows will be raised for milk.

Much Metta,
Christopher Buck
President
Humanity Healing International

Cassava at Model Farm 2

Cassava roots

Cassava Root close-up

Cassava cuttings ready to replant

Cassava cuttings ready to share with community

Links:

Visit the new website!

Vocational Center selected by Uganda Government

Christopher Buck — Tue, 03 May 2011 04:46:02 GMT

Goats at the School

The following report is from the Administrative Directory at the school where the Vocational Program is located.

Today, we have already increased the number of goats from 33-35 and we are hoping the number to increase as the years goes by. The Village has also benefited a lot since our exotic he Goats are used for
cross-breeding and we are charging a little fee for this service as to maintain and expand our project. As I talk now, we have so far provided cross-breeding services to the local community for 67 female goats. This has helped us earn 134,000 Shillings (approximately $67 USD) which will be used to buy salt and other needs of the farm.

The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) selected our Goat Project and Cassava Farm for the demonstration and alliance with the Uganda Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. This will help us to win local financial support from NAADS offices in Kamuli District offices.
Below are the few principles that we are going to deliver to the whole community in partnership with NAADS offices:

Empowerment of farmers and building their capacity to demand appropriate technologies and agricultural advisory services.
Targeting agricultural advisory services to the poor farmers especially women who constitute the major farming population.
Mainstreaming of gender issues into the policy framework and integration of gender concerns into implementation plans.
Deepening decentralization to enable farmers to own and control agricultural services.
Increased commercialization – including intensification of productivity and specialization.
Use of participatory processes in planning, contracting, monitoring and evaluation.
Ensure sustainable management of natural resource productivity.
Increasing institutional efficiency in providing agricultural advisory services through contracting out of services.
Creation of better linkages between research, advisors and farmers.
Harmonisation of externally supported projects with PMA principles. PMA means, Plan for Modernization of Agriculture.

The reason that has made our projects more special is due to the fact that they target and empower the children with skills which in the same sense increase their learning abilities in Science and Environmental studies that are now integrated in the Main stream of the curriculum. I know, most schools lack what we have. During our last meeting, one member of our staff suggested that we at least start donating 2 exotic goats to every School per year which will at last empower every School and child like our Future Victory.

Yours Faithfully,
Wilson Ngobi,
Administrative Director
Future Victory School - Uganda

Learning about Goats

Cassava

Links:

Humanity Healing International main website

New Year, New Growth

Christopher Buck — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:03:37 GMT

Goats and more goats!

The latest news from the Vocational Training Center is that our project is undergoing a little expansion: three of the goats have given birth and both mothers and kids are doing well. This caused considerable excitement among the children at Future Victory School, where the project is located. More importantly, it has given the children a chance to learn a different facet of animal husbandry and the responsibilities involved with it.

Over in the Community Farming section, the special hybrid cassava is into its second growth and with this harvest, we will be able to share cuttings with local communities in need. The special cassava is more drought and disease resistant with higher yields. The cycle for cassava is as follows:

A field is planted with cuttings
When the new plantings have matured, the plant is made into cuttings with the roots remaining in the ground for second growth and a second field is planted.
When both fields mature, the first field is harvested for the cassava roots and replanted with cuttings from the second field.

With the hybrid cassava, we are able to generate an increasing stockpile of cuttings. These are used to help expand food security in communities that are struggling. One of the foundations of the program is community service and helping others. The goal of our program is not only to teach life skills to children to supplement their formal education, but also to foster in them a sense of community and a mindset of service to others; so that when they are adults, they can pay it forward by helping others.

Cassava growing

One Phase Complete, Another Expands

Christopher Buck — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:28:49 GMT

Alice Musikule shows her excitement

Dear Friends,

The Vocational Training for Displaced Ugandan Children has made great progress, in great part to the generosity of the GlobalGiving Community.

The project has completed with one stage and is nearing completion with the other. The Chicken & Egg Production Facility built in the Wakiso District in conjunction with our partners, TDMI, has been completed and the first chickens will be going to market shortly. The Community Farm, located adjacent to Future Victory School in Kamuli, Uganda, East Africa; has expanded its services to include Livestock Management training with the acquisition of a herd of 30 goats.

The Vocational Training Program at Future Victory School trains orphaned children real-world skills that they need to supplement their education. Your generosity has made a real difference in the lives of these children.

I will be uploading pictures of the goats arriving at the school and I will be updating the Total Funding Goal to reflect what is left to complete the project after other sources of donations are factored in.

Much Metta,
Christopher Buck
President
Humanity Healing International

Learning can be fun!

The goats arrive

The goats have a new home

Vocational Training adds a layer of life-skills

Links:

Humanity healing International Main Website

Building Status

Christopher Buck — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:49:24 GMT

Vocational Center 1

Construction of the Vocational Center / Chicken and Egg Production Facility is making progress. The exterior and interior walls and flooring are complete and we are waiting for additional resources to complete the roof. Our sincere Gratitude for the generosity of the donors here on GlobalGiving who have made this progress possible.

I have included not only pictures of the construction, but also of students of one of the schools this project will be working with.

I will be updating the Total Funding Goal to reflect what is left to complete the project after other sources of donations are factored in.

Please see the links below for additional information about our expanding initiatives in Africa.

Vocational Center 2

Vocational Center 3

Vocational Center 4

students at Bright Junior School

students at Bright Junior School 2

students at Bright Junior School 3

Bright Junior School

Links:

Construction Starts!

Christopher Buck — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:19:31 GMT

First Load of Bricks on Site

The generous support of our friends during the recent GlobalGiving Challenge has allowed us to begin the construction process of the Vocational Training Center. These pictures were taken during the week of 2 November.

To see additional pictures, please see the attached link.

Much Metta, Christopher Buck

Construction Starts!

Our Construction Site

Links:

Uganda Outreach Construction Album