Water is Life

There is a saying that " Water is life". However to many communities throughout Uganda accessibility to safe and clean water is still a challenge. Water is scare and people are often forced to go for days without being able to clean themselves and take a bath. 

In the community of Migyera, the water that does get captured behind the dam often evaporates during the dry spells. Any water that is available is stagnant and unhealthy to use. People who use this water are susceptible to illnesses like urinary track infections.The government tried to help by constructing a second dam but the water behind the second dam also dries up during the drought and also becomes unfit for human consumption. 

As the world celebrated World Water Day on the March 22, 2015 with the theme "Water and Sustainable Development", the Migyera community was able to celebrate as they can now enjoy clean and safe water throughout the year thanks to the efforts of ChangeALife Uganda. CALU has made clean water  a reality for this rural community located in Uganda's Nakasongola District. The success of the CALU water project can be seen in the number of people with jerrycans lined up for water at the kiosks built for community consumption. 

At the St. Lawrence Primary School, the children looked brighter and energized during the dry spell that occurred from January through March. This can be contributed to the presence of clean and safe water at the school for drinking and washing hands. Indeed Water is Life. 

Rhoda Anyadwe
Programs Manager 
Change A Life Uganda

The second stage of the CALU WASH project (Water and Sanitation, Health) in Uganda is underway!

The second stage of the CALU WASH project (Water and Sanitation, Health) in Uganda is underway! This phase of the project focuses on replacing the thatched roof of a CALU sponsored children's family home with metal sheeting. The metal sheeting roof is designed to collect rain water into a harvesting tank that can be used for sanitation and bathroom facilities.

The pilot site selected is the home of Kamuhabwa Ronald. He is in P.7 at St Lawrence Primary School. His father is Katana Peter, who is very excited about the project and has already built a new permanent structure to support the new metal sheeting roof. The home is in a village called Kitwekyambogo. 

Sponsoring a Child by Eleni S.

Eleni S.. is a graduate of Rumson Country Day School and is currently attending St. Andrew's High School.  She tells ChangeALife Uganda:

"I have long admired the work of ChangeALife Uganda and have been involved with the organization since 2009 when my family embarked on the educational sponsorship of a young girl.  My high school, St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, places a huge emphasis on sharing the incredible education we are lucky enough to receive with those less fortunate. This year, I decided to introduce a group of my school friends to CALU. I thought it would be great to connect ChangeALife with the St. Andrew's community, and we decided to begin this partnership by raising funds to provide an education for one or two children hoping to attend St. Lawrence School in Migyera. We raised enough money to send one boy, Dalton Kiweewa, to school starting this February, and we will continue fundraising to ensure him of multiple years of schooling. We hope to sponsor a young girl as well, as soon as we raise enough money. I have been working with Ms. Semler and selling jewelry and baskets to my school community. In these winter months, my school has also agreed to help CALU by putting all donations made by our community to our Chapel Vestry towards our fundraising for Dalton and hopefully another future student of St. Lawrence School. We are so excited to have the opportunity to work with CALU and help provide these incredible and deserving children with the education many of their families cannot afford."

Eleni and friends with a basket from the micro-finance project.

Meet Dalton

Dalton is a playful six year old boy in the first grade.  He is active in Sunday School, likes football and enjoys church activities. His parents separated two years ago. His mother stays with her three children in a rented room. She is a teacher but her income is too small to provide for the family needs and also the children’s education and school supplies.