Nyacoonga Rotary Community Corp (RCC)
Rotary Club of Kampala South transforms women in Nyacoonga community
Six years ago the Rotary Club of Kampala South visited Nyacoonga Village in Kabale district, to work with a women’s group called Nyacoonga Ruhu Rw’eitaka. The team undertook a needs assessment with the women, and it was agreed that club projects in the area should focus on economic empowerment, health, water and sanitation.
The Rotary Club of Kampala South initially initiated a matching grant under Adopt a village scheme. However this was not successful. The club then moved to a strategy that involved a gradual transformation of women in Nyacoonga community. The club started a Rotary Community Corps (RCC) in the area which coordinated the activities the club undertook.
A Savings and Credit scheme was started to address the financial challenges faced by women’s that were negatively impacting their families. The Rotary Club of Kampala South raised the start-up contribution of Uganda Shillings (UGX) 3 million. The group with a strong sense of social capital mobilized more savings through a Micro-Finance Scheme. Their savings have since grown to UGX 29 Million. This fund enables the women to borrow funds from the group savings, investing mostly in agriculture and the education of their children. Payments are usually made after crop harvest. The most-high yield crops cultivated by the women are Irish Potatoes and Beans that grow well in the region. Their success can be pinned to their strong sense of social capital, financial stewardship and discipline and guidance and support by the Rotary Club of Kampala South that has offered training to them.
In 2016, to support the education of the women’s children, the Rotary Club of Kampala South provided books and supplies for games and sports to Kabahesi Primary School, and improved the state of their blackboards. The school performance has significantly improved and the Club continuously monitors its progress.
In 2017 the club provided 80 energy saving cooking systems to the community that reduce wood energy consumption by 70% reducing on their dependence of firewood collected by cutting down trees, enhancing the protection of the environment. We also provided education on tree planting and fruit growing. The Rotary Club of Kampala South intends to focus on regular health camps and water and sanitation projects in future.
As a club we have always combine service with fun at Hawk's Eye Lodge Bunyonyi where club members always stay, bond and network. This has been an opportunity to relax, renew and revive at Lake Bunyonyi overseeing great views, the second deepest lake in Africa.
