Reflections from rural Mityana

The rains are here! Major rains, which means everything stops, so what better than to use the time to jot down some reflections about my past few days in rural Mityana. 

 view from the upper part of the college - set in a stunning location!

I’ve been staying at the college, a place I’ve been to many times with John, and had the privilege to play a part in setting up. It’s been lovely to see it grow and develop over the past few years, from the time when the idea was birthed, to the building of the classrooms, then addition of dormitories, café/restaurant, hair salon, and all run in a very eco-friendly way – solar power, biofuel, rainwater harvesting - so that the utility bills are almost non-existent. Three years ago the first students were admitted, and thankfully most of them managed to complete their education before coronavirus hit. Just a few ‘casualties’ with regard to completing course work and taking exams, and hopefully they will be able to catch up.

Over the past year the college had to close, like all other educational establishments, and so a year’s worth of students missed out on their chance to get started on vocational training. But now they are starting to sign up and it’s lovely to see the college beginning to hum again with the chatter and laughter of young people all embarking on the next stage of their education.

There are two projects that have really progressed since I was last here, and I’ll doubtless write more about them each at some stage. But both show how much this is a college with community benefit at its heart.

The water project involves pumping clean water from a borehole at the bottom of the hill, about 200m away. The borehole is owned by the college, and the water is pumped up into two holding tanks. These tanks are also filled by water collected through rainwater harvesting, so on a wet day (like today), no pumping is required, as the rainwater tanks are very full!

The water fulfils the college’s needs – in the washrooms, in the kitchen, in the salon. But as the college has the community at the heart of it, and as it has more water than it needs, pipes have been laid to 26 households, so that they too can have easy access to clean water.

The houses were chosen in part due to needs, and in part due to willingness to assist with the cost of laying the pipes. So, some recipients have made a financial contribution, others have ‘qualified’ due to their circumstances. And some of those recipients are using the water just for themselves, others are using it as an income-generator through ‘selling’ the water on to neighbours. They each have a water meter which ensures that they pay for the amount used, and so far no-one has defaulted on any payment. 

This project is life transforming for those who used to have to walk a distance to get their water. Sometimes it might be from a communal borehole, but other times it would be from a nearby brook or stream, where the danger of water-borne diseases was so much greater. 

Eddy, Jaja Mary and Emma

Mary is one such lady. She lives with and looks after her two grandchildren Eddy and Emma, and her day is taken up with getting all the chores done, working in the garden, trying to sort enough food to eat, and generally coping in a home that has no water, no electricity, and just a long-drop pit latrine for sanitation. The walk to get enough water took a few hours each day, and the physical burden was taking its toll on her body. A water pipe just by her house has transformed things so much. 

Jaja John

Similarly for Jaja John – an elderly gentleman who is delighted to have access to water without having to travel far, and able to enjoy the days a bit more rather than having to toil away.

 

So that is one community-focused project. The other that is nearly ready for action is the community fuel station.

This project came about as the result of an ongoing request for an auto-mechanic course at the college. From that came the thought that if there is going to be inspection pit and mechanics workshop, why not instal a couple of fuel pumps, especially given that its over 10km to the next nearest one. And if there are going to be a couple of fuel pumps, people will want to buy snacks. So if you are having a ‘shop’ for snacks, why not also include some space that provides goods that aren’t currently provided in the locality but that locals have highlighted as being needed.

One such need is a vendor who can supply the local traders wholesale with the various food stuffs that they sell at retail price. Not go into competition with them, but be a source of provisions so that they don’t all need to travel 10km to the nearest town to buy stock (at retail price), to sell on (at above retail price) and currently not make much profit on.

The other need highlighted is a hardware store. Again it is 10km to the nearest store, a journey that comes at a price for the many local residents who don’t have access to their own vehicle. Discussions are therefore starting to find a hardware merchant from the town, who would be interested in renting some space and setting up a satellite store.

The provision of fuel at the garage in itself will be a real blessing, and make life so much easier for the various boda-boda drivers who ride their motorbike taxis back and forth between the various little villages, But the addition of these additional services, all as a result of listening to the community – well that is going to make a lot of people very happy!

Definitely a college who asks the community what the local needs are, and listens and acts on the responses in a positive and life-enhancing way.

Right, the rains have stopped, now time to travel back to Kampala where the internet is strong enough to post this!! Happy days everyone 😉