Projects in the UK

• Advocacy and counselling work
• Health promotion
• Drug and alcohol awareness
• Improving reading among young people
• A number community initiatives run using volunteers (Saturday club, cultural events, annual beach trips...)

Projects in the Busoga region of Uganda

Busoga Association started to support partners in the Busoga region of Uganda from 2001 when a Needs Assessment was conducted.

We are currently working in partnership with Jinja Women Association (JWA), Ibulanku Women Project (IWP) and the Slum Women Initiative for Development (SWID) in Uganda.

JWA and IWP

These charities are registered as community-based organisations in Jinja district, Uganda.  They initially ran small credit schemes for local women, with a growing awareness of, and commitment to tackling the vulnerability of girls growing up in their rural communities, and started the ‘Safeguarding Girl Education Project’.  Both JWA and IWP were particularly concerned about young mothers who were often stigmatised in the community and forced to abandon their education.  The project has been supported by BAUK in both fundraising and Skills development.

The Safeguarding Girl Education Project aims to improve the status of girls and young mothers and women by:

• Improving their access to education, resources and other opportunities
• Strengthening their voice to speak out about experiences of abuse etc.
• Increasing awareness among community members and law enforcers about women and girls’ rights.

Although they are still independent organisations, JWA and IWP share an office and since 2002 have worked in partnership with each other.

There is a joint steering committee in place which includes the senior probation officer, a sub-county chief, a health worker, a councilor and the directors of JWA/IWP.

Slum Women in Development (SWID)

SWID was started and founded by Direcor Joyce Nangobi in 2003. Living on the outskirts of the slums of Jinja, she managed to mobilise other women to join her in setting up the organisation. SWID was registered as an NGO in 2004.

It aims to ‘improve the quality of life of women living in urban slums through empowering them to better their social, political and economic needs in a sustainable manner’. Key issues that the organisation aims to address are:

• Security of land tenure
• Control and ownership of property
• Improved income through livelihoods and access to credit and saving facilities.

BAUK helped SWID to secure funding from Comic Relief in 2007. SWID has also been funded by the Huoirou Commission (UN Habitat). There are 8 staff and a Board of 7 (5 f, 2m) who bring professional experience and contacts.

Project In Northern Ugandan Oyam District

In 2009 the organisation in partnership with WEL received a grant from the joint International development grants programme.

Women’s Emancipation Initiatives’ (WEI) based in Oyam District in Northern Uganda. Its mission is to work with change agents in the communities, leadership and government administration structures to change the situation of women practicing their rights and accessing services, improving their economic situation, involvement in decision making structures that affect their lives and making them better able support their families and play a key role.

Founded in 2004, WEI has motivated women to participate in various activities, and addressed child minding by setting up 3 nursery schools, serving over 300 children.

To improve the status of women and girls in Oyam District Uganda, through providing and improving their access to education, resources and other opportunities that would lead them to overcome barriers in acquiring equal participation and treatment in the society. remove barriers to girls’ participation and equal treatment in education, improve confidence and life skills, support women to set up viable income generating activities to educate their children (daughters), and provide training for females to build their confidence in tacking discrimination and be able to participate in decision making processes.

Future Projects

In the UK

Sexual Health Promotion Project
BAUK is in the process of developing a Sexual Health Promotion project for people over 30 years and is looking for partners to assist in implementing a pilot phase of the project.

Community Saving Energy and Fuel Project
BAUK is also developing a volunteer programme called Community Saving Energy and Fuel Project. The project aims to create awareness on energy and fuel saving in the community will engage young people between the ages of 18-24 who will be trained as CSEFP Ambassadors.  The project will contribute to the Hackney strategy on Climate change.

International (Uganda)

Street Children Project
BAUK is in the process of signing the memorandum of understanding with a Street Children project based in Jinja. The partnership will see both organisation supporting the children back to school and implementing life skills projects to support their development and growth.

SWID Project
The Slum Women in Development projects funding is coming to end in 2011, and support is needed in order for it to continue.

BAUK and SWID are currently discussing a pilot project of the same project in Northern part of Uganda. Once the evaluation is completed both BAUK and SWID will use the results to further strengthen current programmes and develop new ones.