May 2021 Report to Donors
During the month of May, the main focus of community life in Mungula and Olua settlements has been farming. Additional assistance from SSLCD has enabled each settlement to increase the acreage under cultivation to 15 acres. As a result of the increase, nearly every able-bodied adult and youth has been working full-time in the fields for the entire month. There is a great deal of excitement as they are now able to plant not only the traditional maize, but also beans and okra to add badly needed vitamins and protein to their diets. In addition, they are also planting sim-sim (we call it sesame), which produces oil for cooking and is a very valuable cash crop as well, providing a badly needed source of cash income to pay school fees.
Even amidst the farming, preparing for new projects has continued. At the end of the month 45 women and a few men were trained in business management in preparation for new co-ops in each settlement which will own and operate grain mills to provide this necessary service for both refugees and neighboring Ugandans. A Rotary club in Southwestern MI will deciding soon on a proposal to purchase the grain mills. But even if this proposal is unsuccessful, SSLCD is pursuing other possible sources of funding. We are very excited about the prospects of having this community-controlled business to provide a needed service and cash income, in addition to the skills of running a business.
Planning is also underway to prepare for a possible outbreak of disease in the fall. Last fall there was serious flooding which led to destruction of latrines and contamination of water wells resulting in a serious outbreak of cholera. This year there is the additional threat of covid, along with the endemic malaria. The settlement leaders are working with Lutheran World Federation and the UN to take preventive measures to prevent recurrence of water contamination to abate the threat of cholera. At the same time they are planning to provide hand washing stations and masks to prevent covid, since vaccines are unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Once Again, our deepest thanks for your financial assistance which makes all of this possible.