WCFJC News

January, 2009

Kampala Rotary Club Visit:
In 2006, The Rotary Fund awarded WCFJC a $25,000 grant through the Pasadena Sunrise Club in California and their partners, Kampala Rotary Club in Uganda. On January 31st 2009, a delegation of Rotarians from Kampala Rotary Club visited WCFJC projects in order to officially “handover” the projects funded by the $25,000 grant. WCFJC beneficiaries used the opportunity to inform Kampala Rotary Club of the challenges they face including – lack of transport for goat’s milk and long distances traveled to the nearest source of water. The club president Andrew Ntegeka pledged $100 towards the purchase of a bicycle for Nakakulwe Bulondo Community Group (dairy goat project). The bicycle will be used to transport goat’s milk to the market for sale. The president further promised to contact the Rotary Community Corps to support the provision of water closer to the project area.

Goat Project:
In January 2009 WCFJC received a $10,000 grant from MoneyGram, Minneapolis Minnesota. We are grateful for the grant which will fund the construction and launch of the WCFJC goat breeding center. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2009. The breeding center will enable WCFJC to raise its own breeding stock. The stock will also be available for sale to members of the general public, creating a stream of revenue to fund project activities.

January saw the loss of two goats within the WCFJC herd. The deaths are attributed to poor animal hygiene. Despite our strong efforts to educate beneficiaries on how to handle their animals, this continues to be a problem. Beginning March 2009 therefore, WCFJC will hire an individual to disinfect each goat and goat shed within the project once a week. Beneficiaries will be required to pay the equivalent of US$ 0.27 a week, for the service.

Poultry Project:
Following the sale of all birds under the Phase I of the Poultry Project, the following profits were realized by the participating poultry houses:

Total profits realized by beneficiaries over a 12 month period of egg sales: US$ 3,034. It should be noted that this first phase of the poultry project was designated as a learning phase and beneficiaries were not requested to pay back WCFJC for the value-adding resources they had received i.e. day old chicks as well as feeds and medical treatment given to the poultry before they started laying eggs.

In addition to the profits shared among beneficiaries, two poultry houses will receive cash prizes. Wabagabaza will receive $ 263 for attaining the highest sales and Adhikuseka $ 136 for having lost only one of its birds to disease, for a total of 129 birds at project closing. $136 is the value of 129 day old chicks.

A smaller number of beneficiaries will be invited to participate in Phase II of the poultry project, scheduled to launch in the 2nd Quarter of 2009.

Hair Salon Project:
Earnings from the Hair Salon are down versus December 2008 ($ 420). Sales are however higher than January 2008 ($103) by +123%. Part of the growth since December 2008 was due to the season festivities.

Hair Salon Monthly Earnings in 2009 (US$)

Hair Salon Earnings, Full Year 2008: US$ 1,544