It’s that special time of the year again!
‘‘Each time we love, each time we give, it's Christmas.”
Every donation (regardless of the amount) helps continue with our mission to serve the children in Ntarabana.
This really means so much. Thank you.
Best wishes for a lovely Christmas 2024 and continued thanks for helping us, to help others!
Mugire Noeli Nungyi!
John Bosco is an orphan boy living in Ntarabana with his old grandfather and grandmother who adopted him when he was only two and a half years old. He was 13 years old when our association was able to bring him back to school. His family situation was so difficult that his school fees could not be paid. While sponsored, he was cared for and had a chance to study at St. Konrad Secondary School in Ntarabana. During these years he grew up as a very hardworking and focussed boy. His old grandparents express their joy at how John Bosco has grown and become a helpful dependable child. “He is such a young man, not only studies hard, but he helps in almost every chore at home, like gardening and fetching water among others,” says his grandfather with a proud smile on his face. He also practices sports and loves reading. He is in fact very sensitive and reserved.
Now at 17 years old, he is at his craft level at St.Konrad Secondary School and undertakes block laying and concrete practice. He passed his last exams with a 1st grade which is the highest grade you can obtain! According to John Bosco, he owes his success to God and the Ntarabana Project association for supporting and trusting him. He says, “I want to become a civil engineer in the future and plan, design and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects and will do my best to be successful''.
When Lucilla met Fabian Bitambabeize for the first time in Uganda in 2003, she felt he was an extraordinary person. Skinny, medium tall, heavily marked on his face by the signs of the sun and the many many hours worked on his small piece of land to earn a living, calm and imbued with humility. His winning smile could raise the dead (as Lucilla felt at that time).
Today he is 69 and lives in Ntarabana with his wife Teopista and his family.
Fabian is a hard-working peasant and still works his piece of land. He is very brave and in fact is responsibile for Namuda, the Ntarabana Men's Association. With his community members, they engage in growing cabbage, irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and beans, together with piggery and apiary, and they run savings and credit projects.
He is determined to improve his, and other people's lives in the village. He always comes up with new ideas and proposals and should he have more cash, he could certainly change many people's lives.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for now. As an association we have tried our best to help, but without success so far.
Now Fabian's health is very poor as he suffers with prostate disease that needs very expensive treatment. This month, the association contributed to this.
Still much more help is needed in order to let him heal, but we are supporting him as he is so constantly good to other people.
Any contributions are most welcome to support Fabian.
Thank you for your generosity!
Eliseus Boonabana is a 25-year-old boy from Ntarabana, Kabale.
He is in his second year of craft level at St.Konrad Secondary School studying Welding and Metal Fabrication.
He is orphaned and lives with his old grandparents facing a very precarius economic situation.
Our Association is supporting him paying his School fees.
Eliseus has been blessed with so many talents. Not only he is very clever and intelligent, but also has a loving personality.
He is a self-taught musician.
He plays guitar and piano beautifully at Sunday Masses and worship. People are uplifted with the music coming out from his soul.
Life has not been easy so far for him, but he has proven to deeply treasure what he has, without complaining nor feeling down. On the contrary, he has drawn on all his strenghts and is moving forward with determination and humility.
We believe that the best is still to come and our association will keep supporting him, with trust and love.
In December, the people of Ntarabana enjoy fine weather characterized by very warm days and cool nights together with some heavy downpours of rain.
The scenery is beautiful with lush green vegetation.
People cultivate their family smallholdings growing climbing beans, peas, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, avocados, cabbage and spinach.
It is around this season that many people from abroad come and visit Uganda where they may spend an unforgettable Christmas.
Pamera now works in the pharmaceutical industry
Katusiime Pamera is a 30-year girl born in Ntarabana.
Thanks to the support of the association, she studied at the Nursing and Midwifery St. Lawrence Villa Maria School in Masaka district. She is a certified enrolled nurse.
She is the second born in a family of seven children. Unfortunately her father died when she was 12 and because the situation was not easy for her mother physically, emotionally, socially and financially, she was moved to live with her grandmother, who brought her up in Ntarabana.
She now works for Josh Pharmaceuticals in Kawempe division - Kampala where she dispenses medicine as prescribed by the pharmacist and doctors from different hospitals. She is also in charge of advising and counselling patients and families and responsible for their data entry in computer. At present she lives in Kampala.
She has plans of pursuing a diploma in nursing in order to improve her career.
Amazing girl, we wish you the best in your life and career! You deserve it!
Tumwakiire Maxensia completed her studies at Kyambogo University and obtained a diploma as Instructor and Technical Educator specializing in Carpentry and Joinery.
Through social media she applied for a job at Bulenga School as ‘Carpentry and Joinery Teacher’. This School offers both Secondary and Vocational Education (meaning that it is designed to teach students the valuable skills they need to perform a particular task or job and provides practical training that focuses on a single specific field).
The School Director noticed her many talents and having considered that she is a very hard working girl, gave her the job.
At present she teaches from Sunday to Friday both carpentry and joinery theory in class and runs practice stages.
Her job includes management of civil works like building construction.
She lives in the School quarters and during holidays goes back to see her family in Ntarabana.
Congratulations Maxensia!
Barigye Methodius is a 35-year-old guy from Ntarabana, who, thanks to the financing of our Association, is studying at Kabale University Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Applied design. In 4 years he plans to become a civil engineer.
Methodius did not have an easy life. He faced hard times both as a child as well as an adolescent at school. This can be explained by the extreme poverty of his large family and by a variety of other personal reasons. However, tough times revealed a lot about his character and resilience and brought out his inner strength, determination, ability to adapt and problem-solve. He was unfairly considered uncapable to be successful at University and saw his best friends enter academic studies while he was sent to learn how to become a plumber. He did not lose courage and joined plumbing school for 3 years where he mainly used his hands.
As an association, we saw his capabilities and very touching story and decided to give him a chance. He is not as young as his fellow students but studied very hard and just passed the Year 1 – 1st Semester exams with brilliant remarks. He does not have enough money to access technology and is also lacking a laptop. Unstoppable. Best of luck Methodius! You will make it!
On August 18th, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni - Uganda President - visited Kabale district, very close to Ntarabana. A big event has been organised around the International Youth Day 2023. The occasion has drawn the participation of youth leaders, youth-focused organizations and stakeholders from across the nation. Museveni emphasized the government's commitment to the youth and highlighted various initiatives aimed at improving the lives of young people in Uganda. Furthermore, he explained how youth can join groups and get loans from the Parish Development Model (PDM) in each parish.
Indeed, the youth role holds significant importance and our association is determined to keep supporting them.
A dramatic event happened in Uganda in recent days confirming the country to be extremely politically unstable.
Rebels linked to the Islamic State group (IS) killed over 50 students in a Secondary school called Lubiriha in Kasese District on its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) based in the DRC have been blamed and a manhunt is under way. They bombed and set fire to dormitories, using machetes to kill and maim the pupils, officials said.
A special prayer for all the students and their families.
May Ntarabana students be protected against such devastation.
One of the biggest challenges facing education in 2023 in Uganda is access to quality resources. This is especially true for underprivileged communities, like Ntarabana. On our side we are determined to keep doing our best to support children and young people in their studies.
A brief overview that provides a general framework for the education system in Uganda follows (there may be variations and changes implemented in specific schools or regions).
Education in Uganda is administered in English and it follows a 7-4-2-3 structure, consisting of 7 years of Primary education, 4 years of Lower Secondary education + 2 years of Upper Secondary education and 3 years of Tertiary education.
Primary education is compulsory. It starts when kids are 6 years old and consists of 7 grades, namely P1-P7.
Lower Secondary education covers grades S1-S4 with students aged between 12 and 15 years.
Upper Secondary education is for those who choose it and prepares students for higher education covering grades S5-S6.
Tertiary education comprises 3 different levels: diploma (2-3 years), undergraduate (3-4 years), postgraduate(masters and doctoral degrees that can vary in duration). Tertiary includes universities, polytechnics and vocational training institutes (education that prepares people to a skilled craft as an artisan, trade as a tradesperson, or work as a technician). Admission to universities is based on performance in the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE examinations).
Aturinda Joanita is a 15-year-old girl from Ntarabana, who is laying the foundations to become a good doctor and surgeon.
Thanks to the support of our Association and to the sacrifices of her wonderful parents, she is studying at Immaculate Heart Nyakibale Girls' Senior Secondary School in Rukungiri District. The mission of this excellent school is to provide girls with a quality education for their integral human development. Indeed, she is becoming conscientious, confident and a critical thinker. At the end of school, she will go on to university in order to obtain a degree in medicine.
A bright, active and focussed girl, empowered to pave the way towards a brighter future.
Tumwakiire Maxensia, a girl from Ntarabana, who is studying at Kyambogo University to get a diploma as Technical Teacher, just completed a practical internship as part of her studies.
The purpose of carrying out such industrial training was to acquire more practical skills as far as carpentry and joinery are concerned and to use power hand tools including a jig saw, a router and a circular saw.
She showed her capacity to build tables, chairs, wardrobes, beds, windows and doors as well as constructing timber floors.
She also proved her capacity to train trainees and gained great experience with the challenges she had to face.
Well done Maxensia, there is a bright future ahead of you!
Akanyijuka Isaac is a full of life 15-year-old boy who lives in Ntarabana. He comes from a lovely family and has 2 sisters and 4 brothers. His parents, Kyomugisha Julius and Tweteise Christine were unable to go to school and are poor peasants who depend on just a meagre piece of land. Due to the very difficult family situation and unable to pay school fees, Isaac was forced to interrupt his studies last year at St.Konrad secondary school. But through our Ntarabana Association, he received a sponsorship and is now back at school. He is so happy and willing to study hard in order to finish his 4 year course. He dreams to reach the higher level and get a diploma as a civil engineer in construction. Good luck Isaac!
We are so happy and proud to announce that one of the Ntarabana youths supported by our association in his studies has graduated with honors in this month of February.
Atukunda Ronald, a student of Biomedical Laboratory Technology at Makerere University, the best in East Africa, has achieved a high and noble milestone in life.
He can now work in any hospital as an analyst and therefore be able to detect and diagnose any kind of disease.
Congratulations Dr. Ronald!
And thank you P. and M. - Ronald's sponsors - for your commitment and for trusting and supporting him for many years.
Early this year, in the Ntarabana village, Julliet Saturday, adored wife and mother, passed away following a long battle with breast cancer. Due to lack of money, she was unable to undergo specific medical treatment. She leaves her husband, Twinamatsiko Alex and four children, namely Atukunda Rebecca, Arinetwe Edwin, Matsiko Rauben and Arinetwe Francis.
Anyone who is willing to support this family in need, please contact us: https://www.ntarabanaproject.org/en/contacts Thank you
The people of Ntarabana wish you Merry Christmas and are grateful to those of you who extended their hands towards them.
MWEBARE(THANK YOU)!!!
Beinomugisha Onesmus is a 17-year-old boy from Ntarabana. Fifth of six children, he was unable to complete his education at St.Konrad Secondary School. He just received a sponsorship from the Association that will allow him to complete his studies as engineer. Despite poverty and young age, he makes bricks locally at home from mud. His plan is to use them to make a kiln before the end of the year and ultimately to build a home for his family. He deserves admiration for his zeal, for hard work and sense of initiative. Well done!
Two very special people are on the committee of the new Ntarabana Project association: Deborah and Suresh.
Deborah is a wonderful 25-year-old girl who graduated in Primary Education in Macerata with honours. She works as a teacher at the ‘Rita Levi Montalcini’ Primary school in Porto Sant' Elpidio (FM) where she is highly appreciated for her extraordinary effective communication style, professional competence and the enthusiasm she transmits to the children. She is the eldest of six. Extroverted and sunny, she is a pure concentrate of energy, joy and beauty.
Suresh is a 27-year-old young photographer. Born in Goa in India, he grew up in the Marche region where he studied graphics and photography. Specializing in the world of 'fashion and lifestyle photography', he works for well-known Italian photo agencies and his publications are cited by magazines such as i-D, Collateral and Vanity Fair. He is deep and reserved, sensitive and attentive, inspires, conquers, transmits trust and is a source of hope.
I am happy to let you know that in September the name of the Ntarabana Project has changed to Association Ntarabana Project and this will be reflected in some minor future changes to the website.
Together with my close and wonderful colleagues I remain committed to express my gratitude and love to the people of Ntarabana.
Betty Ampeire has made it!
Mother-of-5, married, a very hard worker and a super-determined young woman, Betty Ampeire, this month of August, moved from Grade 3 Primary Teacher Certificate to Bachelor of Education in Primary School.
After years of study and with a job as a teacher in Primary school where she teaches carrying her one year old baby on her back, a family to care for and a plot of land to dig, despite general poverty and Covid restrictions in Ntarabana, Betty reached the dream she has had since she was a teenager.
She has now acted as an inspiration to the youth in Ntarabana who at times drop out of school even when they are able to get funding. She has also become a model to many women who think that family obligations hinder one from higher achievement in Education and in other fields.
Well done Betty, congratulations! This is key for a brighter future in Ntarabana!
The other day I received a photo from one of my Ntarabana project on-site collaborators. It was of his mother Annah Bateisa.
I met her when I was in Uganda in 2011 and I remember that she was a vey sweet granny and a wonderful woman. I will never forget her warmth, kindness and strength.
I was speechless when I saw her in the photo as she appeared to me younger and still in a great shape. She is now 92 years old.
Despite poverty and food inadequacy Annah Bateisa gave birth to 9 kids. After the death of her husband she had to take care of her family alone. She worked hard all her life and she never lost faith in God.
Really a great woman I deeply love.
In this month of June, Ntarabana is experiencing a dry season.
People are tending their crops of beans and sweet potatoes fearing they may be destroyed by the hot sunshine. Other crops may also be affected leading to food shortages in the area. Despite this, being the first month after the wet season, June in Ntarabana still enjoys lush landscapes for now: a great time to travel.
Covid-19 is again at hand and monkey pox has also reached neighbouring Congo and Kenya.
Finally, in May all Covid restrictions have been easied in Ntarabana. Coronavirus cases are not even tracked in Buhara sub- county and Kabale district at large.
However, negative Covid effects are still prevalent in society: famine, health problems and lack of school fees (as children prepare to get back to school), are the main concerns.
Prices for ordinary commodities (beans, posho, salt, sugar, soap) have more than doubled.
Many people in the village have limited access to food and income.
Insecurity and precariousness are the present living conditions, but people wake up early and go to dig.
For the young people, I personally believe that education is the key and will keep supporting them through this project.
As Easter approaches, in the village of Ntarabana Christians start preparing for this important feast.
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday. In the rural areas, children typically pick palms and bring them to their home for use by the whole family. On Palm Sunday, a service is held in which the branches are brought to church.
A special service to remember Jesus’ sacrificial death is held in church on Good Friday, an Easter vigil is held late at night on Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday services declare the power of the Resurrection. Easter plays and Easter concerts are also attended both in and outside of church. Wearing bright, new clothes, exchanging gifts, and feasting on local delicacies are all a traditional part of the celebrations.
At Easter, whenever possible, people eat traditional Ugandan foods like millet, sorghum, sweet potatoes, and “matoke,” a variety of banana that is frequently cooked in local dishes.
Happy Easter to everyone!
In the Family Centre together with NTAYUDA and NAWEPE, the men's association is also active, namely NAMUDA (meaning NTARABANA MEN UNITED DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION).
It was founded in 2008, is registered with Buhara sub-county and Kabale district local government and at present is made up of 70 men. For the most part members do not have a ‘’formal’’ job and are simple farmers. They meet at the Family Centre once a month.
The main project of the association is savings and credit. Members borrow money from the association for their needs. These range from building semi-permanent and permanent houses, to buying food, paying children’s school fees, obtaining agricultural requirements (spades, pickaxes, seeds). Debts are repaid at low interest rates. The men aspire to have improved financial stability, but difficulties are many due to harsh poverty. Coronavirus has worsened an already difficult situation.
In addition to savings and credit, NAMUDA engages in crop production, apiary and piggery where every member has a pig on their land. There are 82 beehives at Ntarabana with an average of 30 kg honey production annually, sold at 0.25 Euro per kg. This is a good source of income for NAMUDA.
The chairperson of NAMUDA is Fabiano, a great and trusted member of the community.
NAMUDA men are determined to work hard in order to improve their lives and the lives of their families.
Any help to NAMUDA is most welcome!
Together with NTAYUDA, two other associations are live in the Family Centre, namely NAWEPE (the women's association) and NAMUDA (the men's association).
NAWEPE means NTARABANA WOMEN’S EFFORT FOR POVERTY ERADICATION and at present is made up of 98 women of different ages starting from 18 who meet every three months at the Family Centre.
The association was founded in 2008, is registered at Kabale District Local Government and has its own Constitution.
Its main aims and objectives are the women's understanding and mutual help in development issues, the fight against poverty and ignorance, the empowerment of self-initiated projects in terms of funding, and the general improvement of living standards of the members.
NAWEPE also wishes to equip its members with the spirit of saving and credit so as to enhance entrepreneurial skills.
The association is funded by members' subscription fees and grants to the association.
The chairperson of NAWEPE is a very smart and brave woman called Teopista. She is pure strength!
Due to the pandemic and to the general poverty of the local Ntarabana women, as of now they are focussed on the saving and credit scheme and piggery where all members have at least one pig at home.
Projects like adult literacy, tailoring and knitting as stated in the constitution, are presently at risk. Trainers lack in motivation and there are not enough funds to buy fabrics and cloths.
NAWEPE also needs some help in order to start a catering project.
Women are the real ''architects'' of society!
Any help to NAWEPE is most welcome!
In August 2021 the youth association NAYEFODE was rebranded as NTAYUDA, namely “NTARABANA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION”.
A group of smart young people decided, in spite of the covid-19 pandemic, to start up a fight against poverty and improve their lives through creating an association which would bring them together as well as let them share innovative ideas in order to develop them both on an individual and a shared basis.
NTAYUDA is open to all young people who hail from Ntarabana and its nearby villages. The association will be registered in Kabale as soon as the current difficult situation with covid-19 permits.
The young people plan to have several projects that include Irish potato growing, pig rearing and beekeeping that hopefully will help them make some income. They also plan to have a Sacco (a savings institution aimed at saving money for future developments). This Sacco is needed so that the money saved can be borrowed by members who intend to start up projects but don't have the initial capital and later pay back the money with a little interest as their projects grow.
Amidst all the challenges, youth from Ntarabana always live with a positive mind-set that one-day life will change to their dreams and they also get a life full of joy.
Any help to the NTAYUDA is most welcome! Youth engagement changes lives! Support youth means to support life!
The gifts of love, of joy, of peace, of hope ... may all these and more be yours this Christmas!
NIMBENDEZA SEKUKULU NUNGI (meaning I WISH YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS in the language of Ntarabana kids, Uganda)
Maxensia is a very bright girl from Ntarabana who is joining Jinja institute (located about 500 km from Ntarabana) for a diploma in carpentry and joinery majoring in wood work and technology.
She lives in the college hostel at Walukuba in Jinja district during lesson time and travels back by bus at the end of each semester.
She is interested in carpentry not only because it is very rewarding to create something using her hands and mind, but also because carpenters solve problems by being patient and using their knowledge creatively.
Moreover, Maxensia is a real inspiration to girls who think such skills are for men only!
She aims to become a carpenter herself and then have a large carpentry workshop at Ntarabana.
Maxensia would like all the children who cannot manage to afford an education to learn how to use their hands and therefore earn a living.
Well done Maxensia! We will keep supporting you in your studies!
In October 2021 the number of covid-19 cases in Uganda is exponentially increasing. Kabale district where Ntarabana is found, ranks second in Uganda in terms of covid-19 spread.
Government has responded to the pandemic by strict shutdowns of public life and, thereby, economic activities. The pandemic therefore not only imposes a global health threat, but it poses a particularly large economic risk for the poor and most vulnerable people of Ntarabana who often rely on very unstable income sources, limited savings, and a lack of adequate safety nets to fall back on. Parents have failed to manage the basic needs of their many children.
Any support to these people is most welcome. We can’t live ignoring how many people are struggling for a crust of bread!
September is a ''planting season'' in Ntarabana and everywhere people are busy sowing. Men, women and young children are planting beans, peas, sweet and Irish potatoes.
Despite the heavy rain showers, people still have to go to their gardens to dig because it's the only way they can put food on their tables.
There is no crop that is ready for harvesting now except Irish potatoes that were grown in the swamps.
So, let's hope all goes well in the season and sowing brings good produce soon.
August has been a dreary month in Uganda due to the fact that the whole country has been under lockdown because of deadly corona virus. Despite the closure of all schools and higher institutions of learning, medical schools were opened for finalists and allowed to operate to bridge the gap in health provision.
Ronald Atukunda, a brilliant boy aged 22 from Ntarabana is one of the finalists at Makerere University. He is son to Mr. Ampeire and Mrs. Betty and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in biomedical laboratory technology. Amidst the challenges of lockdown, he has been on internship training at Rushoroza hospital, Kabale district where he has managed to get some experience due to the overload of samples from covid patients. The situation in Uganda was alarming with overwhelming covid death cases but Ronald kept confident to train due to his zeal and passion for what he is studying.
Having this chance to go to school, Ronald came up with an idea to start up an association in Ntarabana village, namely NTARABANA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (NTAYUDA) with the aim of helping his mates in the village to develop both socially and financially. The association will operate by the youth members saving some of their little hard earned money with the vision of fulfilling their future prospects with these savings. He also wishes to start a number of projects with the association, namely pig rearing, bee keeping, and some agriculture like Irish potato growing.
Ronald believes this will boost and change young lives.
Uganda is experiencing a really difficult time in this second lockdown with Covid-19 infections rapidly increasing.
In Ntarabana, people see their elderly parents die, but also some young people. They know that the virus is among them and are very worried. We don't know if people die only from the coronavirus or even as a result of other diseases (as of now many suffer with high blood pressure, AIDS and diabetes).
Those in the village who live off informal businesses find themselves without sources of income and live in absolute poverty.
In the houses, contagion is easy. The spaces are cramped and people (families have 8-12 members on average) are forced to live closely to each other.
Vaccines are rare and the risk now is that the disease will spread significantly.
I appeal to the sensitivity of anyone who reads these lines to support these people with a donation in the fight against the pandemic.
At the beginning of June, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni re-imposed a strict lockdown to help beat back a surge in COVID-19 cases in the East African countries. The new measures, effective from 7 June and implemented for 42 days, included the closure of all educational institutions, some bans on travel, the shutdown of weekly open markets, and the suspension of church services.
I pray that the situation improves soon.
The new restrictions are quite heavy on people of Ntarabana, especially kids and old people and potentially threaten to arrest an already fragile economic recovery from the blow inflicted by last year's lockdown.
Despite hard living conditions, poverty and coronavirus, love wins again in Ntarabana.
Our beloved Betty, mother of 5, aged 46 is pregnant and the baby is due this June.
She is very well despite a dislike for certain foods and is getting ready to give birth again.
Her husband is looking after her as well as he can as per rural standards. Sons and daughters are at university, secondary and primary school. As the family is very poor and lives in a remote rural area in Uganda, there are many uncertainties with regard to care for the newborn.
We are all so happy and are looking forward to welcoming the youngest life in the village Ntarabana.
A dear friend of mine made a donation to contribute to pay the University fees to allow a girl from Ntarabana to attend the University in April.
The girl is called Atuheire Jennifer, she is 20 years old. Last year she completed senior six and then passed the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education exams with 15 points (that is a great result). She was then admitted to Kyambogo University to join the Bachelor of Education, English Literature course.
She comes from a humble family with her father, mother, 2 boys, 2 girls and one little adopted orphan brother. She enjoys reading very much and is very kind, also very helpful at home with the housework.
My deepest gratitude to my friend who helped Atuheire Jennifer to go to university.
And good luck to Atuheire Jennifer in her new university studies!
In March the Ugandan Ministry of Health received the Covid-19 vaccine. The target is to vaccinate 49,6 per cent of the population in a phased manner. Each phase is planned to cover 20 percent of the population – approximately 4,38 million people. The first people to receive the vaccine will be workers in public and private health facilities (who by the nature of their work are at higher risk of contracting the disease compared to other categories of people), then security personnel, teachers, humanitarian front-line workers and people above 50 years with underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart, kidney, or liver disease. However, the situation is not so positive in the poor village of Ntarabana.
First of all there aren't sanitary health programmes in place. People are quite lost in their lack of information. Some of them do not even wear masks or follow other pandemic health precautions. No doctors go to visit and test people. Testing is only done in hospitals and health centres too far (by any means) for most of the people to reach. The most vulnerable, as elderly people have no access to life-saving services.
I feel that in these uncertain and fragile times, there is no time to just think of myself and remain indifferent. It is time to share and help and love those in need.
As Pope Francis said: ''The greatest poverty to fight is our poverty of love''.
In February Uganda Ministry of Education released the official timetable for reopening of schools in a phased manner to manage the learners in the face of Covid-19.
At Ntarabana, classes P.6, S.3 and S.5 will resume studies in March.
People in the village live in poverty. Their difficult situation is worsened by the fact that due to the Covid-19 pandemic they get very little money from their agriculture production. On the other side prices for manufactured goods like clothes, hardware, and such are too high as is transport.
The Family Centre associations still meet ensuring social distancing: NAMUDA adds apiary and piggery tendering and NAWEPE adds tailoring, hand craft and adult literacy.
On Sundays, people attend services in a small Christian church as no parish Sunday masses are allowed.
I start the new year sharing the school agriculture project realized by Akampurira Fausta, a very talented and hard-working girl from Ntarabana. She will graduate in May in agriculture and then hopefully do a bachelor's degree. Her school agriculture project included planting cherries in polythene bags, dipping cows, preparing nursery beds, growing mushrooms & tomatoes, weeding cabbages & pineapples and pruning bananas. She was also able to apply organic pesticides, pot flowers, and spray tomatoes. I am so proud of Akampurira Fausta. She did everything by herself despite very little financing, applying all her knowledge and passion. She will definitely become an expert in the field to improve herself and the entire community and I will keep supporting her! Finally I would like to note that Akampurira Fausta is also engaged in her own farming project with cows. She's great!!!
Bringing the year to a close, it seems appropriate to give our last 2020 news section over to the traditional music and dance of Uganda. This video shows a dance performed by our Bakiga tribe of Uganda at Christmas and on Sundays as it pleases God who gives people his mercy. People dance for Him to continue protecting and guiding them in their lives.Stay safe, live longer.Happy New Year to you!
In the month November, the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic increased in general in Uganda and in Ntarabana. In our district the Ugandan government opened schools and classes were resumed after months of closure. Students are doing their best with their studies despite the many difficulties as they are determined to pass exams. However, out-of-work and poor Ntarabana parents are struggling to pay their children's school fees and many will probably have to miss the new term. I remain optimistic and full of hope. I want to specially thank Alessandro and Albano, two Italian students who made a donation to the Project in November. I am overwhelmed by your generosity and solidarity.
During this month of October, a greenhouse has been placed close to the Family Centre by IFDC Uganda (International Fertilizer Development Centre). The structure is used to produce good quality Irish potato seeds.Fabian, the chairperson of the Men's Association called NAMUDA, heads the new project that is being launched pending a 20.000 litre water tank for daily irrigation. Fabian is qualified trainer of Irish potato growers and will train both the Men's Association members and the Women's Association ladies called NAWEPE on how to produce Irish tubers. In addition, even non-members of the Ntarabana Family Centre Associations will benefit as well from the project. Well done Fabian!
In Ntarabana, women’s contribution to improving life’s condition is critical.
Betty Ampeire is a young wife, mother of 5, down-to-earth primary school teacher. Her life is very active moving from housekeeping, child rearing, fetching water, cooking, contributing to cash-crop agriculture and tending to community needs.
She also heads a small women’s association at Ntarabana carrying out credit and savings on a small scale. Last but not least she works as Chairperson for married women in the parish community.
She is a very loving, cheerful woman of faith, always smiling and enthusiastic.
Thanks to her big heart and generosity everyone in the village loves her!
I hope she will be able to fulfil her dream and become a qualified teacher soon.
Thanks and good luck Betty!
In many parts of Uganda and Ntarabana in particular - being very hilly - there are water shortages. Women and children suffer most, traveling for long distances in search of water.
Bravo to the people I work with in Ntarabana! They organized and worked with me to install a ten thousand litre polyethylene water tank that helps six families in their needs. Water will be harvested from house roofs during rainy season to that effect.
There are still so many families living in homes in steep hilly areas which need plastic tanks in order to minimize water shortages.
Your help is kindly appreciated also in order to support people in their urgent sanitation requirements. If you can, please help! Thank you!
During difficult times such as the current coronavirus pandemic, children often suffer the most. My local team and I in Ntarabana are on the ground and doing all we can to support the deprived children. Ahumuza Prosper is a 13-year-old orphan child who lives with his grandfather (who is old and weak in health) and grandmother (who in turn has developed mental instability). A close collaborator in Ntarabana had suggested I support Ahumuza Prosper by joining the Education Project and so I did. Without such sponsorship, Ahumuza Prosper would not be able to be in secondary school. A decision about reopening of schools will be made in September 2020 and I do hope that this child – who is really unfortunate and sensitive - will be in condition to carry on with his studies.
There are so many children apart from Ahumuza Prosper who need similar attention to change their lives ... let's do something now to help them.
The Government eased some lockdown restrictions from the second half of June allowing public and private transport and curfew hours from 5.00 to 7.00 pm daily. Some people have started growing crops like Irish potatoes, beans, cabbages and sweet potatoes in the upland valleys. This has helped cater for people's food requirements. Others carry timber, working locally in order to earn some money.
Schools are still closed and kids are at home with parents and guardians. Food shortages, and lack of clean water causing cholera, typhoid and other contagious diseases remain major problems. One of our most successful sponsored students started practicing potting banana suckers, trees and flowers in Ntarabana. She is indeed very talented. Thanks to her sponsor M. and J. and well done to her!
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the already precarious conditions in Uganda. At Ntarabana everyone is afraid, they don’t know what to do, they don’t have disinfectants nor masks (some women knit them) and there is no assistance for sick people.
Imposed quarantine means absolute poverty.
In addition, the village is now hit by floods and heavy rain. Streets are destroyed. Some children died with landslides. People urgently need food and water.
I am doing my best to help children and families in their basic needs.
Your support is important!
Help us if you can today!
To: Associazione Ntarabana Project
Credit Suisse Account N. 0456 114 6704 81 (CHF)
IBAN: CH28 0483 5114 6704 81000
Payment description: Education Project or Family Centre Project