Wine to water
Uganda
Uganda is one of the countries having the highest level of underdevelopment, as established by the indicators employed for this purpose. The area of Karamoja in particular, it populated by a semi-nomad population dependent on sheep-herding, is experiencing dire circumstances. Here, the lack of water, the severe environmental conditions, demographic factors, and an ongoing process of desertification are making the lives of the inhabitants ever more difficult.
Since 2012 our Foundation has operated in Uganda alongside Si Può Africa, an association based in Moroto, in Karamoja itself. As sadly documented Karamoja is one of the poorest regions in the world, and in consequence of the extreme environmental conditions, the local community constantly has problems of little water and cronic malnutrition. Over the years the food assistance provided by the large international organisations has resulted in a neglect of agriculture as a means of auto-sustainability and a consequent dependence on external provision. To avoid a further depletion of the limited natural resources it is indispensable to promote technical and practical agro-forestry solutions of a sustainable nature which emphasise not the ‘working for the population’ aspects but rather the working alongside the population aspects. Following these considerations we elaborated the WINE TO WATER project, it having as an objective the improvement in available drinking water for the population and to increase the storage capacity of drinking water so as to cope in the rainfree periods. The project will be based on very specific actions, such as the the repair and maintenance of existing wells which are actually malfunctioning or damaged and consequently not in use. Also important will be the installation of systems for the collection and use of rain water, and the installation of some small irrigation systems for the vegetable patches. Another feature will be the creation of a new well and the installation of a hand-pump.
To faciltate the project sustainability factor and to implement technological solutions, and also to promote the professional capacity of the farmers and artisans, the project will incorporate a training element directed to the local workers, and thereby improving their technical professional profile, and so intending to encharge them with the installation, maintenance and repair aspects of the water systems.
BENEFICIARIES
- Approx 800 pupils of two Primary schools and their 18 teachers
- Approx 160 persons belonging to 20 farming families
- Approx 40 persons belonging to the 5 rural coordinator families of ISP
- Approx 32 persons belonging to the the 4 local artisan families.
The number of beneficiaries able to access the water resources created by the improved condition of the water systems, or creation of the same, will be considerable and will be quantified with greater certainty as the project develops and is monitored and reviewed. Simone Cadorin, Project Coordinator for the Morotto branch of ISP in Africa will be the coordinator. The whole project, phase by phase, will be followed by ISP personnel in Africa, they based at the operations centre in Moroto. Numerous will also be the volunteers of the “Insieme si può” Association Groups and of the Costa Family Foundation, whom during the course of the year will make visits direct to the programme operations area in Karamoja. An intermediate set of accounts will be drawn up during the course of the project and other documentational videos of the various project work will be made available.
The most important thing of course is to be able to take the project forward to completion, for without water it is not possible to sustain life and create living conditions. For this reason it is that we ask our donors to support our action.
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