A Message From Moses
In October I asked Moses to write a few words about his work with A4U. In his own words below, Moses has outlined his role and commitment to the organisation. All of us here feel extremely lucky and honoured to be working alongside such a selfless individual and we thank you for your service.
How We Operate in Uganda
A4U is purely a volunteer organization, the funds are transferred to the Uganda where needs of the vulnerable women, Orphans and Vulnerable children those who are HIV+ are considered a key beneficiary. With the help of community leadership, Local council one, Partner organizations base on referrals or from health facilities we identify the most severe vulnerable households, the families are assessed to ascertain the real needs, level of vulnerabilities. We consider the first need of the families as we plan to support for empowerment and sustainability. The funds cater for food, clothing, seedlings for planting, supplementary medical support, payment of school fees and facilitating scholastics. We also provide modes of transportation to very severe households with bicycles. When the families/ households are identified and verified for support, we make sure that we build a relationship for long term support, the items are purchased from Lira City and transported to the families, during handover the local authorities are invited to witness the items so as to help monitor the usage of the items and assets and report to A4U representative in Uganda. We use the motorcycle as modes of transport to carry the items where we can’t access the motorcycle, we hire vehicle or trucks to deliver the items to the nearby locations agreed upon with the beneficiaries.
Food Items distributed during the COVID Pandemic so far by September 2020
We have been able to distribute food stuff such as beans, posho, rice, cooking oil, onions, bathing soaps, hand sanitizers, liquid shops, salt among others to support over 20 households during this COVID-19 lockdown that has turn the country into a different economic status.
Where we have to provide bicycle, we purchase them from Lira City, the bicycles are assembled from the workshop in Lira, then transported to the beneficiaries. We also make sure that each recipients of the bikes are trained on minor bike repair skills and some key spare parts like handpumps, tubes, tyres, grease are donated alongside as the family takes over operation and maintenance of the bikes. During this lockdown we donated four bicycles to 4 households who are HIV+ to support them access health facilities to collect their ARVS on monthly basis than walking on foot, this will reduce costs to hire Boda-boda, time spend while walking on foot, save time lining in the cue to collect ARVs and also facilitate them to access market place and sell their produce.
As a Co-Founder of A4U and a member of this communities who was born in this northern part of Uganda that under went rebels’ activities for 20years, I have seen the people live a very devastating life. We try to use all our donations towards supporting ministry work and make sure that operational costs are funded by us the founder members. We work well with district officials and local stakeholders in ensuring that our services go to the right people.
Compiled: Moses Fred Ogwal
Co-Founder A4U
