International Projects

Combining Hands for Mubende - our 3H Grant project

A large group of children and Rotary members outside Rwabagabo school waving their hands
Vesper members with the children from Rwabagabo School launch the project

We are currently working on the largest international project ever undertaken by Abingdon Vesper. Drawing on our experiences from other international projects throughout Africa, our plan is to provide "healthy and effective homes in sustainable communities".

Rather than focus on short term aid, our aim is to provide support for sustainable development that enhances the education, health and general quality of life in ten communities within the Mubende area. We will be doing this in partnership with the Rotary Club of Mubende, Kulika and ten local Rotary Community Corps, each of each will oversee the work in their local community.

There are six key elements of the project:

  • Providing education in the effective harvesting of water and specifically tanks at the school - removing the need to collect fresh water can increase school attendance by up to 20%
  • Reducing the incidence of malaria through providing subsidised mosquito nets in the villages - in other areas this has cut back on malaria, the main health problem in East Africa, by 70%
  • Providing fuel efficient wood burning stoves, that reduce the amount of wood used by 2/3, improve the air quality and help the local environment
  • Providing gardens and fencing for the schools, backed up with training in organic, sustainable farming methods
  • Supplying a brick making machine for each community that can halve the cost of new buildings, making it easier for communities to provide new classrooms and teacher accommodation
  • Extending the current micro credit schemes to establish a group in each rural community and help the community develop sustainable local businesses.

The total cost will be some £150,000. Under the 3H (Health, Hunger and Humanity) Grant initiative of the Rotary Foundation, 90% funding is available and we have submitted a grant application which is currently being considered by the Foundation. The balance of the money will be raised by an international partnership of Rotary clubs comprising Abingdon Vesper, Breda from Netherlands, Roma di Castelli and Carignano from Italy, and Antibes Antipolis from France.

Rotary Foundation are now reviewing the application and inspectors are shortly to visit the planned project on site in Uganda. A final decision will be taken in March/April 2009.