A new project to support education of orphans and vulnerable children and food security in their families recently launched in a small town of Kyamukube in Uganda. The project is run by Rwenzori Youth in Development Network (RYID-NET), a local organization, with funding from Luena Foundation.
20 orphans and vulnerable children from very poor families were given Irish potato seed to plant on their small landholdings in order to have food, sell the surplus and continually save seed to plant every season. “That’s the beauty with this project, because we think that direct financial support to tuition and school needs without the family participation kills the spirit of self-help amongst the poor”, notes Asaba Kanyabwoya the Director of RYID-NET.
The project is also supported by the local community, by persons of goodwill and lived experience. Inspired by the enthusiasm and boldness of young people at RYID-NET to take on the voluntary mantle to support vulnerable children and their families, one the community supporters, offered to the project extra farmland for the youth to plant Irish potatoes on commercial scale so that they can establish an Educational Fund for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in their community.
This project represents a movement of young people in Uganda who are starting to get involved in the development of their communities and country. It’s a demonstration of innovative youth agency and good citizenship. We take pride in people of goodwill like Ryan Rauch, the Co-founder & Co-Executive Director of Luena Foundation for entrusting the young people at RYID-NET with financial resources and mentorship to undertake projects that benefit the wider community.
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