On 17 Jun, the usually-quiet village of Kawolongojjo, Ssekanyoni subcounty was bustling. It was the day two sister villages were coming, namely Kittanswa and Nalyankanja. From early morning, women were busy cooking matooke and meat while men prepared firewood. By noon, there were over one hundred people gathered.
These three villages have received a volunteer team from KOICA (Korean government’s aid agency). Each village had formed a “Pioneer Group” who worked closely with the team since Feb.
This Pioneer Group, or PG, is made of no average man. The members are determined, committed, and hard-working. They decided to stay even after they learned that this project was nothing about foreigners giving money. Actually, what it gave them was hard work, but they understood the importance of such approach.
Since Feb, PGs have met once a week to work together. This week they would work on one member’s farm; next week, they’d go to another’s farm. That was reviving the spirit of cooperation.
The project has been putting special emphasis on mindset training. Understanding the importance of motivation, confidence, and can-do spirit, the KOICA team has provided the villages with many interesting and diverse materials to boost their morale. PGs would often discuss not only how to improve themselves but also to improve their whole village.
This PG, having gained sufficient confidence, decided to take on village issues themselves; they went out to a cracked and crumbling road and repaired it with sheer manpower. They also cleaned a communal well. They plan to take care of the elderly and marginalized people in their village.
Volunteers are made of six young Koreans. Divided into farm team, community team, and PR team, they are working hard to improve the food security and welfare of the villages. Volunteers come to the village three times a week to work shoulder-by-shoulder with the farmers. After an intensive farm work in the morning, they sit down for mindset training, village issue discussion, and farming training.
Farming training is focused on zero-cost, organic, effective methods. Some methods specifically addressed the water shortage issue by providing Rei ponds and Zai pits. Black soldier fly and earthworm rearing were taught as useful tools that do not require any money. The project also teaches the villages about a new eco-toilet as the common pit latrine is a serious contamination threat to groundwater.
The event of 17 Jun was prepared to report to the stakeholders on the progress and to present future plans. Hyein Cho, Director of KOICA Uganda Office and Jaehun Choi of Korean embassy took turns to congratulate the event. Nassali Annie Miriam Vice Chair LC5 and Golooba Isaac, Principal Assistant CAO of Mityana district also commended the work of the farmers. Seremba Daniel, DPMO, counterpart for this project was also present. Officials from subcounties, town councils, and parishes were also present to spread this movement.
About sixty farmers from Kakiri, Wakiso, having rented three taxis, came to learn. They listened carefully to the farming methods and visited the fields to see the actual Rei pond and Zai pits. Tebandeke John Bosco, LC3 Chairman of Kakiri Subcounty had brought them to the occasion to inspire these people of new farming methods and mindset change.
This model is thoroughly based on self-help. The KOICA project may have kicked off the process, however, the villages and the villagers are now developing themselves.
KOICA volunteers are expected to leave after a year. However, this legacy of PG will live on, and so will the friendship.
