Learning activities group 1: listening and playing music

Children with cognitive disabilities can enjoy listening and playing music as well other children. Music relaxes the minds of children, it makes them happy and excited. 

We are still looking to record more songs and music styles to be enjoyed by the children. Among the instruments our children play we have shakers, sound tubes, drums, xylophone, flute…

We are concentrating on traditional music instruments (e.g. drums), songs (e.g. ayimwigure orurembo =you open the gate), dances (Kikiga dance practiced by the Bakiga) but don't exclude modern music.

As for other activities we are still working on a more in depth study of music education for children with cognitive disabilities. We do so by reviewing its aims, contents, methods and materials. Possibly we will also involve a music teacher (specialist).

Learning activities group 1: cognitive games

Matching

Cognitive development refers to how a child perceives, thinks and gains understanding of his world. Children with intellectual disabilities have relatively weak cognitive capacities. But they can also benefit from brain training games, as can kids with normal cognitive development.

Construction game

In the project we dispose of cognitive games donated by children from Kalken, the Belgian village where our main sponsor is located. Examples of materials: building blocks, jig-saws, matching games, dominoes, sorting games etc. As you can see on the pictures, our children like to play with them.

Learning activities group 1: physical exercises and games

Group 1: physical games

This activity is healthy, promotes physical fitness and gross motor development. Children learn to have a better control over their body movements, it enhances agility and coordination etc. 

Group 1: physical games

  It can even have a positive effect on their future working capacities and preparedness of working together.

Group 1: Arinda our top football player

There are many different physical exercises and games one can play. For instance teachers practice ball skills with the children, like throwing, catching, rolling, bouncing, kicking etc.

Learning activities group 1 (and 2): morning devotion

Morning devotion is for creating a positive mind set so that we can do things well and become active during the day. It creates a feeling of togetherness and stimulates the will to help each other and to practice things with care.

Morning devotion: dancing

Composing elements of morning devotion are singing, dancing, waving, clapping hands and praying among others.

Morning devotion: praying

On the pictures you see children dancing and praying. Even if not everyone understands what we are praying it still brings souls together.

Learning activities in PROUD Village

Hello, we are informing you about the learning activities in PROUD Village. Those of group 1 children with intellectual disabilities in primary school age and those of group 2 youngsters with intellectual disabilities in secondary school age. In future we will also start group 3 young adults with intellectual disabilities, to compare with their siblings who follow higher education.

Group 1: physical games

But we start with group 1. The activities are: physical exercises and games; cognitive games; music: playing and listening music; drawing and shading; toilet training; self care: dressing, combing, brushing, smearing, brushing shoes; setting and clearing the tables; washing utensils: cleaning and watering plants. So most of all: general education with a do component.

Through all activities we train communication and social skills.

Some activities are for all children e.g. group 1 and 2 are together for morning devotion, break porridge and lunch.

Group 1 and 2: morning devotion

The best trained team in Uganda

I've turned the bar into a workshop

Personnel of Kirigime guesthouse in Kabale are surely the best trained team in Uganda. How is that possible? Well it is because many workshops take place in Kirigime and by these occasions the club and bar are turned into a conference hall.

I am a member of many associations

We hear all those important messages

Members of the personnel of the guesthouse are purchasing T-shirts of the workshops and they hear all those important messages. The anti corruption flag is waving several times a year in Kirigime as former 'Kick corruption out of Kigezi' turned into 'Kick corruption out of Uganda'.

One day I even found a family member of mine attending the fight against corruption workshop!

The flag of 'Kick corruption out of Uganda' waving in Kirigime Guesthouse

The brand new car of Kick-U

At night many cars of important organizations come to sleep in Kirigime Guest house. They are nice cars, donated by important donors, but no one can beat UN. The UN cars are equipped to go in every corner of Uganda and to communicate directly with UN head quarters. So if you want to know where your tax payers money goes, come to take a look at the parking of the Guesthouse.

WOGE

Many cars come to sleep in Kirigime Guesthouse

21st July Fifth edition of ice saloon

(news 2017 -3)

Enjoying ice cream

For the fifth time our association invited supporters to come and eat ice cream to support PROUD project. Many people responded to our invitation and the weather was excellent. Ice cream was gorgeous and adults as well as children had a good time. The team of volunteers led by Ellen and Kathrien gathered more than 3000 Euros for the project!

After party for the volunteers

De Bremders, a beautiful garden

(news 2017 -2)

Romantic gardens

Every year in June Paul and Erna open their garden for visitors. And for 4 consecutive years they invited us to serve drinks and snacks to the visitors. It is great: raising funds in a beautiful garden. Find some pictures of the place.

Jakob representing Uganda

This year there were many visitors. Belgian television came to shoot images on Saturday and many people decided to come to take a look on Sunday. Pele was washing plates, cups and glasses the whole day, without any interruption. So the team from The village, for this activity guided by Annie, gathered a good amount for the project! Thanks a lot, Paul and Erna for the opportunity.

De Bremders gardens

Paul, the boss

Annual report

(news 2017 -1)

On 12th of July we organised the annual meeting of The village. Pele prepared the annual report. It gives an overview of activities in Flanders and in Uganda. In Uganda activities are through PROUD UG. An annual report is as well a narrative report as a financial report. So bills of 2016 were approved by the 'general assembly' and we presented a budget for 2017.

In 2016 the PROUD project spent € 3.154,25 for functioning (main items of expenditure were school fees plus rent of rooms and workshops curriculum development) and 4.197,02 for personnel. So main activities in 2016 in Uganda were teaching the children and starting up the curriculum development project.

Board members Herman, Stefaan (vice president) and Martin (finances) enjoying Devils beer

A lot of money was invested in construction of a facility for children and youngsters with intellectual disabilities. The finishing of class rooms and sanitation cost €11.386,04 and we started building the kitchen and administration block (€6.504,74). Those efforts made it possible to open PROUD Village at the start of school year 2017.

Kiki handed over the Annual Report 2016 to development cooperation section in the Belgian Embassy in Kampala. We hope to continue to develop the project and in the middle long term to become an example of good practice for Uganda. The focus is more and more on skills training and in the coming years we want to organize suitable employment for young adults.