Ndegeya is the district where Joanne used to work and live in 2006/2007 and where Apollo lives. It consists of 7 hamlets.
The Joanne Foundation has started a health program and a waterprogram in this district. The success of both programs in the long run depends on whether we are able to connect with the local community.
Sunday was a very important day. Apollo had asked the village leaders of the seven hamlets to come together to have a talk with Helma and Arent. Also the owner of the property on which the waterpump will be installed and some other important members of the community were invited to be present at this meaningful and formal meeting.
The purpose of this meeting was to connect with the community and ask for their coorperation. Coorperation with our healthprogram so that the people of the community will alert nurse Kakande if they know of elderly people who are ill.
Coorperation with our waterprogram so that the people of the community will take full responsibily for the correct usage of the pump.
The meeting went very well. Arent spoke on behalf of the Joanne Foundation explaining why we are looking for coorperation and the people present all showed their appreciation for the work the Joanne Foundation is doing for their community and for asking their coorperation.
We are certain that this meeting will be a big support for the succes of our health program and water program.
We had a very good conversation with Bakka Godfrey who is going to install the waterpump for us. Together with Apollo he thought of a way to make the community feel that they own the pump. All the people of the community will have to pay 500 sh (13 cents) a month for the use of the pump. With the money the pump will be serviced regularly. This will hopefully prevent the people from using the pump carelessly. The pump should still be in operation 15 years from now!