By Pamela Angwech | Gulu Women Economic Development & Globalization
GWED-G under its youth empowerment program is focusing on encouraging young people to actively participate in human rights activities and help them analyze their problems and explore opportunities for a better future. The organization has therefore established several youth groups (117 youth groups) in Gulu and Amuru districts.
Specifically this progress report encompasses updates from three youth groups in Awach Sub County, who have been able to scale their empowerment work with your support. These groups are: Peibwol Wa youth groups of Gwengdiya parish; Wor twero Wa youth group of Pukony parish and Juk Ber youth group of Paibona parish, established as direct beneficiaries in Awach sub county in Gulu district.
The last few months, these groups undertook several capacity building training opportunities in different areas such as human rights; group dynamics and leadership; monitoring , document and reporting of human rights violations and abuses; business skills; village saving and loan association methodology; selection, planning and management of Income generation activities.
With support through our fisca sponsor, Global Grassroots, the youth groups started opening their gardens using the ox-plough. The youth are so grateful and are ready to begin opening their garden. The youth also paid for an additional pair of oxen to train the new oxen bought for their project so that they can learn how to plough and walk within their garden.
A shift now exists in the way farming is done with Pe-Ibwolwa Youths groups. Before, these cultivation groups were using hand hoes. A higher percentage of youths used hand hoes for cultivating their gardens. This method of cultivation only allows for the youth to open up small plots of their land leaving the majority of the land uncultivated. As a result harvests are poor and cannot provide economic transformation and prosperity.
Now they are using animal traction, especially ox ploughing. This method involves the use of oxen and ox ploughs for opening up agricultural land. This is so far the most common and affordable means of mechanized farming in the community. The youth groups are currently busy using ox ploughs to open up most of the land where they are planting crops such as maize, beans, cassava, and rice among others. The majority of the groups' gardens range in size between 6 to 10 acres of land.
The other two youths groups remain optimistic for their micro-project to begin and they are also busy with their routine activities including conducting community awareness and education on human rights. We look forward to updating you as we complete fundraising for all youth venture teams as part of this project.
Thank you for your support, and please consider a contribution towards this venture today!
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