BSUF Programs
BSUF programs in Butansi Village and Butansi Sub County cover four main areas:
- Education
- Health
- Infrastructure
- Livelihood
1. Education
Children's Education
We have a child sponsorship program that started in 2005 with the sponsoring of two children. Now, thanks to our sponsors, BSUF supports over 80 children and students by providing school fees, uniforms, books, materials and school meals. The majority of our children are in primary schools at Future Victory, Veina and Arise & Shine. However, we now have 20 children in secondary education at a number of different schools in the region.
The majority of our sponsors are in England, but recently - thanks to the efforts of the Signum Foundation - we have a sponsorship scheme in Poland, with currently 6 sponsors. We are also affiliated with Children of Uganda in the USA.
Photos of the kids at Future Victory School and Veina School.
Adult Learning in the Community
Books and pens are provided to the adults in the community interested in attending our Adult Learning Classes. Teaching is done in the local language (Lusoga) and often conducted out in the open, under a tree. Groups complete Prima 1 (stage) and receive certificates, and then go on to Stage 2. Many have expressed interest in learning English.
Adult learning photos in gallery are here.
2. Health
Launch of a Mobile Medical Clinic
There is only one hospital – Kamuli Mission Hospital – in the Kamuli region, serving this large, poor rural area with a population of 750,000. If they are ill, people have to make a long trek - often taking many hours on foot – to get to the hospital.
Annette felt there was a better way, and that was to take basic healthcare out into the community.
Children of Uganda (UK) – BSUF is launching a Mobile Medical Clinic in partnership with Kamuli Mission Hospital (KMH). The mobile medical clinic will provide regular and free access to basic medical care for people in the Kamuli region. The clinic will offer a child immunization program, treatment of common infections such as malaria, diarrhea and also HIV-AIDS testing counseling and treatment.
We are being assisted in this enterprise by Tim Beacon of Medical Aid International, who already has a relationship with the Hospital. Annette and Tim have recently had a meeting at the hospital in Kamuli, with Dr. Matovu and his team.
The project is being funded by Children of Uganda (UK) in England, where funds are now being sought to bring this worthwhile program to fruition.
3. Infrastructure
The next, more ambitious program is to build a Community Centre in Butansi, to provide a focal meeting point for the area.
The Busoga Doicese has kindly agreed to donate a piece of land, adjacent to St. Mary’s Church in Butansi Village, as the site for the Community Centre. The next step is to provide water for the site. In this matter we are working with Plan International, who has a borehole close by.
Once this has happened we can develop the land around the building – growing crops to help the Centre to be self-sufficient. Then the building will start.
The purpose of the new Community Centre will be:
- Adult literacy learning to take place at the centre instead of under a tree, village meetings, after school and weekend activities for the children.
- Health clinic providing basic healthcare.
- Young person's centre, offering learn to earn program, skills to include better farming methods, crafts and sewing.
- Music, dance and drama as a way of creating awareness about issues affecting society like HIV-AIDS.
- Social centre for the community.
4. Livelihood/Income generating
In March 2008, BSUF provided 2 piglets to a group of 10 women, who started piggery farming in the community. The initial 2 piglets have had piglets of their own which have been passed along and shared among the women. The pig/pork business has potential to be a major source of income in the village and sub county.
Photos of the piggery project can be found here.
In 2010 volunteers bought jewellery making equipment for the villagers and then returned to England with the items that the women had made – which they sold on behalf of the charity. It will be easier to run such enterprises on an ongoing basis once the Community Centre is up and running.