LEAD Africa Uganda

Whereas the year 2011 was trying, members of LEAD Africa Uganda worked diligently to ensure that the organization’s projects move forward! With two agricultural projects geared towards poverty alleviation and another to support disadvantaged children with scholastic materials; it has been no easy ride considering the current economic downturn.

2012 however is going to be exciting for us. With a new strategy underway and 4 income generating projects in the pipeline, we are certain that this is going to be a year of tremendous progress. Our new strategy will also ensure that our supporters and partners get timely information on all projects that are being implemented through social media sites particularly facebook. We therefore encourage individuals and organizations who might be interested in working with us to contact us for further information. We wish you a fruitful 2012 as we work together to make the world a better place!

Members of LEAD Africa Uganda this month mobilized funds which were used to provide scholastic materials to six children. All these children attend public schools but are at risk of dropping out due to hidden school costs and lack of scholastic materials.

Members of LEAD Africa Uganda give out scholarstic materials during the camoaign to support vulnerable children

A beneficiary of the project

A beneficiary

One of the children who benefited from the reach out exercise

Working with youth in rural areas, we can not ignore the fact that access to sexual and reproductive health information, services and commodities should be put in place so that young people can be in position to make informed reproductive health choices. LEAD Africa Uganda organized a TOT on Sexual and Reproductive Health in one of our outreach communities. The training was aimed at opening discussions surrounding Sexual and Reproductive health; equipping community workers with skills to enable them handle different cases that might be brought to them and to explore pertinent issues such as Family Planning and sex education-Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections.

Esther Nabacwa-lead trainer during the training

The training is one of many upcoming efforts geared towards bringing Sexual and Reproductive Health services and commodities closer to the rural youth. It will also be a foundation on which the organization will base to strengthen the integration of the Rights component. We strongly believe that this is going to be a big boost to our HIV and AIDS related work considering that it is inline with government efforts to strengthen the linkages between HIV and AIDS and SRHR.

Well done guys! Keep up the good work.

On the 20th of March, LEAD Africa carried out a community outreach on Environmental conservation in Nampunge, Wakiso District. The activity was aimed at sensitizing the community on issues such as climate change. Uganda recently experienced a long period of drought, in fact, some parts of the country are still experiencing this. The drought has been blamed the rampant tree cutting. LEAD Africa is raising awareness on the essence of afforestation and is calling on young people to join the organization’s tree planting campaigns and awareness raising on climate change.

Some of the pictures from the field.

In the picture above, Senabulya Mark; Chairperson Board of Directors Explains to the community members the need to empower young people and involve them in community development initiatives. He noted that young people are talented, hard working and can therefore come up with creative and innovative ideas which can foster societal change.
Picture above: Gavin a member of LEAD Africa Uganda and a student of Human Resource Management at Makerere University Kampala stresses a point during the outreach.

In this picture, Festo Nsubuga-Programme Coordinator LEAD Africa talking to the community members. The meeting was attended by 53 people from Nampunge Village, Wakiso District.

LEAD Africa supports schools to groom exceptional young men and women. Some of the activities that are being carried out are school outreaches where the team talks with students about issues such as sex and sexuality, entrepreneurship and meaningful youth involvement in community development. The programme this year (2011) is undertaking an ambitious project to establish 20 leadership clubs in twenty secondary schools.

Mwera college school was visited in February, take a look at what happened.

Festo Nsubuga

LEAD Africa Uganda staff with students and teachers of Mwera College School

The strength of young people is in their unity. LEAD Africa is intending to bring together young people from all walks of life. We want to create a place where youths can freely talk about issues that affect them. The uniqueness of the programme is that we shall not just talk about things but we shall act.

We can only transform our world by working together, Unity is the magic!

Esther, Dora, Barbara and Festo

At the latest meeting of LEAD Africa, Michael Openshaw, member of the Strategic Planning group for LEAD Africa, announces a One Million Shilling (about $480 USD) award to LEAD Africa to defray startup costs as the group undertakes formation as a CBO (Community Based Organization) initially, with the goal of moving to NGO status as the group coalesces and more funds become available.
“This group of dynamic young people, using their own personal experiences through the current systems in place, have the vision, variety of talents, and insight to turn the current model of endless charity into an endpoint operation with self-sufficiency as the final achievement for the participants. It is that which is worthy of funding and support.” Michael said. “This can lead to a prosperous future of true independence for the individual, as well as the larger community.”