Policy The village association

vzw The village is the Flemish association that supports the PROUD-project in Kabale. Recently, the first generation of volunteers has said goodbye to The village. We sincerely thank them for their contribution. In the field of investment in the project in Uganda, we have achieved remarkable

results in recent years.

Our association will set new accents for the future. We will integrate the operations in Flanders and Uganda more. There will be one integrated work plan vzw The village-PROUD UG CBO-WORK UG CBO. And there will be mutual participation.

We are going to explicitly distance ourselves from the charitable approach. There is as much talent and potential in Africa as there is in Europe. However, relations between the continents have been completely distorted for a long time and the members of the association must be aware of this.

Finally, we value children and young people with intellectual disabilities as other children. We want to give them full opportunities to develop and do not see them as minus variants of children without disabilities.

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.

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

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

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.

Christmas inspires people (4): the photographer

Freddy has sent me pictures of the Christmas happening. I want to share them with you.

Christmas workshop for children organized by Annie

Merry Christmas!

Christmas inspires people (3): free concerts

This edition was special because of free concerts by a harp musician and a choir. 
The harper and his daughter Katrijn performed a South American repertoire, while the choir sang Flemish Christmas songs.

Harpist Rik Couvreur performing Latin music

     

Volonteers from Lokeren singing popular Christmas songs

Christmas inpires people (2): volonteers

Norbert and Herman creating Christmas atmosphere

A group of volunteers, members of the wider family and others, helps Willy and Kathrien to carry out activities and offer drinks and snacks to the visitors of our Christmas happening. 

There is also a Christmas shop with items produced by volonteers like Stefaan, Kathrien, Naomi and others.
Some family members like M. Christine and Lucy show flower arrangements at the spot.

And Annie invited the children for crafts (for a picture see 'Christmas inspires people' 4).

Ellen runs the Christmas shop

Lucie makes flower arrangements

Christmas inspires people (1): Willy and Kathrien

Since 3 years The village invites neighbours and friends for a Christmas happening. The period of Christmas still inspires people world wide to show their love and care for the vulnerable.

This takes different forms. Willy and Kathrien put their farm at disposition of our association to set up the happening and they are busy during months to make sure everything will be organised well.

Kathrien 

Big friends: Willy, president of The village (left) and Aaron

Sponsoring by Atelier Kubiek

New offices and logo of Atelier Kubiek

Jan De Bie Architects became Atelier Kubiek. Jan De Bie, Wouter De Koninck and Ans De Vlieger opened their new offices in Zele with a reception. They asked visitors not to bring presents, but to support the PROUD project of The village. Visitors responded positively to their request. By 21 of September they had donated already 1.630 Euro. As you can see the new offices look splendid. We wish Atelier Kubiek a fabulous career!

Written by Pele