 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Projects and Achievements |
|
|
News and Events |
|
|
Send Feedback |
|
|
|
|
|
ACTIVITIES / PROGRAMS
It was initiated within Katosi Women Fishing and Development Association with funds from group fishing activities and strengthened with funds from various development partners. It aims to provide women members’ access low interest loans of 12% per annum to engage in income generating activities. The scheme is widening women’s enterprising opportunities diversified income sources by entering income earning activities besides their agricultural fishing activities.
This is an indispensable component of all KWDT activities with different programs having relevant trainings as learning opportunities aiming to equip women members and communities with knowledge and skill in specific areas. Training activities take form of exchange and exposure visits, practical and dialogue sessions and refresher trainings. Carried out by projects extension staff and external facilitators, trainings improve literacy, acquisition of skill and knowledge, motivate and inspire women to pass on knowledge to their communities, mandatory for all members.
Major training thematic areas include sustainable agricultural trainings specifically on crop and animal husbandry, hygiene and sanitation trainings for behavioral change and improved health conditions, environmental conservation, business management and entrepreneurship, HIV/AIDS care and prevention.
The KWDT Integrated WATSAN program was initiated in 2002 after a baseline survey that revealed disastrous water and hygiene situation for the fishing community.90% of the fishing community depended on contaminated water of Lake Victoria which was shared between people and animals.75% of the population lacked Latrines, excreta management and hygiene practices were poor. The aim of the program is to increase access to safe clean water, improve sanitation and hygiene through behavioral change so as to reduce prevalence of poor Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Diseases. Supported by various partners, the Integrated WATSAN program has expanded to include Domestic and community rain water harvesting, Ecological Sanitation Latrine construction, Ventilated Improved Latrine construction, Water source protection, Hygiene and sanitation promotion through hygiene, Demonstration trainings, extension support, school sanitation and hygiene promotion. These activities are reinforced by Operation and Maintenance trainings, Water user committees and community masons training, Training of Trainers in Hygiene promotion, Child to child approach in hygiene promotion and training of Hand pump mechanics. The rain water harvesting program includes support to households to acquire ferro cement Tanks. A tank revolving scheme has been set up where the beneficiary pays back the whole amount for the tank. Repayments are made at group level in installments over a period of 4-6 months. An initial deposit amounting to 10% of the total cost of the tank is made prior to construction of the tank. KWDT has been able to increase tank coverage among members as repayments are pooled to create a fund that enables others acquire tanks. KWDT follows up the operation and maintenance of shallow wells by engaging the water user committees into dialogue follow up meetings to check record keeping on water user fee payments, lists of community beneficiaries, service tracking, as well as community meetings minutes. The Ecological Sanitation Latrine technology is substitute for the 30 ft. deep Ventilated Improved Pit Latrine which could not be constructed in especially areas close to the lake due to the high water table and in other areas rocky ground. It is an alternative that does not interfere with the water table, permanent thus cheap and has manure value.
The paramount importance of Agriculture as the major economic activity attached to agriculture on which the majority population depend country wide has propelled KWDT to venture into diversified sources of agricultural production among women, which complement each other .The major aim of this program is to improve food security, improve nutrition ,diversify and increase household daily incomes . The program has the following components;
1. Animal Husbandry
Herein KWDT members are able to access improved breeds of zero grazing cows for high milk production. From daily sale of milk, they are able to earn daily incomes and improve household nutrition. A zero grazing revolving scheme is sustaining this component for a cow beneficiary passes on the first female calf to another member of their group as a way of increasing coverage. Women have gained economic security especially for those solely depending on their animals for a living as they are assured of an annual income approximated between UGX 700,000 and 1,500,000. Manure from zero grazing is being utilized for organic farming through application to gardens. Sustainability has been further been enhanced by all beneficiaries paying an annual cow insurance, UGX 60,000 which is pooled to the animal fund and utilized for emergency treatments in case of disease outbreaks, annual animal monitoring, replacement of a dead animal ,among others. Piggery, goat and chicken rearing remain minor complimentary forms of animal rearing among many women members, managed at group levels.
It was introduced as a diversification activity to increase women incomes and improve nutrition. The activity started with 7 women groups with each having a site with two sets of hives as model beehives. The group members manage the project and participate in siting under the guidance of qualified entomology officer from the District local government who also provide technical on going support. The activity is still a pilot we are yet to scale up among other groups and individuals as we gain exposure to the challenges and prospects.
The decreasing fish stocks in lake Victoria which has been a major source of income and food for decades to the fisher folk along the shores at Katosi landing site and the vicinity has propelled KWDT to implement fish farming projects in the area. KWDT is undertaking construction of fish ponds to be managed at group level to increase food security, better home nutrition and income generation. KWDT has emerged as the torch bearer to face the challenges ahead of the activity but embrace the advantages and sensitize the community of the benefits. We are also targeting international market.
2. Crop farming: The Trust engages in promotion of organic farming by encouraging crop farming to reduce dependence on rain fed agriculture through promotion of rain water harvesting to support simple irrigation technologies. Fruit trees and caliandra planting is rigorously monitored through counting with emphasis to plant many trees that will contribute to environment conservation, cow fodder as well as creating other sources of income and food. Back yard gardening thriving out of organic farming practices at household level such as composting have increased household food security.
3. Cooperative Marketing The milk cooling plant and the Maize mill have been established to ease cooperative marketing of produce from women agricultural activities through increased bargaining and value addition for increased incomes. To reduce the middleman effect in which women were being cheated of higher profits from the sale of their agricultural produce, KWDT intervened with the establishment of the milk cooling plant and maize mill at which women deliver excess of their milk for sale collectively at the cooling plant and maize for processing into flour and animal feed. With increased milk production we look forward to production of yoghurt, ice cream and other milk products
All programs implemented by KWDT are cautiously designed to contribute to environmental conservation through utilization of available resources. It is for this far that KWDT has ventured into environmentally friendly activities under an integrated approach that will harmonize crop and animal husbandry as water and sanitation and environmental conservation. Women are continuously encouraged to plant orchards with various fruit trees for improved nutrition and caliandra trees for animal fodder but to also consciously contribute to environmental degradation. Our activities, carried out in a group have created awareness in the community and increased demand for energy saving stoves.
|
|
|
© 2007, Katosi Women's Development Trust - All Rights Reserved |
