Mission 11 Construction of unit 3

Unit 3 Hall

During third term of 2018 we finished the rough structure of the main building of Proud Village (unit 3). It is here that our children will welcome you in the coming years. In our business “Delicious” they will serve you fine drinks and delicious snacks. As one of the main aims of the project is to engage our youngsters with intellectual disabilities in real jobs in real economic environments we are constructing a nice place to welcome you. We invite all people of good will -builders, painters, carpenters, artists, gardeners, bakers, chefs- to help us to prepare the place and the future personnel to make it excellent. Soon we will start up the skills training of our girls (see other post about program 2019 ‘transition from school to work’ to come).

Mission 11 Curriculum research

2018 was booked as the year of curriculum research. In the project we are very busy to write down the curriculum “True of life” for our children and youngsters. The theoretical part is ready. Also all topics of self care are finalized. We have first writings for all other topics: participation in family, community and economic life. But they need also extensive research. In total we address around 70 topics ranging from eating with a spoon, over cooking current meals to end up with serving in our (future) business DELICIOUS (see other post).

In the mean time our project manager Mercy graduated for Diploma in Education at Kabale University with a research entitled: Development of a promising curriculum for children with intellectual disabilities. Case study PROUD Uganda.

Mercy's birthday party

Arinda-Mercy serving popcorn to teacher Immaculate

Arinda Mercy had birth day party on 10/10/2018. Mercy was making twelve (12) years old.

The project prepared her a good party where she enjoyed the good meal with her fellow children at the project. She was given a cape for birth day and other children started to sing for her “Happy birth day song”.

Written by Kiki

Basket weaving at PROUD Uganda

Mary, Arinda-Mercy, Sarah and Bridget

Basket weaving is one of the activities children learn at PROUD Uganda. They are taught by Tindibasa Mary. The children who does basket weaving are: Arinda Mercy, Bridget and Sarah. These students are in group two and they enjoy making the baskets. Sarah felt happy when she completed her basket.

Sarah posing after finishing her basket

Written by Kiki

Irish potato growing at PROUD Village

Irish potatoes are grown at PROUD Village by the children together with their skills trainers. They practice all the activities concerning the care of the Irish potatoes such as weeding, spraying, cutting the stems and harvesting. After harvesting the children carry the Irish potatoes to the store with their skills trainers.

After putting them in the store they spread them on the ground to avoid getting rotten. They sort the big potatoes for eating and leave the small potatoes for planting.

By Kiki

Individual action plans

An individual action plan starts with observations about the performance of the child in different activities that are on the time table of the group.

The individual action plan committee is composed of the teacher of the child, the project manager and the director. They write the action plan. It is important to discuss the action plan with the children themselves (if possible) and with the parents (or caregivers).

A plan contains most of the time 2 or 3 topics to work on within one year. It gives the topic to work on, the method to use, the expected outcome and specifies who is responsible for teaching the child.

My first day at Proud Uganda by Twesigyemukama Josephine

Twesigyemukana Josephine

I am called Twesigyemukama Josephine. I came in the morning at 7:30 am at the project. I reached the place it was calm and good. I went to the office where the director and the manager were present. It was a holiday of first term. They welcomed me with happy face; this gave me courage to stay at Proud Uganda.

Director gave me the topics to write about for example I wrote about sexual education. At 10:00 we enjoyed the break together and lunch. I continued to work till evening at 5:00. It was a busy day of writing on those topics and reading other notice about curriculum from the office department. I found it good because many activities are to use hands while training the children.

By Twesigyemukama Josephine

My first day at Proud Uganda by Asaasira Patricia

Asaasira Patricia

My name is Asaasira Patricia; it was 30/4/2018 at 7:30 am Monday morning when I reported at Proud Uganda to start a new job of being curriculum agent and skills trainer. I was warmly welcomed by the teacher on duty as the director and manager were not yet at the project.

The director of the project came and welcomed. I was oriented by him about what the project is all about and the duties I would be performing at the project. The director went ahead to brief me about the curriculum project, how to write the curriculum and the topics that are to be written. He also gave me a document containing all topics that will make up the curriculum and guided me on how to use the document to write on the topics.

The manager also came and briefed me on what the project is all about and what should be written in the curriculum. She also took me to Group 1 to interact with the teacher and children. I was welcomed by the teacher for Group 1 and she briefed me what the children usually learn. I spent the whole afternoon and evening with them, it was a wonderful interaction with the teacher and the children. That is how I spent my first day at Proud Village.

By Asaasira Patricia

Job announcement

We have announced a vacancy at Voice of Kigezi radio. It goes as follows:

PROUD UG is a newly built facility for children and youngsters with intellectual disabilities (mentally retarded) in Kekubo. We are looking for someone to teach skills to the children and to help to write the curriculum. So you must have education talent and good writing skills. You may be a teacher, a social worker or have any other qualification (but at least you are the holder of a Uganda Certificate of Education).

Selection will take place at PROUD Village, plot 105, Kekubo Cell next Saturday starting at 9:30. Please contact Kiconco Mercy, manager PROUD UG, tel. 077 064 45 56, to confirm your participation.

Announced by Kiconco Mercy from PROUD UG.

 

Joséphine (left) and Patricia (right)

Out of more than 10 candidates we selected Asaasira Patricia and Twesigyemukama Josephine to be the new collaborators of PROUD UG. They will tell you more about their first weeks at the project themselves.

Personnel issues

This is my tenth mission to Kabale to build up the project together with the Ugandan team. Slowly by slowly we are composing a team we can rely on. That is not easy, because Ugandan work habits are very different from European ones. So both sides have to adapt to each other. At the same time the challenges in the work with children and youngsters with intellectual disabilities are unknown to Ugandans.

Even the target group seems to be unknown. When we ask candidates for a job what they know about the project they usually say we work with children who are lame or don’t hear or see. If not they say we are working with children who are mentally disturbed. Once we have pointed out we work with children who have intellectual disabilities, people may think these children can’t learn at all.

Consequently, planning for children with intellectual disabilities is also new. Within the district there are only a few facilities for them. These centers focus on custodial care. A dynamic educational approach focusing on teaching functional skills we have not seen. And what about participation of youngsters with intellectual disabilities in economic activities?

Teachers may not understand the challenge that is in the work with these youth. More, work habits in Uganda and Flanders (Europe) are also very different. One day I read an article of Ian Clarke in a Ugandan newspaper, explaining that Ugandans will promise you all and everything when they come to ask for a job. But the majority will not fulfill their promises: once at their post they lean back and wait for the salary to come.

Mission 10: external relations

A part from working at the curriculum and the infrastructure, we will also give special attention to our relationship with parents and authorities.

We plan to visit all parents at home and to discuss with them curriculum issues. The home visits will inform us about which skills we need to teach to the children. E.g. does the child brush or not? Does he/she use a tooth brush or small sticks? Is the family eating at a table or holding the plate in the hand? Do they use spoons or do they always eat with their hands?

Parents meeting May 2018: parents, personnel and authorities

We want to be registered by Southern Division and we are preparing a file for them. The Community Development Officer, Kiconco Peace, want to be informed about the children and parents involved in the project, recruitment procedures, parents meetings, the personnel and their qualifications, the actual work plan and future planning and the activity report. As these documents are readily available it does not give us much work to inform her.

Written by Pele

Mission 10: construction activities

Another major topic these months is the construction of the second part of unit 2.

We are going to build some rooms with a separate shower and toilet area. Together with the already existing ‘living’ (which will be equipped as dining, sitting and office-library) and room and bathroom, they will form the home-stay and guest-house area.

We are constructing a small bakery

We also plan for a workshop area. This area will be composed of the kitchen (built last year), the bakery space and 2 stocks (to build now).

What is so exciting is that we are going to add a space that can be used to develop productive activities (bakery). This will be a new step in the project.

Written by Pele

Mission 10: focus on curriculum project

Every year we make a work plan for PROUD UG. It tells us the outcomes we want to reach during the running year.

When I come to Uganda, usually for 2 months, we look at the themes we want to give a boost during that period.

I came first to Uganda in October 2013 to make investigations to plan for the project. Now, in April-May 2018, I’m here for my tenth mission.

The main activity for now is to continue to write the curriculum for the children. Last year we determined the core curriculum. There are four main learning areas: self help, participation in family life, participation in community life and economic participation. Now we are writing on each topic of the core curriculum, e.g. personal hygiene, cooking, music education, renting rooms etc. The topics are 62 in total, so it is a huge job.

Written by Pele

Valentine 2018

Herman showing the way to visitors

Every year The village sets up a fundraising activity on the occasion of Valentine day. This year, on 10th of February, we organized a “tapas evening.”

Katrhien decorated the hall

Kathrien decorated the hall where the party took place. She stated that love is the most difficult puzzle although the puzzle exists only of 2 pieces!

Chef Annie with Edith

“Tapas” are snacks in Spanish cuisine. Annie, our board member who is also an excellent chef, combined 10 tapas into a full meal.

Board member Sabine styling tapas

For instance, you could enjoy “albondigas” -meatballs made of pork and beef, served with tomato sauce- and “empanadillas” -small turnovers filled with meats and vegetables- and “tortilla de patatas” -a type of omelet containing fried chunks of potatoes and onions.

At your service

Around midnight guests turned home, fully satisfied. The profit we made with this activity will be added to the budget of the PROUD project.

A new student: Arinda Mercy

Arinda Mercy arriving at PROUD Village with her mother

This school year 2018 we received a new student called Arinda Mercy at PROUD project. Arinda Mercy comes from Bugongi Kabale District. She came on 22/01/2018 and joined group 2. Arinda Mercy is a good girl and she is active in all activities of the PROUD Village.

Mercy Arinda (middle) with other students of group 2 and teacher Meroda (left)

By Kiki

Crops grown at the PROUD Village

Harvested green peppers

We grow different crops at the PROUD Village such as carrots, onions, green peppers... 

Carrots

We have harvested these crops and they act as additives to food for the children. 

Harvested onions put on sunshine to dry

Onions are harvested and put on sunshine to dry such that they don't rot while stored.

By Kiki

Parents and relatives visit PROUD Village

The parents and relatives of the children visited them on 12/11/2017. The director of the project Mr. Leon Peeters was also present at the visitation day.

The director welcomed the parents and relatives for having come to visit the project of their children and introduced the team of PROUD UG to the parents. The director explained to the parents about the activities their children are doing while at the PROUD Village. He explained to them using the pictures of the activities.

The parents were happy to see the activities that their children perform while at the PROUD project and the director encouraged them to do the same activities at their homes. The parents clapped the hands for the director as the way of thanking him for the skills their children have acquired.

The parents also moved around at the project to look at the gardens and the kitchen of the PROUD Village.

By Kiki

Infrastructure works

In October-November we worked on the water supply and on the finishing of the main building of unit 2, which houses the kitchen and the administration.

Rack for reservoir tank

At unit 1 a 'reservoir tank' of 3000 liters was placed on a rack. The toilets will now always have water, even at occasions no water is provided by National Water supply.

We now have a 5000 liter plastic tank that collects water from the sanitary building, a permanent tank of 10,000 liters connected to the roof of the classes and a reservoir tank of 3000 liters that is connected to the water pipe and with the permanent tank.

Justus tiling the bathroom

The finishing of the main building of unit 2 consisted of tiling the bathroom, installing gutters and painting the whole building with our 3 colors: broken white, army green and smokey gray.

Finishing main building unit 2

By Pele

Christmas in the village

I went to church and I put on my best clothes

Hello, on Christmas I went to church and I put on my best clothes and everything made me happy –that is why I smiled.

Dividing meat. This is how people in Kabale mostly in the village start Xmas.

Here in Uganda some people in the village save money in small groups of 10-15 for the whole year and buy cows. On Christmas they slaughter cows and share the meat equally and take it to their families for enjoyment.

My Mummy, my niece and I, just feeling happy on Xmas day sitting in front of our house.

Our mummy was also in the group and she got five kilograms of meat. Everybody ate meat and we were happy with our mum, so Christmas was well spent.

by Annet Namara

Christmas cake

Stefaan promoting christmas cakes

Christmas cakes are back again. The Christmas meal is the most important meal of the year in Flanders. To top it all off, there's the “kerststronk” or “Bûche de Noël”. Known to English speakers as the Yule log, this traditional cake can be a true work of art, with bakers using chocolate frosting and creating grooves to have the desert most closely resemble a real tree log with bark.

The Yule log is a true work of art

Stefaan made delicious Christmas cakes with the help of his wife Sabine and chairman Willy. The base is a sponge cake and the finish is optional with mocha or whipped cream. On top he puts sweets and chocolate Christmas figurines. The Christmas cake is appreciated by young and old. Both the toddler and the grandmother can enjoy it.

Willy (left) Stefaan (right)

We congratulate Stefaan and his family with this action in favor of vzw The village!

Sabine, the wife of Stefaan, putting your Christmas cake in a nice box

By Pele

Christmas inspires people

Although Flanders has changed from a Catholic region into a secular region, Christmas continues to inspire people to good deeds. Radio channel Studio Brussels organizes every year in the week before Christmas 'Music for Life' and 'the warmest week'. The radio calls for support for charities in Flanders.

Jakob and Abel

In December we always organize Christmas days were people can enjoy Christmas atmosphere and buy Christmas gifts. This year there were also 4 activities for Music for Life in favor of our association. Kathrien Raman baked waffles and Stefaan Rombaut made traditional cakes (see next post). In September already Mohammed El Sayyid sold pancakes. The personnel of the of the Province of East Flanders donated a part of the funds they raised for Music for life to PROUD Project.

Stefaan en Willy

Thank you!

By Pele

End of third term (school year 2017)

Arinda and her mother

Proud Uganda ended third term on 08/12/2017. All the children from group 1 and group 2 received their reports. Parents also came with their children to pick the reports. All children were happy to receive their reports.

Praise and her elder sister Daphine

By Kiki

Kabale University students opposing the change of national constitution (Togikwatako)

 Students with papers written on” Togikwatoko”

On 26/09/2017 the students of Kabale University where Kiki studies from were striking such that they don’t change the national constitution article 102 (b). This says that a person under the age of 35 years should not contest to be the president of Uganda. And the person above 75 years should not contest to be the president of Uganda. The parliament of Uganda wants to change the constitution -so that is why the students were striking. The news reporter Mr. Simani from Voice of Kigezi Kabale was present to record the news at Kabale University. The students were running around carrying the papers written on “Togikwatako” meaning that don’t touch the constitution to change it.

 Simani is a big man with his colleague recording News

By Kiki

How to make friends

Alive Timious

The following are the ways of how to make friends:

One can make friends through helping other people or having a spirit of team work.

Friends can be made through visiting them, juzzing with them and praying with them.

One can make friends through sharing information, telling stories, sharing eatable things etc.

Friends can be made through becoming trust worthy to them and helpful.

One can make friends through visiting different places most especially public places like churches, hotels or places where many people are most likely to be gathered.

One can make friends through spending leisure time e.g. clubbing, attending fellowships, swimming etc.

One can make friends through becoming social and used to people or not becoming selfish.

Promoting developmental establishments in an area can also become one way of making friends.

Written by Alive Timious

Timious making friendship with WOGE

My first day at PROUD UG

Wednesday Emmaculate, alias Phionah, skills trainer gardening

It was on Wed 11th. Oct. 2017 morning, when I reached at PROUD Uganda. I found two workers, Doreen and Jovitah, in the class room. They welcomed me well. Afterwards I signed the workers book.

And Mr Mugisha came and asked me: do you know what we are going to do? I replied: no. He answered me: let me bring you hoe and gumboots. Very soon we started working. I met new activities like toilet training, washing utensils by learners,... which I had never seen and learnt in other schools.

What made me happy today -on 17th.10- was that we ate with our director Mr Peeters Leon. We shared lunch with him, what I had never seen since I started working at PROUD Uganda. Everybody in the dining was extremely happy and excited, fantastic. Teachers, children and non-teaching staff ate balanced diet like green vegetables.

The most interesting things at PROUD Uganda are good buildings, cabbage plantation, egg plant plantation etc. because I teach agriculture. But at PROUD UG there is lack of electricity for charging phones, lighting and lack of internet services like wireless internet.

I remain,
WEDNESDAY EMMACULATE