Rakai-Kooki, Uganda

Cuttings of improved banana varieties help farmers such as Mrs Settuba grow enough food for their families.

Since October 2006, Rakai-Kooki Area Development Programme (ADP) has:

HIV and AIDS

• Educated 1,500 children from 10 primary schools about age-appropriate values-based life skills and HIV prevention
• Trained HIV and AIDS support groups in nutrition, community care approach and psychosocial counselling
• Supported eight community care coalitions to provide care for orphans, vulnerable children and chronically ill people
• Trained six home-based care teams to support people living with HIV and AIDS and educate the community
• Held a music, dance, drama and speech competition through school Vision clubs
• Supported a community care coalition to establish a class for young children; 50 children now attend
• Supported six community care coalitions to register with the government
• Trained community care coalition members to plan and implement activities
• Assisted community care coalitions to start income-generating activities
• Provided community care coalitions with maize, flour, beans and potatoes so they can support children

Education

• Supported 220 students to attend secondary school
• Supported 30 teenagers through vocational training courses
• Provided school uniforms for 400 children
• Constructed a secondary school library
• Constructed a block of housing for four teachers

Agriculture

• Trained 480 farmers in modern agricultural practices through 32 farmers groups; topics included natural resource conservation, organic farming and growing bananas
• Provided banana plants for 70 farmers
• Trained members of eight farmers groups to establish tree nurseries and provided them with supplies; they are now growing mango, avocado, orange, lemon, pawpaw, passion fruit and coffee
• Trained 108 people, including children, to grow vegetables and provided them with eggplant, cabbage, tomato and green pepper seeds

Leadership development

• Trained 480 local leaders in project management and leadership
• Trained 146 volunteers to be advocates for child rights
• Trained 650 newly elected development committee members in project management and leadership

Challenges

The people of Rakai-Kooki still have a number of challenges ahead of them. During the next year, World Vision will focus on strengthening local groups to support orphans and vulnerable children, promote HIV prevention and reduce stigma against people affected by HIV and AIDS.