Afwerken / finishing PROUD Canteen (2021+2022))

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Afwerken PROUD Canteen (2021+2022)

Vanaf 2022 moet de PROUD Canteen in grote lijnen afgewerkt zijn en in 2023 volledig operationeel worden.

Bezetten plafond en binnenmuren 'canteen'

In 2021 werd de afwerking aangevat. Het bezetten van het plafond en de binnenmuren, het voegen van het laatste deel van de buitenmuren (in juni) en het aanleggen van de onderlaag voor de vloer (eind september) werden uitgevoerd doo r Orishaba Brian Contractors. Het leggen van de vloertegels (begin oktober) werd gedaan door Emma Kigezi Master Tilers.

Voegen buitenmuren 'canteen'

Deze werken werden bekostigd met een subsidie van de Gemeente Berlare. Op 30 november 2021 werd het dossier ‘Verantwoording subsidie 2021’ bij de gemeente ingediend. Wij danken de gemeente Berlare van harte.

We zijn nu zover dat we kunnen beginnen te denken aan het glas- en schilderwerk, het ophangen van de lusters enz., met andere woorden aan de binnenwerken die het uitzicht van de kantine mee gaan bepalen.

 

Norah schildert de 'canteen'

De schilderwerken werden in april 2022 gedaan door Kyomugisha Norah. Zij is een uitzondering in de schilderswereld die bijna geheel uit mannen bestaat. Het was een plezier haar aan het werk te zien. In het werk met de rol is ze ongeëvenaard.

Er volgen dit jaar nog andere stappen in de afwerking van PROUD Canteen.

Toiletten unit 1

 Ondertussen hebben we ook gewerkt aan het sanitair van unit 1 en 2 en werden de toegangspoort, de stand van de watertank en de afsluiting van unit 1 herschilderd. Vanaf nu zal er elk jaar ook een bedrag voor onderhoudswerken worden voorzien.

Finish PROUD Canteen (2021+2022)

From 2022, the PROUD Canteen should be largely finished and fully operational in 2023.

Preparing for plastering unit 3

Finishing work started in 2021. The plastering of the ceiling and interior walls, the joining of the last part of the exterior walls (in June) and the laying of the underlayment for the floor (end of September) were carried out by Orishaba Brian Contractors. The floor tiles were laid (early October) by Emma Kigezi Master Tilers.

                                                                          add picture

These works were financed with a subsidy from the Municipality of Berlare. On November 30, 2021, the file 'Justification of subsidy 2021' was submitted to the municipality. We sincerely thank the municipality of Berlare for her generous contribution.

We have now reached the point where we can start thinking about the glass and paintwork, the hanging of the chandeliers, etc., in other words about the interior works that will determine the look of the canteen.

 

Kyomugisha working with the role

The painting was done in May 2022 by Kyomugisha Norah. She is an exception in the painting world that consists almost entirely of men. It was a pleasure to watch her at work. In the work with the role she is unparalleled.

Other steps in the finishing of PROUD Canteen will follow this year.

Repainting the entrance gate

In the meantime we also worked on the sanitary facilities of unit 1 and 2. And the entrance gate, the water tank carrying stand and the fence of unit 1 were repainted. From now on, we will reserve an amount for maintenance work every year.

Tijdelijk klasje voor kleuters (2021)

Babies en kleuters op het project terrein

Sinds maart 2020 zijn de scholen in Oeganda -bij wijze van corona maatregel- gesloten. (1) Oeganda vestigt daarmee, volgens de internationale pers, een wereldrecord. 

In de praktijk zien we echter een gemengd beeld dat in de media weinig wordt beschreven. Kinderen van begoede families in de grote steden volgen in kleine groepjes onderwijs onder de radar en hun ouders hebben daar veel geld voor over.

Oei, bijsturing is nodig.

In het PROUD-project hebben we creatieve oplosssingen bedacht om het grootste deel van de tijd toch open te zijn.

Daarnaast is er de regel dat moeders-werknemers hun babies mogen meebrengen tot de leeftijd van één jaar. Zo gaat de kans op borstvoeding niet verloren.

De papier manie van Oeganda begint in de kleuterschool

Die regeling vullen we in 2021 aan met een tijdelijk klasje voor kleuters van het personeel. De moeders begeleiden de kleuters volgens een beurtrol en worden aangevuld met een leerlinge secundair onderwijs die zelf niet naar school kan.

De bedoeling is vooral de kinderen in contact te brengen met leeftijdsgenootjes en hen te gewennen aan sociale omgang binnen een gestructureerde omgeving. Het dagstramien is er al: het welkomstritueel in de ochtend, de porridge om 10 uur, het gezonde middagmaal en het vier uurtje.

Van groot naar klein. Ik ben klaar.

De lestijden voor kinderen met een beperking zijn niet te lang omdat hun aandacht beperkt is en dat past ook voor kleuters. Voor de kleuters wordt er nog een slaapmoment ingelast.

Afro groepje

We moeten de activiteiten alleen maar aanpassen aan de leeftijd. Een dansje doen, leren eten met een lepel, bouwen met blokken, krabbelen en lijntjes trekken in een schriftje, buiten spelen, naar de dieren gaan kijken, tijdig op het potje gaan enz. Je ziet enkele foto’s die een impressie geven van hoe het er aan toe gaat. De kinderen wennen aan evolueren in een sociale omgeving. Nu maar hopen dat ze vlug naar 'de echte school' kunnen.

De middagrust

(1) Uiteindelijk zullen de Oegandese scholen 22 maanden gesloten blijven en heropenen in januari 2022.

De beste informatie over de scholen-sluiting in Oeganda krijg je in artikelen die een gemengd beeld geven: onder de radar onderwijs voor de meest gepriviligieerden en een catastrofe voor veel andere kinderen en jongeren. Het schoolgeld dat voor veel ouders reeds onbetaalbaar was vóór de Covid crisis wordt voor hen na de heropening nog minder haalbaar.

Antwerpse in Oeganda: "Bij ons gaan de scholen vandaag pas na 2 jaar weer open, gevolgen van sluiting zijn enorm" | VRT NWS: nieuws

Ugandan children back to school after almost 2 years of Covid closure > Find Me Now Social (zoek-me.nu)

UNICEF is er helaas niet in geslaagd om het onderwijs in Oeganda op een redelijke termijn terug open te krijgen.

UNICEF België| Heropening scholen Oeganda

Food help during Covid crisis (2021)

Food aid during Covid crisis

Official Ugandan figures show more victims due to Covid 19 in 2021 then in 2020. When well known persons died because of Covid, people started to realize that “Covid is real”. For a long time Covid was seen as a problem of the whites. In 2020 the population suffered mainly because of the lock down and its impact on generating revenue. In 2021 the number of victims started to rise but finally remained small compared to Belgium for example.

Picking up food aid during Covid crisis

Nevertheless the pandemic dysregulated society that much, that a lot of people were running into trouble and lacked food. Unlike 2020 when food aid could only pass through official channels, in 2021 the government encouraged private parties to provide assistance to those in need. PROUD UG responded by giving food aid and financial aid to those families of children of the project who were in need and to a number of neighbors of PROUD Village.

Voedseldistributie tijdens Covid-crisis

Officiële Oegandese cijfers laten zien dat er in 2021 meer slachtoffers vallen door Covid 19 dan in 2020. Toen bekende personen overleden aan Covid, begonnen de mensen te beseffen dat "Covid echt is". Lange tijd werd Covid gezien als een probleem van de blanken. In 2020 leed de bevolking vooral onder de lockdown en de impact daarvan op het genereren van inkomsten. In 2021 begon het aantal slachtoffers echter te stijgen, maar uiteindelijk bleef het klein in vergelijking met bijvoorbeeld België.

Toch ontregelde de pandemie de samenleving zozeer, dat veel mensen in de problemen kwamen en niet voldoende voedsel hadden. In tegenstelling tot 2020 toen voedselhulp uitsluitend langs officiële kanalen kon verlopen, moedigde de regering een jaar later private partijen aan hulp te bieden aan mensen in nood. PROUD UG leverde zijn bijdrage door voedsel en financiële hulp te geven aan de gezinnen van kinderen van het project die in nood waren en aan een aantal buren van PROUD Village.

Praise grows sweet potatoes

                                                         Sweet potatoes and pumpkin

At WORK Uganda last year 2019 the children of group 2 were asked to make the choices of the crops they like to grow in their personal garden. Every child gave the choice of the crops and they were given each a plot where to plant. And one of the children who is Ayebare Praise chose to grow sweet potatoes. She grew them with the guide from her skills trainer and now they are ready to harvest. The sweet potatoes from the garden of Praise are very sweet other children comments.

By Kiki

Pumpkins harvested at PROUD Village

Pumpkin plants are grown at Proud Village by the children together with their skills trainers.

They take care of the pumpkin plants such as weeding together with their skills trainer Wednesday Immaculate. 

When the pumpkin fruits start developing the skills trainer guides the children to cover them with pumpkin leaves to avoid being destroyed by sunshine. 

When the pumpkin fruit becomes big the skills trainer harvests it by hand picking and is taken to the kitchen for the children to eat. The children like enjoying eating the pumpkins which are cooked together with the dry beans.

Starting a community?

Arinda and Sarah

Yesterday evening I was chatting with Rose, former director of l’ Arche Uganda. And this morning with Blessed, a Reverend’s daughter. It made me think I want to explore the idea of starting a community to take the PROUD project forward. That would be a different approach from the strictly professional approach that we are adopting now.

Years ago I was reading a book of Henri Nouwen on his friendship with Adam, a resident in one of the many Arch communities. Just like Nouwen I’m convinced and I experienced that persons with intellectual disabilities are our neighbors and can teach us so many things.

They put me on the way of that community idea and I would like to find out how it can be combined with a ‘pro poor’ strategy. Many non disabled people in Uganda don’t have what to live from but you may find they have a golden heart!

Joseph and Praise

If you want to know more about l’Arche google Jean Vanier. He is the founder of l’Arche and has given many interviews.

If you want to help us with that community idea, take contact please! See page Contacts.

Mission 11 Workshop with local committee members: welcome to PROUD Village

PROUD UG invited all local committee members to visit the project and get informed. The seven female members of the committee responded to the invitation, the three male members were absent.

Project staff explained the time table of our children and all learning activities they become involved in. As local committee members knew some of the children but did not know very well what they were studying, many times they were surprised. The reactions were very positive what made us think that women understand better about project matters, daily activities and vulnerable children than men. 

Anyway, additionally visitors got the opportunity to visit all project infrastructures and asked questions about all project activities. We ended up with taking some snacks and drinks and making an original group picture!

Mission 11 Bringing power to PROUD Village

Last year we brought a water line to the project; this year we got a power line. We asked for advice at a private company how we should act and followed their recommendations. They also negotiated the necessary admissions with neighboring land owners and authorities. This appeared to be more difficult than expected but finally the pole and power line were legally installed and in the mean time earthing is done. In the near future we plan to finalize connections underground. We prefer underground cables as we don’t want to take risks with our children who may not understand fully the danger of fallen power lines.

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).

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

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

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

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

Caring for flowers (learning activities)

Joseph and teacher Patience

The PROUD Village has grown flowers. The flowers are growing well. The children in group one take care of them together with their teacher. They water them the days that is indicated on their time table so that they grow well.

Every child has a wateringcan to water the flowers.

By Kiki