Project Location
The project is situated in Kikooba village, 2km from Kituuma town at 74 km on Kampala - Hoima road North west of Kampala City.
The project is located in Kiboga District boarded by Nakaseke District in the northeast, Masindi in the northwest, Hoima in the west, Mubende district in the south and Kibale district in the south west.
Project background
Kikooba is one of the oldest branches of Uganda Pioneers Association started in 1990 with a majority membership of old women and men. This is one of the interesting UPA projects that has highly motivated old women and men joining a workcamp project. UPA has since built a health Centre to help the community access first aid, immunisation and other basic health services to the community from a nearby Health Centre. This health centre is completed. Despite completion of this centre, the community still cannot utilise the centre because they lack an accommodation facility for the health worker for the government to allocate them drugs and a health worker.
Besides, UPA has tried to recruit and place Medium Term volunteer to help at the school and Health centre, but the efforts of the volunteers have often been let down by the absence of a decent accommodation for the volunteers.
It hurts that the local community still have to both walk more than 10 km to the nearest health unit and miss the support of the volunteers because of lack of this accommodation facility. It is for this reason that we plan to host another workcamp to complete three room to accommodate the health worker and UPA Medium Term Volunteers. The workcamp project participants will also engage in construction of a house to host the health worker and Medium Term volunteers.
Project objectives
- To construct a health worker’s and Medium term volunteers’ quarters at Kikooba UPA Branch
Activities
- Brick laying
- Mixing sand and cement
- Collecting bricks, mortar and water.
- Roofing & plastering
Expected outcome
It is expected after the work camp: Quarters for the health worker and volunteers will be roofed & plastered and shutters put in place.
Cultural and Educational Visits
Climbing Kikooba hill will also be an interesting activity. A local market is also on Tuesday at Bukomero every two weeks. A cultural night will be organised and participants will display items, songs and dances from their home countries and traditions.
Beneficiaries
- Kikooba UPA members
- Kikooba community members
- Medium Term volunteers to Kikooba branch
Participation
The project expects 25 participants maximum with a composition of people from Uganda, regional and International volunteer organisations. Participants will work 6 hours daily from Monday to Friday. Weekends are for social interaction and/ or excursions unless if the official camp programme has an activitity.
Who qualifies to participate
- Any volunteer above age of 18 years.
- One who has a positive attitude towards volunteering.
- Willing to interact with a diversity of cultures.
- Ability to adopt and enjoy living in simple conditions.
- Willing to taste a variety of local food and urban accomodation
- Note: Participants with special expertise like architectures, mansions have an added advantage but not mandatory.
The host community
The project location is in a predominently Buganda women population, speaking Luganda with a very little number with limited English knowledge. Most of the interaction shall be with these women. They are active women with a zeal to work for their project. Volunteers on this project will have the opportunity to interact with mostly UPA branch members and those from the community
Accommodation
- The project will provide simple rooms in school classrooms or the health centre building. Average but not luxury.
- The camp site has simple bathrooms with no showers
- The camp site has latrines not toilets
- And a simple cooking shelter (kitchen)
Meals
- There are several local foods to choose from e.g. matooke, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkin and also rice, spaghetti, ground nuts, beans, peas and different types of green vegetables
- Fruits can also be easily bought from local markets, mangoes, sweet bananas, water melon, pineapples etc
- Participants will chose food to prepare depending on the availability
- Volunteers will prepare their own meals using charcoal and firewood. There is a variety of local foods to choose from.
Health services
Bukomero Health Centre IV located 10 km away is the nearest medical facility. It can only provide basic health services. Kiboga referral hospital is also located 25kms on Kampala – Hoima road. For major health issues participants shall have to be moved to Kampala main hospitals. The journey takes 1-1 ½ hours
Water source
There is a borehaloe a few metres away from the project site.In case of breakdown then getting water shall be challanging and participants shall be required to collect water from the nearby well only about 600 - 700 metres away..
Climate
The temperatures in September usually range between 16 and 29 C with some rains during the month. This region is very green all the year due to two seasons of rains in the year. It may turn out to be wet and chilly at times.
What to bring?
Participants shall be required to bring own sleeping bag, Mat, pillow, Mosquito Net, sun/mosquito creams/repellents, working gloves and boots/shoes. Light working clothes during working hours and warm clothes at night, as it may turn out to be chilly or cold; Musical instrument {optional}; Torch or flash light; Water purifiers {optional}; Personal effects {i.e. soap, toothpaste, toiletries.
Bringing your national flag, common art facts of your country; stories, games, picture and local recipes for cultural presentations from your country is advisable too for social interaction. Please carry along anything that you feel can well introduce you and your culture to make it enjoyable. Above all do not forget a happy and positive attitude and energy.
NB: Very short (Hot pants); skirts and dresses will not be culturally welcome especially for female. g/harsh carries a life prison sentence.