ACT & The Peace Corps

It is somewhat startling to me (Sue Waechter) to reflect this week on all our preparations in the US for our traditional Thanksgiving celebration and the food involved. In the US, this is a holiday about giving thanks and sharing a VERY large meal of (typically) roast turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, pies, etc. There is typically a shared groan in our culture from overeating during this annual meal together. Another reminder to me just how different the two places are that we live in: Muko Sub County, Uganda and the US. Generous, the ACT Uganda Director, shared with us a several years ago that folks in Muko sometimes eat meat just once per year on Christmas Day. Others only occasionally eat meat. 

So, as those of us in the US prepare for our Thanksgiving meal, let's be reminded of our Ugandan friends and what meals they share together as families. The following is a blog post written by Onesmas Arinda, our HANDS (Agricultural) Manager:

"In February of 2021, the US Peace Corps, working hand-in-hand with Harvest Plus, partnered with ACT to extend the training in food and nutrition, gender equality, good breastfeeding practices, and infant and maternal feeding. Five volunteers, as Community Based Facilitators, were selected and trained on ZOOM by the Peace Corps in the above mentioned topics and these are, then, the Facilitators who initiated this program to the seven parishes of Muko Sub-County (which represents over 40,000 community members). 

Muko farmer with Pamella Musiimenta, HANDS Assistant Manager

The Peace Corps donated 1000 kgs of Iron Rich Bean seeds for planting as it had been observed that most children below the age of five in the Muko community were malnourished and iron-deficient in their diet. Forty-five farmers from each of the seven parishes were selected by the ACT staff working together with the trained Community Based Facilitators and the community volunteers, provided trainings on the above topics at various locations in each parish. Each farmer received 3 kgs of Iron Rich Beans for planting. Knowledge on the agronomy of these beans was also brought to the farmers. 

A training session

Follow-ups at different stages of bean development at germinating, flowering and harvesting are arranged by the ACT HANDS Team in order to monitor the progress of the gardens and sharing with the farmers so that quality and quantity produce is harvested. After harvesting is done a small portion of the harvested produce seeds from the farmers is always recovered to the ACT seed bank so that the program continues to reach other farmers from the same community. 

Since the initiation of this program almost two years ago, 674 farmers have been trained and the challenges brought by malnutrition and food security have been reduced. We look forward to carrying this project on so that a larger number of farmers are reached!"  - Onesmas

Onesmas Arinda, ACT HANDS Manager

Just a reminder! Tuesday, November 29th is Giving Tuesday in the US. ACT's focus this year is on completion of the brand new Science Lab at Muko High School! You will be receiving more information in this blog next week!