Project News

Outreach to Girls and Women

April 18, 2012 by beachristtothepoor_admin

It has been a long time since we reported on the progress of our outreach to girls and women in Hoima Diocese, Uganda. We are most grateful to you all for the support we continue to receive. We hope and pray that God continues to bless and reward you all.

What and how they are doing now?

Irene Musasizi continues to impress at our Lady of Good Counsel secondary School Gayaza. She is a junior and hopes to sit for her “O” Level (High School) exams 2007. Please keep her in your prayers.
Sylivia Nakirunda is doing very well too. She transferred to Our Lady of Good Counsel secondary School from Tender Talent Magnet School. She is currently in Form two (sophomore).
Jacklene Kyomuhendo has made steady progress even though tough conditions at home make it a little difficult to concentrate. She is in sixth grade.
Florence Namuleme graduated 2004 from High school. She did very well but decided to try the job market. She has yet to find a permanent job.
Rose Namalembeko. She graduated 2005 from High School. She is now in Junior College. She is doing very well.
Evelyn N. Katusabe is working very hard. She is in seventh grade. If she performs well at the end of the year (2006) she hopes to join St. Kirigwajjo secondary School (High School) in Karuguuza, Kibaale district, Uganda.
Ruth M. Nanyanzi. Despite the loss of her father and having a very sick mother, Ruth has not given up hope for a better future. Yes her life is unstable and sometimes must stay out of school to care for her mother. With your prayers and support, however, she hopes to succeed. She is in sixth grade.
Bridget Nansubuga finally transferred to a better school. She had to repeat third grade but she believes that this change of school is the beginning of a better future.
Monica Salirwe. She is a senior in High School. She will sit for her “O” level exams this November. She is a very bright student and hopes to join “A” level (Community College) in 2007.
Lillian Nanyanzi. She performed very well at Community College and will join University August 12, 2006. Her Dad is unable to support her and she is need of at least $700 per semester for tuition.
Joan Basemera is doing okay. She is in fifth grade.
Falida (Ellen) Nanyanzi is doing well. She is in seventh grade. If all goes well she hopes to join High School next year, 2007.
Rose Mary Tumuhaise is doing well and hopes to graduate this year from elementary school.
Doreen Nantume is also making steady progress. She is a junior in High School. She would love to become a doctor or lawyer. She needs at least $300 a semester.
Asiimwe Scovia graduated from University in 2005 with an undergraduate degree in Environmental studies. She is still searching for employment.
Juliet Nakai. She died after graduating from college with a degree in Business administration. May her soul rest in peace.

Most of the above named girls still need a lot support. We would also like to increase the number of girls under sponsorship. With your help we can do it.

For more information on the above girls or on how you can get involved, please contact us.

2012 Project Update

March 3, 2012 by beachristtothepoor_admin

I conducted a survey with an aim of measuring the success and sustainability of the Busesa Orphans Piglet Project. This was based on the feedback from the beneficiaries on aspects of the original state of livelihood, benefits, and challenges encountered, family effort to sustain project as well as their recommendations on the way forward.

I had a chance of visiting and interviewing 5 children when I went to Buseesa on 12th February 2012.

List of beneficiaries interviewed and visited:

Angella Nakagimu of Kitoro village
Namalembeko Sylivia of Kitoro village
Katambula Micheal of Kitoma village
Nanyombi Scovia from Busesa village
Sempiira John of Kiryabinyonyi village

It is a good project but requires continued sensitization and monitoring for sustainability to be achieved.

Methodology

A week prior to my visit, an announcement was made in church requesting all beneficiaries of the project to gather at church the following Sunday for an interactive session with a representative from the sponsors. Five Children turned up for the session and this report has been largely based on their opinion. It has also been supplemented by ideas sourced from the interactive discussion with Fr. Godfrey Kisembo and my observations while on site.

Objectives

To find out the benefits accrued from the piglet project
To find out the challenges encountered and what the families are doing to overcome them
To find out their recommendations if the project is to be sustained

Interview Results

Angella Nakagimu from Kitoro village had received two piglets – a male and a female.

She informed us that the male piglet died two days after she took it. The female was sold after it had a miscarriage of 8 piglets. The money was used to pay for her school fees and for her treatment when she fell sick. Her guardian purchased another piglet which is still being looked after with the purpose of targeting future revenue to sustain her and the siblings in school.

She was thankful for the piglet which enabled her to go to school; she also thanked the donors for the books, pens, etc. which were sent to them. In her message to the donors, she requested for additional support in areas of clothing and fees which are still a problem especially now that she has gone to secondary school.

In her recommendations, the Buseesa orphans piglet project should be expanded to other orphans for the betterment of the region.

Namalembeko Sylivia from Kitoro village also had received two piglets – a male and a female. The male was sold off and the money was used to cater for school fees. The female has consecutively delivered piglets which were sold and the money too used for fees.

They want to sell the pig because it can’t produce any more. They will buy a replacement to ensure continuity.

Katambula Micheal from Kitoma village had received a female piglet.

The pig had two miscarriages before they decided to sell it. Other piglets where bought and shared amongst him and other orphans. Some money was used to pay for school fees and purchase of uniform and books. Father Godfrey told them that the miscarriages were because the pig was not treated or looked after well while pregnant. He therefore advised that special attention be taken when the pigs are pregnant.

Nanyombi Scovia from Busesa said that she had received two piglets which died from swine fever. She asked for more piglets.

Sempiira John from Kiryabinyonyi had received two piglets which died from diarrhea.

These two families had no profit. They asked the donors for another chance.

I visited another orphan from Kitoma where I found one expecting female pig and five piglets. They had sold the male pig and three piglets and the money was used to buy books, pens, clothes and to meet school fees requirements.

Challenges met were that the animal feeds and medicine were expensive and scarce. He however recommended the project to others.

Recommendations from the children

They would like the project to continue helping them and others orphans to eradicate poverty
They requested for support especially in terms of treatment for the animals
Some children whose piglets had died were requesting for a second chance so as to increase their chances to study

Challenges encountered during the survey

A few beneficiaries turned up for the interviews hence limiting the sample space
Only two homes which are in the neighbourhood could be visited due to lack of transport

Mother Piggery Project

I later visited the piggery at the parish where I found more than five pigs and around 20 piglets. They are all looked after well, though I was informed that before the Fr. Godfrey Kisembo came they were not in a good state.

The Challenges met at the parish were

Scarcity of animal feeds which are equally expensive. That in a day, at least 25Kg of maize meal was needed for the pigs.
Secondly the Parish Priest never found any money on the Busesa orphan piglet project account to enable him buy food, medicine or pay the care takers.
A debt of over 2 million was found as a claim from the former care taker and vet. Doctor. In addition an extra one million five hundred thousand shillings has been injected into the project to buy medicine, feeds and also pay the veterinary doctor. Father informed me that up to now there is no money on the account to enable him meet the above requirements.

In the three places visited the pigs were being fed on maize and water as their major food because the food is very expensive and scarce.

Overall Challenges of the Project

None of the beneficiaries has ever returned a piglet as expected by the scheme hence continuity is not guaranteed
Beneficiaries lack the skills and guidance on piggery, hence some families have completely lost out
No funds to supplement the project
No follow up/monitoring and evaluation exercise to ensure sustainability

General Recommendations

Sensitization and training should be done before piglets are given out
Periodic visits, training and caution should be given as a means of ensuring sustainability
Some piglets can be sold to sustain the Mother piggery as the piglets from the beneficiaries are used to expand the project

In conclusion, it’s a great project but only requires commitment and follow up to ensure success.

Father Godfrey took some photographs and will have them shared with you.

Visitors Distribute Piglets

February 18, 2011 by beachristtothepoor_admin

There was great joy January 14, 2011 when a group of visitors from Immaculate Conception Parish in Richmond, MO and some of their friends visited the foundation piggery project at St. John the Baptist Parish in Bulindi, Hoima Catholic Diocese and helped distribute piglets to at least 6 pre-screened orphans.

The names of the visitors were Jim and Jean Schmidt, Robert Bond, Patricia Bond, Albert and Doris Taber and Rachelle Williams. They were accompanied by Fr. George Ssebadduka, founder and President of Be a Christ to the Poor Foundation.

2009 Project Update

October 15, 2009 by beachristtothepoor_admin

I greet you most cordially in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ during this month of the Rosary. I thank you very much for giving hope to these orphans and being Christ to the poor.

SITUATION OF THE PROJECT

I can confidently say that the project is doing very well. The method we are using is of breeding and multiplying piglets at our Demonstration site and distributing them to the Orphans and disadvantaged children.

Their parents / guardians or relatives are sensitized about the goals and objectives of this project. They are also equipped with skills of looking after piglets.

Both the children and their guardians are given the knowledge of looking after piglets, but the project is aimed at benefiting the children directly. We do regular monitoring of these projects in the homes of the children.

At the moment 138 children have benefited from the project.

At the demonstration site, the Banana plantation is doing well. We also teach these children to apply the wastes from Piggery to the crops, i.e., Organic farming. This is very good and it saves us from the many disadvantages of artificial chemicals.

CONCRETE BENEFITS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN

Already some children have realized fruits of the project. Their pigs have grown and produced 6-10 piglets each.

When I visited them, I had deep interest in finding out how they used or planed to use the money. I was very happy to note that, they had given priority to acquisition of, school uniform, scholastic materials (books, pens, mathematical sets) some had, for the first time bought shoes.

The children of late Masanyu and Bunihizi touched my heart when they exclaimed with joy that they have, for the first time, been able to acquire school uniform. They also were able to buy mattresses.

Long live “Be a Christ to the Poor Foundation”. These helpless children have been given a hope. Each piglet is sold at $13 – $15 USD. i.e (20,000 – 30,000 UGX) depending on size and quality.

CHALLENGES

The number of orphans increases every day. Those who need the assistance are more than we can help.
Some children do not de-warm the animals regularly due to lack of drugs.
Some children get animal feeds with difficulty.
The pigsty at the demonstration site needs some repairs because the big pigs eat the bricks gradually.
Feeds have become very expensive (38,000 UGX per bag).
Payment of the worker at the piggery demonstration site is expensive.

FUTURE PLANS AND PROSPECTIVES

We are preparing meetings and training workshops for the children and their guardians.
We shall make more regular inspection and monitoring of the children’s homes and projects.
We are planning to include more children in the group of beneficiaries.
I am organizing a training workshop on organic farming and pig raring for the Orphan children of Buseesa Parish.

URGENT NEEDS FOR THE PROJECT

CODE	ITEM/ACTIVITY	QUANTITY	COST	AMOUNT
1	Feeds (with transport)	30	38,000	1,140,000
2	Payment of the worker	7 months		280,000
3	Drugs			50,000
4	Repair of the pigsty			200,000
5	Training workshop in Buseesa (transport & facilitation)			150,000
	GRAND TOTAL			1,820,000

I thank you very much and wish you God’s blessings in all your plans and work.

Sincerely yours,
Rev. Fr. Bingi Anthony Atwook