Connecting for Change brings together innovators from the business, social and philanthropic sectors to build connections and understanding about how to work together to create sustained social change, thus a more compassionate and peaceful world.
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By Robert Kalyesubula, MD
Executive Director, NACODI
rkalyes@yahoo.com
NACODI (Nakaseke Community Development Initiative) is a community based organisation in Uganda, East Africa founded in 2002. Our main goal is to empower vulnerable groups in resource limited settings through finding innovative sustainable community based solutions.
To this end, we care and support people leaving with HIV-AIDS (PLWAs) together with orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC). We now have a medical center providing care for over 120 PLWAs and provide medical services to over 1,800 general patients per year. We have trained 66 community nurses who are currently working in over 7 Districts in Uganda providing care to thousands of Ugandans mostly in rural communities. With a grant from the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) in 2006/2007 we supported 30 OVCs with income generation projects (IGA) in form of cows, start-up capital, chicken rearing, crop gardens and pigs in addition to medical care and school support (school fees, books, uniform, shows and lunch fees). An additional 40 families received a piglet each as start up support for poverty eradication from a small grant.
In order to increase awareness and promote advocate for vulnerable members of the community, NACODI has 6 community support groups that work with the community healthworkers. The groups conduct shows, drama and sing songs that attract the community members to come and listen to messages on HIV prevention, care for PLWAS and OVCs, income generation and poverty eradication. It was therefore not so surprising that NACODI was voted the best performing CBO in Nakaseke District for the year 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 by the district NGO forum.
We are currently working with SAWA Global to ensure that we meet up with other friends who are willing to partner with us, so that we can make a difference in our community.
As we prepare for the conference of connecting for change, we are filled with expectations of learning and sharing experiences with members of similar interest and to broaden our opportunities.
We are ready to connect for change.