Teachers

The project is as good as the personnel is. They make the project. PROUD UG is looking for personnel with good skills and excellent job engagement. Together we can!

International Women's Day 2019

Mary, Immaculate, Apophia, Josephine, Annet and Mercy

International Women’s Day is the day for women that comes on 8^th February every year. The women from PROUD Uganda were happy enjoying from New London Image Hotel. They were: Kiconco Mercy, Twesigyemukama Josephine, Wednesday Immaculate, Asiimwe Apophia, Tumusiime Annet and Tindibasa Mary.

They felt happy to be called women because it’s a special day for them. Every woman gave thanks to the director for giving them an opportunity to go out for pleasure while enjoying their day so called International Women’s Day. Wednesday Immaculate said that “All days are for men but I’m happy this day is also mine.”

Changemakers : Kiki, het gezicht van PROUD UG
https://changemakers.11.be/changemaker/72/KiconcoMercy

Changemaker Kiki van PROUD UG met 3 leerlingen

In lage inkomenslanden, zelfs in vrij open landen als Oeganda, is de sociale situatie van kinderen met een beperking niet benijdenswaardig. Kinderen met een verstandelijke beperking worden vaak thuis gehouden en scholen vinden het maar niks hun tijd met deze kinderen te verliezen. Andere kinderen worden ‘ter bewaring’ naar afgelegen plaatsen gebracht...
Je moet tegen de stroom oproeien als je aan deze kinderen een toekomst wil bieden. En soms rare dingen horen -niet plezant. Maar het PROUD project wil tonen dat ook kinderen en jongeren met een verstandelijke beperking kunnen leren, werken en goede buren zijn. Door hen in plaats van geen zorg (verwaarlozing) of nutteloze ‘black bord’ activiteiten een liefdevolle omgeving en een functioneel curriculum aan te bieden.

Kiki maakte aan de Universiteit van Kabale een verhandeling over hoe zo’n curriculum er uit moet zien. Ze onderscheidde vier grote velden:
1- training in zelfredzaamheid met accenten op hygiëne (b.v. menstruatie zorg) en voorkomen;
2- deelname aan het familiale leven met een accent op huishoudelijke vaardigheden (b.v. leren klaarmaken van traditionele Oegandese gerechten);
3- deelname aan het gemeenschapsleven met accenten op communicatieve (b.v. aankopen doen op de markt) en sociale vaardigheden;
4- deelname aan het economisch leven met bijzondere aandacht voor productieve -b.v. tuinieren- en commerciële -b.v. home stay- activiteiten.
Het programma draait om functionele vaardigheden d.w.z. vaardigheden die de jongeren nu of in hun toekomstig leven nodig zullen hebben. Het programma is met andere woorden levensecht en contextgevoelig. Het krijgt een typisch Oegandese invulling.
Tegelijkertijd vindt Kiki dat partiële participatie in volwaardige economische activiteiten en omgevingen een betere strategie is om adolescenten met een verstandelijke beperking tot hun recht te laten komen dan hen in afzondering typische bezigheden voor gehandicapten te laten doen. Wil u bijvoorbeeld onthaald worden door jongeren met een verstandelijke beperking in Kiki’s homestay, dan bent u er zeker welkom!
Geschreven door Pele

My first day at PROUD Uganda by Tumusiime Annet

It was Monday 14/01/2019 when I arrived at Proud Uganda. I came early in the morning, I found a lady sitting in group one class. We greeted each other and she welcomed me well. I introduced myself to her and she answered me that she is called Asiimwe Apophia.

I asked her about the activities which are carried out in the project, she explained everything to me and later she took me around the project. She showed me group one class and group two which has a shop inside, she showed me bathrooms, toilets and changing room and they were so nice with uniform tiles.

She explained to me about the big building that it was to be used as a restaurant. We went to the kitchen and it was so smart with sinks, tiles from top to bottom. She told me that small buildings which were unfinished were to be used as bakery and home stay.

She took me to the garden and told me that Immaculate is responsible for the gardens. I found sugarcane, vegetables for example sukumawick and cabbages.

Later other skills trainers came and the children also. I introduced myself to them and they also introduced themselves to me. The assistant manager who is called Madam Twesigyemukama Josephine showed me the children I will be teaching. The staff was so cooperative.

What surprised me were the lessons which are done at Proud Uganda and I had never seen them for example cognitive games, watering, serving food by children from group 2, setting tables and gardening.

My first day at Proud Uganda was so interesting and it ended well, I went home at 5:00 pm.

I remain Tumusiime Annet.

My first day at PROUD UG

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.

My first day at PROUD Uganda

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



Team PROUD UG (2017)

The team of PROUD UG 2017 is composed as follows:

Kiconco Marcey, project manager

Kiconco Marcey

Ngabirano Patience, skills trainer group 1

Ngabirano Patience and her daughter Faith

Ekyakunzire Doreen, skills trainer group 2

Ekyankunzire Doreen

Nikandinda Joventah, skills trainer and curriculum agent

Nikandinda Joventah met Joseph en Elizabeth

Mugisha Innocent, guard

Mugisha Innocent

Team PROUD UG (2016)

Left to right: Hellen, Innocent, Patience, Marselina, Mercy

PROUD UG has four staff members and one non staff member. The staff members are named as Mbabazi Marselina, PROUD project manager, Kiconco Mercy, curriculum leader and a teacher for the second group, Ngabirano Patience, a teacher for the first group, Hellen Ahimbisibwe, assistent teacher and non-staff named as Mugisha Innocent.

Written by Marselina 7/10/2016


Faith

I tested pregnant in December 2015. From then I started to care for myself as antinatal. Everything went well with me and my developing baby. Nothing was said to be wrong according to the scan results until the time I delivered.
  

Teacher Patience and Faith

It was at night when I went through labour pains like other women and rushed to Rugarama hospital where I spent a night and the following day which was Tuesday at around 3:00 am (the date was 7/9/2016). The labour was so painful as contractions were increasing to the extent that I had to bite my mouth during pushing but finally I had to deliver abouncing baby girl.

From her first time on earth she cried and when I gave her breasts she sucked breast milk as if she was used. Every body in the hospital room got surprised and she would not allow me to sleep because she was every minute on breasts sucking.

She doesn't like to cry a lot when she is breastfed. She feels well and asleep when bathed, smeared jelly and clothed well. She likes to see me direct in my eyes when I am breastfeeding her. She feels well when put on the back.

Above all she is called Ainebabazi Faith.

Written by Patience

The first day in PROUD project by Nikandinda Joventah

Joventah

I reached in the project as I was interviewed. The project was well constructed and looking smart. I was interviewed by the project manager and the director and later I was given a job as teacher and curriculum agent.

Now in the project

-The project is going on forward. Proper sanitation and hygiene is the song of the project by the teachers.
-Emphasis and promotion of quality skills among the children is moving on well by the teachers.
Well, the project is shining.
All from Niwandinda Joventah


Ekyakunzire Doreen, teacher of group 2

My name is Ekyakunzire Doreen. I am a female Ugandan aged 23 yrs born in 1994 from a place called Rubaya Sub-county, Mugandu Parish, Kacerere Village, Kabale District in Ndorwa County. I am happy to be born in the place mentioned above b'se it has already helped me to grow very well with many experiences which have led me to be the way I am. And that will also help me to be better in future.

Ekyakunzire Doreen

I have all parents. My Father is Mr. Kamari Enock and my mother is Musinguzi Win. All of them have brought me to be grown up from birth up to now. They have given me a chance of taking my studies within the way they are b'se we are not in good living but not as far as not to servive our selves, b'se they have offered themselves in trying to pay for myself from primary level up to institution level as follows:

I started my primary level in 2000 & 2008 I finished it. Then 2009 I joined secondary & in 2012 I was finished secondary level while doing very well on that all levels but I remained at home for 2 yrs from 2012-2014 due to lack of school fees to continue my studies and I was at home while doing other activities e.g. household activities like cooking, washing both utensils & washing clothes, cleaning and doing income generating activities being helped wiz my parents like gardening activities, clotcheting, weaving mats, baskets & others.
Then in 2015 I got a plan to join the Nursery institution together with my parents b'se we have already got money from those activities. Then 2015 I joinded Kigezi Early Childhood Education Institute Kabale for 2yrs in-service programme up to 2016 i.e. I have finished my certificate in Nursery teaching.

Doreen teacher at PROUD UG

In 2017 I started to look far a job to do and I thank almighty God b'se He answered my prayers & I have got it on PROUD UG, Kekubo Village Kabale District. Per now I am working and PROUD UG is a very good project in looking after mentally retarded children. May be when it changes but per now it is a good project in both children and workers plus the neighbourhoods.

Written by Ekyakunzire Doreen