Project Location
The work camp will take place at UPA – Pakwach Branch, ABONGO WOMEN GROUP BUILDING PREMISES, Kamana ‘B’ Village, Pakwach Town Council is in Nebbi District North western region. Pakwach Branch is located 420 km (6 -7 hours) drive from Kampala. It’s on the banks of River Nile, 1 km on Kampala – Arua Road.
Project background
The Branch is located in Jonam County, Nebbi District, North western Uganda. Jonam is warm area where little agricultural and fishing activities dominate the activities engaged in by the Local Communities.The Communities mainly live on the scarce natural resources that are strained by environmental degradation. Some food supplies come from neighbouring districts to supplement the little production. Situated on the business transit route to Southern Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Pakwach Town is exposed to multiplicity of preventable and infectious diseases like diarrhorea, worms, malaria, HIV/AIDS etc. These infections are due to many factors like ignorance; (attitude of the people), heavy human traffic, dirty conditions of life normally leading to poor hygiene bearing in mind that the fishing villages are in Pakwach Town itself. UPA –Pakwach Branch has for a while been engaged in initiatives that addresse Community hygiene and is committed to designing new methods. The international work camp is therefore designed to scale up the Community hygiene effort in Phase I at the three fishing Villages and the Communities along the banks of River Nile within Pakwach Town Council.
Project Objectives
- To sensitize the fishing Villages on Primary health care.
- Promote Sanitation among families in the Community.
- Reduce the vulnerability of the fishing Community from contracting preventable diseases.
- Provision of affordable sanitary facilities at the Fish landing centres.
Activities
- Raising movable drying racks for the fishing Villages.
- Cleaning water sources.
- Digging rubbish pits.
- Cleaning and leveling the Compound, planting flowers, trees, directing drainage channels.
- Improving on the existing pit latrines and huts where the fishermen sleep (walls, floors, Roofing) all with Local materials.
- Community dialogue, sensitization, mobilization and advocacy on their own sanitation.
Expected outcome
- 15 drying racks to be established with 5 racks each site.
- 6 rubbish pits dug with 2 pits each site.
- 3 Fish Landing Sites cleaned and redesigned.
- 6 Houses improved on with 2 houses each site.
- 3 Pit latrines improved.
Cultural and Educational Visits
- Visit Pacer Blacksmith Communities.
- Visit the Fish Landing Sites along the River banks.
- Viewing of River Nile entry points into Lake Albert delta like in Panyimur.
- Country side walks in the Local Community.
NB There are available opportunities to visit like Tourist places: Murchison Falls National Park in Paraa, Hot and Cool Amur pii springs in Panyimur, Nyagak Falls, Aguu Hills in Paidha, Lendu Forest (Zeu Sub County). But at the cost of interested volunteers.
Beneficiaries
- The Local Communities along the River Nile banks.
- The Fishermen at the Fish Landing Sites.
- The entire Community in Jonam County in Pakwach Town Council.
- The UPA membership.
Participation
The Project expects 25 participants maximum with a composition of people from other regions of Uganda and International Volunteers.
Participants will work for 6 hours daily from Monday to Friday, Saturday s and Sundays will mainly have interactive activities, Cultural and Educational visits and discussions with the Communities unless there is an activity on the official workcamp programme.
Who qualifies to participate
- Open minded, ready to interact, contribute and willingness to share experiences.
- Flexible to live in modest circumstances.
- Ability and flexibility to eat local foods.
- Natural and International Volunteers.
The Host Community
The people found in North Western Uganda are multi tribal and the tribes found along the river Nile are the Jonam (Luo). The major language spoken are Luo/Alur/Jonam with also a big percentage of the people speaking English very well. Like most regions in Uganda, people in this Community always welcome visitors and always interested to talk/work with people from other Cultural backgrounds. Volunteers on this Project will have the opportunities to interact with mostly the fishermen/fish wives and Community at large.
Accommodation
- Accommodation will be in simple rooms.
- Participants will be required to carry own sleeping bags.
- The camp site has simple bathrooms and pit latrines no showers
- A simple cooking shelter (Kitchen)
- Participants are requested to bring with them mosquito nets, working gloves, clothes and boots/shoes.
Meals
- There are several Local foods to choose from e.g. Matooke, Cassava, Sweet potatoes, yams, Pumpkin and also rice, spaghetti, meat, fish, groundnuts, beans, peas and different types of green vegetables.
- Fresh fruits from the gardens can also be easily bought from local markets; mangoes, sweet bananas etc.
- Participants will choose food to prepare depending on the availability.
Health Services
Pakwach Health Centre IV is only 1km away while Nebbi and Angal St. Luke Hospitals are 34 km and 12km respectively.
Private Health Service Units being managed by registered Medical Doctors are also available within the dignity.
Water Sources
The project Site has access to piped water and also river Nile is only 250 meters away.
Climate Weather
Uganda currently faces a very changing weather. The month of July/August continues to be characterized with a mixture of some little rain and good sunshine. It is therefore occasionally wet. Bringing a rain coat, rubber boot/shoes, warm cloth and umbrella will be advisable. Please bring some light clothes too because it may be hot/warm for some long days
What to bring
Bringing Sleeping bag, Mat, pillow, Mosquito Net, sun/mosquito creams/replants, working gloves and boots/shoes is advisable. Light working clothes during working hours and warm clothes at night, as it may turn out to be chilly or cold; Musical instrument and games {optional}; Torch or flash light; Water purifiers {optional}; Personal effects {i.e. soap, toothpaste, toiletries}; National flag, common art facts of your country; Meals/local you may wish to prepare to be shared among the participants during the cultural nights from your country and above all A happy and positive attitude.
NB:Very short (Hot pants); skirts and dresses will not be culturally welcome especially for female.
Smoking in public is illegal while engagement in drug/harsh carries a life prison sentence.