Empower 60 widowed families with Heifers in Masaka

Background

Butenga Orphanage Care and Development Organization is an indigenous and a registered Non- Governmental Organization (Reg, No S.5914/6374) with the Government of the Republic of Uganda. BOCADO was established in April 2006 to improve the quality of Ugandan orphans and to find possible solutions which encourage foster parents to participate in those programs geared to improve the livelihood of orphans and Vulnerable children under their care; - issues such as improved nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention, Social and economic support to OVC households, Home based Care programs, Sanitation and child rights issues are some of the centers of BOCADO pre-occupations.

BOCADO ‘S founders were concerned about the high prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS, increasing rate of poverty levels than the National average, the most vulnerable Youth, Orphans without any assistance and rampant deaths due to curable diseases like malaria. They therefore realized the need to mitigate the socio-economic effects of HIV/AIDS through a way of providing, home based care to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families, so as to prolong their lives continue providing for their families, provide education for the orphans and other vulnerable children, and initiate viable income generating activities to upgrade the quality of their life through improved nutrition as well as improving the income of the entire local community. The founder's aim therefore is to assist the most needy, those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS to live a better life.

In the year 2009, BOCADO received from GlobalGiving a grant in the amount US$61.90, equivalent to Uganda Shillings 117,425 implementing the above captioned project. The idea of empowering 60 widowed families with 20 Heifers was not possible since the amount received was very thin. In one of our community based meetings, the grant received, vis-à-vis US$61.90 was listed on our Agenda.

Expenses run as follows; Ugx

• Amount of Cash received 117,425 • Two goats purchased each Shs. 50,000 totaling Shs100,000 • Transportation of goats Shs11,000 Total (110,000)

Balance now saved on Account 7,425

After a considerable amount of time allotted to these topical issues, it was agreed the funds received from GlobalGiving be disbursed in procurement of milk goats. These two goats are being kept of semi free range grazing system, permitting beneficiaries to visit the project for women to learn how milk goat are cared.

As I report now, the two animals are in good health condition. Annexed to this report, please find a pictorial report, showing the breed bought

Challenges faced.

Among the challenges faced are lack of mobility to reach most affected and infected children, increased demand of services and lack of adequate funds to establish income generating projects for a sustainable future of orphans and vulnerable children with their families. More to this, most of work done by BOCADO is voluntary.

BOCADO will continue to partner up with donors for external help to contribute to the Government efforts to alleviate the plights of the marginalized groups especially the orphans

Kindly express our sincerest thanks to those donors who responded to our humble appeal.

With kind and best regards

Yours Sincerely,

Ahmed Ssentume Chairman