FRIENDS OF RUWENZORI TEAMMATES RECENTLY RETURNED FROM KITOJO.  While seven "Friends" were participating in Western Uganda's non-governmental organization called KIDA, KIDA director Ezra Musobozi hosted Kabarole District dignitaries  at a special ceremony to commemorate the Friends of Ruwenzori for their financial support of the newly expanded 4,000 square feet clinic building.  The mission trip included dental care for people who have no dentist.  For details on the Friends mission, click on "2009 Mission Trip" on left menu.

Left to right: Chris, Rev. Ezra, the LC 3 chairman, Delia, the honorable Mr. Michael Mugisa (LC5) (kneeling), Steve and Karen 

JANUARY 2009 KIDA UPDATE

Thanks to a generous challenge grant and a successful fundraising effort by the Friends of Ruwenzori, the Kitojo Integrated Development Association has purchased a splendid 15-passenger van equipped with new seats and seatbelts!  Now the KIDA drama group will ride safely to its HIV-prevention production venues.  Clients who require hospital care can be transported more comfortably to Fort Portal.  Pictured here is the new van being received by overjoyed KIDA members at their clinic.

The Green and Yellow Festival is Coming November 15, 2008!

Click on "Green and Yellow Festival" and "Auction Preview" bars at top for details! 

 OCTOBER KIDA UPDATE

"Positive Living" takes on many forms in the KIDA community.  here are some recent examples:

The children who are HIV positive have a peer group and learn how to live normal lives with HIV.  KIDA (the Kitojo Integrated Development Association) gathers them together, along with their caregivers, four times a year for a Saturday seminar.  Pictured here are the younger children with toys brought by the Friends of Ruwenzori mission team last February.  You can't keep these kids down! 

A recent adult seminar stressed healthy eating and introduced the benefits of garlic to help boost the immune system.  In the same seminar, participants practiced composting to increase the yield of healthy vegetables.

KIDA recently installed another water tank to collect rain water, a technique called "rain water harvesting.  This photo shows the backside of the KIDA clinic and community center.  KIDA is ready for the current rainy season, now beginning.

Other news:  KIDA, the NGO Uganda partner of the Friends of Ruwenzori Foundation, just this month received their micro-finance certificate from the government of Uganda nine months after beginning the cooperative rural community bank.  The "Kitojo AIDS Care Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Limited", has become a legally recognized micro-finance institution in Uganda and boasts 180 active members.  Congratulations KIDA! 

KIDA recently held a meeting of the members of KITOJO AIDS CARE SACCO at the expanded KIDA center.  SACCO stands for Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization, a local initiative program promoted by the government of Uganda to empower the poor by providing a mechanism for savings and micro-credit loans. Since the three PLWHA training workshops held last fall, 190 clients have made deposits and are thus jointly owners of the savings and fund.  They elected a committee that will approve applications for small business loans.  A member of the Uganda Parliament was present at this meeting that was chaired by KIDA’s full-time microfinance manager, Deogratium Mugisa.  Friends of Ruwenzori committed $4,000 this year to augment the loan fund. This program does much to restore hope and self-sufficiency to the vulnerable people infected with HIV.

KIDA microfinance members hold a meeting.

More news to come!