WCFJC News

February, 2010

WCFJC is in the process of negotiating a partnership with Mbarara University of Science and Technology's Faculty of Development Studies. Mbarara University is one of Uganda's leading government run academic institutions. This public- private partnership shall on one hand provide students the opportunity to practice what they learn in their University courses and expose them to the realities of community development work. On the other hand through this partnership, WCFJC will be exposed to current theories of development studies and will also deepen the impact of its interventions at community level. WCFJC is incredibly keen to move this initiative forward.

Goat Program:
In February WCFJC finally received the goats purchased to replace the initial set of Dairy Goat Breeding Center goats. The animals are in good health and the she-goats quickly mated with the he-goat Mfalme (Kiswahili for King). The Breeding Center expects its first kids in August 2010!

Inside the Breeding Center	Mfalme (Kiswahili for King)
Furaha (Kiswahili for Joy)	Rehema (Kiswahili for Grace)

The WCFJC goat herd continues to expand with the addition of 4 male crosses and 2 female crosses during the month of February.

Poultry Program:
The birds started laying eggs this month! The eggs are still small in size but we fully expect that by the end of March 2010, revenue from egg sales will cover the cost of purchasing both feeds and veterinary drugs, with some left over for beneficiary savings.

Amongst themselves, the beneficiaries selected a representative responsible for collecting all the eggs and getting them to the retailers. This is an excellent change from Phase I of the program where WCFJC performed that task.

School Program:
The number of enrolled pupils in the school has increased from 168 (January 2010) to 224 in February 2010. Clearly, the community attaches a great value to the school and its numbers are expected to increase in the months ahead. Indeed, a second local charitable organization opted to place 40 of its beneficiaries in this school in January. A community member has offered an empty lot as a temporary location for the school and a temporary structure is under construction.

WCFJC is aggressively seeking donations for the purchase of land (US$ 2,500) and will subsequently look for donations towards the construction of a school building.

The temporary shelter for pupils under construction