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HAPPY EASTER

We wish all our partners, followers and supporters a Happy Easter as we bring you a variety of recent communications received from East Africa..

We pass on a greeting from one of our partners in Uganda, Dennis Ssettaala, who writes," Easter Day is all about hope, love, and joyful living in our Lord Jesus Christ. Best wishes for Easter and the season ahead. Warmest thoughts to you and your family on this holiday. Happy Easter! "He is not here; He has risen!" Luke 24:6-7"

THE STRAW SCHOOL IN ZAMBIA

The people from the islands in Lake Bangweula and the Lunga swamps have been displaced by repeated annual floods. Moving to the mainland they have been given an area to settle on called Chibondo. We began helping with a shallow water well and latrine slabs for the homes when there were 111 homes in 2021. Then the houses increased to 210 and now number 450. In February 2023 the settling population built a school out of straw for the 500 primary/nursery school children. Read the full story here We are seeking to raise money for school blackboards (£340), a shallow water well at the school (£1,447), four latrines (£1,454) and a brick classroom/ store room (£1,856) with more to follow. If you can help please donate any amount through Total Giving or our Paypal Giving page.

A FLOATING POPULATION OF SOUTH SUDANESE

Afrinspire partner, the Sani-Tayi Self-Help group of South Sudanese have been serving their people for 20 years. After the refugees returned to South Sudan in 2006 Afrinspire helped them create new farms and seven schools in South Sudan. Then in 2016 the population had to flee from a civil war and ended up again in refugee camps in northern Uganda. We helped them create 12 simple primary/nursery schools. Then in 2019 they began slowly moving back into South Sudan. We helped them re-create a Primary School in Yei in the far south and one in Terekeka, north of the capital Juba. Three schools remain in Morobi Camp. Each term we are doing what we can to provide school materials, sometimes food and sometimes the rebuilding of simple classrooms.

School materials, food and blackboards were delivered to three schools in Morobi Refugee Settlement in Northern Uganda ready for the first term of 2023.

PINEAPPLES

Pineapple plants are drought resistent, and when there is rain and sunshine they grow profusely. Harvesting and selling two pineapples a day will lift a farmer out of poverty. Pineapples propugate in many ways; by spreading tubers and by multi-fruiting. You can plant the pinapple tops and even propugate them by rooting the spiky leaves. In Buyende there is a small nursery field of pineapples about 50 feet by 100 feet and it will produce 8,000 plants for distribution. Pinaeapples were introduced to the area ten years ago by Uganda Development Services. A visitor during March reported: "This is a pineapple garden, with too much sunshine. You cannot believe that these pineapples are looking so healthy. Because of the skills of the farmers, the pineapple plantation is looking so good."

This pile of pinapple tubers are waiting to be distributed.

This multiple headed pineapple plant shows how freely they propugate.

SMOKELESS OVEN TRAINING

During February and March the knowledge on how to make smokeless ovens using local materials has been spread around the Afrinspire network. Groups of four to six trainees have visited Buyende for practical hands-on training, taking part in the construction of twenty smokeless ovens for twenty families.
We have found that in many places 90% of the households are still cooking on three stones with all the associated smoke inhalation and fire danger to children. A smokeless oven removes smoke from the kitchen and uses less than half the fuel of open fires because heat is retained and used more efficienty in the oven.

One of the trainees, Dennis, described the smokeless oven in a short video of what he had made.

To read how to make a smokeless oven, also called a Lorena Stove read here.

DROUGHT RESILIENT TREES

Many of the communities we are in contact with are suffering from rainfall variation and droughts due to climate change. We are targetting one particular community for International Drought Day on 17th June 2023. We hope to provide 5,000 drought tolerant trees to be planted in the area. The species are acacia, mahogany, mvule, teak, grmelina aborea, mangos, macademia, jack fruit, hass avocado and grevelia robust. All the trees have a use and a purpose. The aim is to have student tree planting clubs in the schools and engage the functional adult literacy women's groups in championing tree planting.

Mature mangos waiting to ripen and the nursery bed where the 5,000 trees will be raised.
The cost of nurturing and delivering the trees is sixty seven pence per tree.
If you would like to sponsor trees please email us or donate through our website.

GOOD RESULTS

Two schools in which we have been involved for some time were both excited about getting their best results ever for Primary Seven leavers.

Writing about Matuwa School in Eastern Uganda, Naboki Michael says: "I am happy to inform you that Matuwa school managed to get two pupils passing in first grade and 8 in second. The remaining 9 in third grade. On my own behalf thank you so much for supporting Matuwa school. It is for this reason we can see the results".

In Southeast Uganda, in Iingero District, the headteacher of Kiryburo School in Rugaaga Town informed us that they had 2 first grade, 21 second grade, 13 third grade and 4 fourth grade primary seven leavers: "We are so happy for your hold up, love, guidance towards this achievement since it is the first time to get all learners conceded" Our input had been text books and computers.

ISINGERO WOMENS FUNCTIONAL ADULT LITERACY KEEPS ON TRACK

The womens FAL leaders in Isingero District held a Refresher Workshop in March to review where they had reached and what their groups need next. They were assessed for their own abilities as leaders particularly for going on to the more advanced training for some groups. They received the next book of training material for the functional adult literacy course which is part of a government approved programme. The local District Officer for FAL, Christopher Ahairwe, met all the leaders and took part in this workshop.