April 2010

LBA completes yet another ten water tanks

Thanks to some very generous funding from employees of a large corporate body, LBA has been able to construct ten more water tanks, each in a needy Primary School in Manafwa District. It has taken three months to construct them, but the tanks are now completed and making a big difference to the lives of thousands of pupils across the District. Lynsey Brunton & Struan Brown helped the construction team kick start the project and were able to paint two of the first completed. The remaining tanks will be painted over the coming months.  

October 2009

LBA holds its first ever volunteer reunion
On 17th October, nearly half of all LBA's volunteers gathered in London for a reunion of sorts, that saw them undertaking LBA's Uganda Challenge around London. In year groups, volunteers spent the afternoon running around London undertaking different challenges, such as singing the Ugandan National Anthem outside the Ugandan High Commission, reciting a limerick about their time on placement at Speaker's Corner, holding a demonstration at Downing Street, performing in Covent Garden, giving the Queen a royal wave, and getting on as many forms of transport as possible. Volunteers raised nearly £800 before spending the evening together reminiscing over all the good times. Everyone agreed it was great to catch up with everyone and requests have been made for it to become an annual event so watch this space... For pictures and videos of the day, click on the volunteering page. 

August 2009

The Chairman of Manafwa District Commissions all 19 of LBA's Water Tanks
On Wednesday 19th August, 2009, The Chairman of Manafwa District, represented by the Vice Chairman and in the Presence of the area Member of Parliament, officially commissioned all 19 of LBA's water tanks in a grand ceremony at Wekhelekha Primary School. The volunteers and students at Wekhelekha Primary School provided a day full of entertainment. The ceremony was attended by all of LBA's 2009 volunteers, as well as many community dignatories and members. 

August 2009

LBA completes five tanks and five springs in its biggest ever university summer programme
Over the summer LBA hosted 32 volunteers from the universities of Bristol, Nottingham and Oxford. This was Bristol and Oxford's fifth year of working with LBA, and the first year for Nottingham. Placed in 5 different communities in Manafwa District, each of the five groups constructed a water tank, protected a natural spring, trained community members to build smokeless fuel efficient stoves, and taught Hygiene and Sanitation awareness.

August 2009

LBA protects two more natural springs
In May 2009, Dr. Steve Bell, completed his first Iron Man Competition in Lanzorote in aid of Little Big Africa. After a grueling day (read about it on his fundraising page) he came out with a fantastic total which has funded the provision of clean water for two communities. The two springs were completed in August, and LBA have since trained the two community elected committees on managing the sources as well as household hygiene techniques. The balance of the money raised is going towards constructing classrooms in Wekhelekha Primary School, one of the poorest schools in the project area.

July 2009

LBA welcomes Anna Sharratt back to Uganda
Anna Sharratt volunteered in Nemba in 2007. Her seven weeks in Eastern Uganda had such an impact on her that she not only volunteered to be project parent for 2008 volunteers at Bristol University, but she also stood and was elected Chairperson of BVDA, Bristol University’s Voluntary Development Abroad society. Anna decided that on completing university she wanted to come back to Uganda and volunteer for a year with LBA to gain more experience and to see what happens on the other side.

Anna will spend one year working mainly with all the LBA project schools, working alongside the Water Tank Committees and the Sanitation Teachers, developing a curriculum to help the schools themselves lead the way in their hygiene and sanitation teaching and activities.

May 2009

LBA receives funding from FUZE
FUZE, a massive fashion and dance extravaganza, held annually in Bristol, this year raised funds for five charities including LBA. Patrick Aryee, the Managing Director of FUZE, volunteered with Little Big Africa in Lwemuna in 2007, and wanted to give something back to both LBA and the community where he spent 6 exceptionally memorable weeks. The money fundraised is going to be put towards projects in Lwemuna as well as constructing 2 classrooms in Wekhelekha Primary School, one of the poorest schools in the project area. Thanks Patrick and all the FUZE team for being superstars!

September 2008
LBA completes five 10,000 litre water tanks and protects five Natural Water Sources

LBA has had a busy summer providing access to clean water to communities throughout Manafwa District.

Five water tanks and three water sources were protected through the University Summer Project by volunteers from the universities of Bristol and Oxford Universities. The 10,000 litre tanks were constructed at the following schools: Mutsasa Primary School, Kikwetsi Primary School, Nambale Primary School, Kholomo Primary School and Sibembe Primary School. Two natural water springs, providing clean safe drinking water for whole communities, were protected in Bumatanda and Sibembe villages. A shallow hand dug well, with a rope pump, was also dug and constructed in Butoboso Village.

A further two springs, including Naafu and Nasele springs in Magale Sub County were protected through generous donations from Twynham School, Gandalf Elfins, and the Working Men’s League. These two springs were protecetd at either end of a parish which previously had no access to clean water.

August 2008
LBA Donates Musical Instruments to Primary Schools

Through a generous donation from Marlwood Secondary School, LBA was able to donate a full selection of musical instruments to three Primary Schools.

Lwemuna Primary School, Bukhakosi Primary School and Bukhadala Primary School received instruments including drums; harps; flutes; a xylophone; a thumb piano; whistles; and shakers made from both reeds and metal. The schools were overwhelmed by the generosity of the students from Marlwood Secondary School who had spent the first half of 2008 fundraising to support rural Ugandan schools.

Many rural schools in Uganda do not have access to Musical Instruments, despite an annual national Schools’ Music Competition. Many pupils are forced to perform without instruments, or if they are lucky, they may be able to borrow instruments on the day of the performance, but will not have had time to practise prior to this.

Music lessons, which are part of the National Curriculum have now been transformed in these schools, and pupils are learning vital skills which are part of their creative development and cultural identity.

August 2008
LBA Completes Summer University Project

19 university volunteers have successfully completed a seven week project in rural Manafwa. Five water tanks each of 10,000 litres wereconstructed in rural Primary Schools, and each painted with unique Water and Sanitation messages. Three water sources were also protected by the volunteers, including one hand dug well, providing clean, safe drinking water to three communities.

The volunteers are trained by LBA for one week in Mbale, before embarking on six weeks of adventure living in rural Ugandan villages. During these six weeks, each of the four groups of volunteers: constructs a 10,000 litre water tank; paints the water tank with WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) messages; organises and trains a Water Tank Committee; teaches about WASH in Primary Schools; teaches adult community members about WASH issues; trains community members to construct Energy-Saving Fuel Efficient Stoves and teaches others to make them; protects a natural water source in the community; -all whilst making fantastic friends and absorbing themselves in Ugandan culture. The communities provide accommodation for the volunteers who reside in the villages, and conduct all their own washing, shopping, cooking and domestic chores for themselves.

This year’s project has been a brilliant success, and LBA hope to welcome more volunteers from the universities of Bristol and Oxford in 2009, as well as students from Nottingham University on their first year working with LBA.

For more information about the 2008 University Summer Programme, including an exciting volunteer group journal, click on the LBA volunteering page.

July 2008
LBA Reaches its Fundraising Target for a Protecting a New Water Source.

LBA has received a very generous donation from Dave Farmer, Steve Walker, Simon Kenyon, Crispin Sugden and Chris Forte to help reach its current target for protecting a spring in a rural community and provide clean safe water for a whole community.

The five friends, all football fans, take part in an annual Fantasy Football competition. Simon says, “This year, in the annual Working Man's League Fantasy Football competition, there was an added incentive to win - the money in the sweepstake would be going to a charity of the winner’s choice. Luckily I was able to win the sweepstake and what better a charity to support than Little Big Africa. Hopefully next year we can increase the size of the league and subject to a repeat winning performance, be able to support LBA's work through another sweepstake.” Simon, Dave Farmer and Steve Walker also topped up on their sweepstake contributions to help LBA smash their target and kick start two more projects.

The five decided they would like to support LBA’s new pilot project and construct a rope-pump well in a rural community. Through their generosity, not only is this possible, but they have also contributed to the reaching the target for the current project – a protected water spring to provide clean water for another community – and started the ball rolling for the next protected water spring, by contributing a further GBP 59.50 to the new target of GBP 600.

The site for the new water source will be identified with the local leaders, as soon as LBA has completed the training of 19 university volunteers which is currently taking place in Mbale. This donation joins other generous donations from Gandalf Elfins, of Woodcraft Folk, Twynham School, Liz Christopherson and an anonymous donor, who have all contributed LBA’s twelfth protected water source.

Watch this space for news on the progress and completion of the protected water source.

Mwanyala Naabi. Thank You All Very Much.

May 2008
Completion of Sukura Shallow Hand Dug Well

Sukura Spring is located on the borders of Buta and Butsema Villages, in Butiru Sub County, Manafwa District. It is made up of six natural springs that had been collecting into a ‘pond’ of over 6 feet deep. Despite the depth of the water and the number of springs collecting together, the flow was too low to construct a protected spring. LBA decided with the community, the water source committee, and the Engineer that the most viable option for providing clean water was to dig a shallow well.

At the beginning of April, the community began excavating by hand, digging out the well. They dug down to 8ft before hitting the water table. Digging continued in order to increase the water collection area. At 17ft, rock was hit, and it was decided that the well was deep enough at 17ft, as water was recharging at a rate of one foot per 10 seconds, which was more than satisfactory for the high demands that would be placed on the well. The well was completed and a fence erected around the well to protect it.

The Engineers praised the community for their active participation in constructing the well, which is also a good indication of community commitment to maintaining the well. Both LBA and the communities of Buta and Butsema are very grateful to ODA, especially the volunteers of 2005 and 2007, for the generous donation of Sukura Hand Dug Well.

WANYALA NABI!

August 2006
LBA completes its first Hand Dug Well

Nabweye is a poor community. It is not helped by its rural location on top of a very big hill. There are no permanent houses atop of the hill, and only one of the semi-permanent (mud) house has iron sheets for a roof.

But atop of this hill, with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, is Nabweye Primary School, identified as a one of the most needy schools for many reasons including their lack of access to clean water. Nabweye was chosen as a school to benefit from the university volunteer programme, which meant a needy village in the surrounding community would also have a water source protected.

As Nabweye community is on top of a large hill, there is a lack of natural springs. LBA moved around with various community leaders and members in search of potential natural springs for protection but continuously faced the same issue: all potential springs were situated at the bottom of the hill: one hours walk down. One hours walk down, with an empty jerrycan, also means one hours walk back up with a full 20kg jerrycan. Protecting a spring at the bottom of the hill was not going to solve Nabweye’s problems.

The only other solution was to dig a well. Water was available inside the hill as there was a watering hole where people were collecting dirty water from. By a watering hole, it was a very large, very deep hole: so big that over the years, several cows, whilst drinking water, had fallen inside and died. And yes, people did use this water for their drinking and cooking.

To dig the well was going to require an enormous amount of effort from both the community, and the volunteers who were soon to arrive on placement.

When work begun, it was slow progress. A circular well is dug down, wide enough to fit two people inside. Pick axes are used to dig away at the ground. Very soon, however, rock was hit. When digging a well, there is always the hope that this is a thin layer of rock, and after hacking through it, work will resume its normal pace. However the rock at Nabweye went down and down and down, testing the patience and perseverance of all involved. It took five weeks of digging, some days cutting through merely inches of rock. Finally, at 16 feet deep, the hand-dug well was complete and ready for the community to use. There were big celebrations by all in Nabweye, and excitement at the thought of having clean, safe water available on top of Nabweye hill. The well fills up at 833 litres per hour, providing plenty of water for the community surrounding Nabweye.

July 2006
UK Teacher Commissions School-donated Water Source

The pupils of Ringwood School (Dorset, UK) held a non-uniform day in March to raise money for protecting a water source in Mbale. Rumbura Spring, in Bukhakosi Village, was successfully protected in July, ready for official commissioning in August. A teacher from Ringwood School, Joanna Kenyon, who had organised the fundraising efforts for LBA, travelled to Mbale for the official opening. Joanna, who was accompanied by a fellow teacher, Jy Taylor, was warmly welcomed at the local primary school, Bukhakosi Primary School. Pupils danced and sang welcome songs, as well as songs of thanks for their efforts in bringing clean water to the community.

Committee members had placed ribbon across the water source, and along with members of the community, were very happy to witness Joanna officially commissioning the water source on behalf of Ringwood School. Joanna and Jy then spent the afternoon at Bukhakosi Primary School, experiencing the rural Ugandan mud classrooms and playing sports with the excited pupils.

May 2005
LBA enters partnership with UK Universities

Little BIG Africa has teamed up with two UK University societies to run a 7 week summer development programme in Mbale. LBA will be partnering with BVDA (Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad) and ODA (Oxford Development Abroad) and host a group of volunteers from each university during the university summer holidays.

Volunteers will spend one week training in development issues, project skills, teaching practise as well as Ugandan culture before embarking on a six week adventure living and working in a rural community. During their time in the village, they will construct a water tank at a primary school, protect a water source, teach about WATSAN (Water and Sanitation) and train community members to construct fuel efficient stoves.