KWDT hosts The World Forum For Fish  Harvesters and Fish Workers (WFF) on 19th to 22nd November 2012, in which issues of small scale fishers were discussed.

 

Katosi Women Development Trust (KWDT) received “the 3rd Kyoto World Water Grand Prize” at the closing ceremony of the 6^th world water forum in Marseille France on 17^th March 2012

It has been 9 years since Kyoto city founded this award as the host city of the 3^rd World Water Forum with the cooperation of many people concerned including “the World Water Council” and “the International Soroptimist of Kyoto”. This award was founded to honor organizations that make grassroots activities in order to help solve the world’s water problems

“To award of the prize, 225 organizations from 52 countries and regions applied which made the selection process very difficult. As result of the impartial selection by the prize committee, Katosi Women Development Trust was awarded for their marvelous work for solving the water problems in Uganda,” Mr. Masao Oshima Director Kyoto City.

“We are proud to associate to an active contribution to solve of the serious water problems in the world. ….. and we all devote ourselves to social service for the improvement of the lives of women and girls,” Ms. Taeko Nakanishi President, International Soroptimist of Kyoto Japan.

For Katosi Women Development Trust Ms. Margaret Nakato the Coordinator received the prize

“What makes me so happy today is that; 365 women now organized in 16 groups, are already playing different roles to increase their access to water and sanitation, play a leading role to changing attitudes of people and engaging in decision making. Global problems need local solutions, and solutions lie in the local communities through engaging those who are most affected by the problem.

I thank the World Water Council for this initiative this prize that will facilitate tapping into the wealth of knowledge that is applied locally to solve global problems.

All at KWDT join me to thank so much our partners in development who have always believed in what we are doing and have greatly contributed to KWDT winning the 3^rd Kyoto world water grand prize,” Margaret Nakato Coordinator Katosi Women Development Trust.

 

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Katosi women have noticeably accelerated self supply in Mukono District. (Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network(UWASNET)- Newsletter)

KWDT presented its progress in improving self supply among the fishing communities of Mukono district. Notable was the organizations efforts , which commenced with 4 rain water tanks in 2004, expanding to 180 households constructed b y 2010. This initiative was made big through a revolving scheme designed in away that beneficiaries pay for the rain water tanks through agreed and affordable installments. These rural women organized in groups have successfully managed the scheme locally. Through this project, the rural fishing communities no longer depend on the contaminated water, previously collected from the lake and inland open water sources. The initiative has increased access to safe water by these rural community. The presentation generated interaction among the participants. It was evident as an approach that attracts replication in other rural communities.

Margaret Nakato- Coordinator KWDT attended the 6th Rural Water Supply Network Conference in Kampala on the 29th November 2011

KWDT has trained and equipped 22 women with masonry skills; this overturned cultural barriers where masonry skills were only for men. Of the 192 (8000 liter) tanks constructed for KWDT members 74% have been constructed by the women member tank masons. KWDT women tank masons have been contracted by Voluntary Action for Development Mpigi to train women in tank construction. The masonry skills acquired by women have not only earned them income (Ush.190, 000 per tank) but enables KWDT to carry out timely construction as masons are always available and built the self esteem of women. “I am called engineer, “says Dorothy Nakalema.

Women Tank Masons; Dorothy Nakalema (on the left) and Lydia Kateregga(on the right) during tank construction.

Katosi Women Development Trust was awarded the Best performing NGO in the water and sanitation sector for the year 2008/09