Kibuye Project overview




AASU’s first community project is focusing on the village of Kibuye in North Eastern Kamuli, on the shores of the Victoria Nile. Kibuye has an estimated population of 60,000 people and is spread over 27 by 35km. The majority of the population is highly dependent on subsistence farming and barter trade within village in order to survive.

Before the project began, Kibuye was dependent upon one borehole for safe drinking water. Due to long lines when collecting water many have been choosing to fetch water from the river, which has caused illness through water born diseases. The village also only has one school, consisting of two classrooms accommodating roughly 600 children. The children that can’t walk the distance to the school simply don’t attend. The majority of children do not attend school, either due to distance or family circumstance, consequentially 80% of Ugandans over the age of 15 are illiterate.

So far within the Kibuye project AASU has been able to buy four acres of land at the East end of the village on which we have built a bore hole and are currently building classrooms for the Arise and Shine Nursery and Primary School which is due to open for the start of the school year in February 2011.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Beads, beads, beads


Those of you who are fashion conscious will already know that this season’s must have accessory is AASU beaded jewellery. For those of you who don’t know – no need to worry - it’s a well kept secret but we’ve decided to let you in on it!

In order to fund its projects AASU makes and sells a huge variety of high quality, handmade, beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Each one is lovingly and painstaking made by hand from paper and securely varnished to ensure its longevity . . . . so you can wear it time and time again!

AASU necklaces are truly unique and beautiful, with such variety in styles and colours, there is something for everyone, you will be spoilt for choice!

Other products  
We also have an exclusive range of bags that are perfect for almost every occasion.

Whether it is a ‘slouch’ or ‘fashion’ bag, as with all our products, each one is handmade to the highest quality. Again colours are styles vary . . . . and if you have something specific in mind we will do all we can to help create it.
 
AASU has recently expanded its range to include earrings. From brightly coloured options, to more natural tones and traditional patterns, AASU has such a vast selection of earrings there’s bound to be a pair that takes your fancy. And of course we couldn’t miss the opportunity to bring you our intricate and delicately crafted ‘paper bead’ earrings.

Look and feel great

Not only will you look great wearing AASU products but your conscience can rest easy knowing that you have contributed to a worthwhile cause. To date, the majority of funds for AASU’s work have come from its income generating ‘beads’ projects.

AASU provides local Ugandan women, from the Kamuli and Jinja Districts, who have either low paying or no job, with the opportunity to make an extra income. We supply the women with materials, tools and technical knowledge, as well as ensuring a regular and decent wage. With the women’s permission, the remaining profits are channelled into funding AASU projects.



N:B My photography does not do these beads justice!

As there are far too many styles and colours to display on here, if you are interested in finding out more about any AASU products (buying or selling) please contact information.arise.shine@googlemail.com. We will happily supply samples to any one that would like to see them.


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Kibuye Community Education - hygiene class 1

At the end of last month Arise and Shine Uganda (along with 8 of its trustee volunteers) lead its first (hopefully) of many successful personal hygiene classes in Kibuye.

The turnout to the session was much better than we could ever have hoped for, with over 100 adults and children attending and actively participating in the class, demonstrations and fun that ensued. Whilst general hygiene was discussed, the main focus of the session was dental hygiene – with hopes for other complementary hygiene classes to come to Kibuye soon.



Staff and volunteers took turns in leading the session, passing on vital healthcare knowledge and practical advice. One of the volunteers (thank you Crystal!) was even able to bring along enough toothbrushes and tooth paste for everyone, which were generously donated by ‘Colgate’. These were a huge hit, especially when we discovered that none of the children at the session had ever even used a toothbrush – and that only a very few of the adults used them ‘once in a while’.


After being shown how to look after their teeth and taught the reasons why it’s important to do so, most of the attendees returned home, toothbrush in hand, promising to clean their teeth after every mean or at least twice a day.


After the session, some of the villages’ children (all of which will be attending Arise and Shine Nursery and Primary School, when it opens in February 2011) joined the AASU volunteers on a guided tour of the village, proudly showing them around their home.
All in all the day was a massive success and we are planning to establish many more regular community education events in the future. Arise and Shine Uganda would like to thank everyone who attended and donated their time to the session. Webale nyo!