THE THIRD QUARTER REPORT FROM MAYUGE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CENTER

P.O BOX 26745 KAMPALA

Introduction

We extend our sincere gratitude and greetings to all our partners, donors, friends and well-wishers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We wish to inform you that the beneficiaries, staff, board of governors and all key stakeholders of Mayuge Christian Education Centre are playing their respective roles towards the smooth running of all projects at the center.

Below is the project status report for the period running from 1st July – 30th September 2024.

Background

This report highlights MCEC activities implemented within the second quarter of 2024, supporting the spiritual and educational growth of adults and children at MCEC and in the local community.

Ministry

The project is committed to ensuring that bible study sessions for men, women and children are held every Friday and Saturday. These sessions are open to all interested members of the community regardless of religion.

The women praising and worshipping (left). Godfrey (right) talking to the women during Bible study.

The boys listening to Pastor Richard during Bible study.

Education

Adult education was introduced at the center in February and is still ongoing. The classes are every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-5pm. The main aim of these classes is to enable the participants to have an ability to read, write, and solve simple math problems.

MCEC and Baitambogwe primary school are working together to improve the learning process for pupils and make it easy for them to read and write.

MCEC is committed to providing scholastic materials to the pupils to ensure their success while at school.

Judith handing over scholastic materials to the deputy head teacher (left) and to the pupils in the presence of the head teacher and their teacher (right).

Vocational/Technical Skills

Mechanics

The first motorcycle mechanics class was concluded on the 19th day of September. Preparations (interviews) for the second class were also concluded after selecting nine boys to be in the second class.

The graduates are expected to do an internship in different garages for one month, after which a graduation gift will be handed over to them.

The students of Mechanics Class 1 and their teacher pose for a photo in their uniforms.

Tailoring

After a long period of halting the tailoring classes, MCEC has another chance to resume the classes. Interviews have been done with prospective students and a meeting was organized to talk about what students should expect from MCEC and what we are expecting from them.

Agriculture

Poultry

MCEC obtained a new batch of 250 layer chicks on the 1st of September this year. The chicks are healthy and are being vaccinated and given appropriate feeds on time. MCEC hopes to increase its production and sales that can be re-invested in the project.

Chicks in the brooder.

On the other hand, the layers fell sick due to the inconsistent weather conditions, resulting in a reduction in production to 5.5 trays per day. Despite this, sales are still being made and the little money obtained is being saved.

Vincent collecting eggs.

Cattle

Thanks to our partners, MCEC is greatly benefitting from the cows that were received in February. The two cows were inseminated and this has led to a reduction in milk production which is a sign of pregnancy. Hopefully their production will increase such that the money is re-invested.

David feeding the cows in the kraal.

Garden

The production of matooke in the banana plantation has been good and a huge number of the bunches has been sold, donated, or eaten at the center.

Although production has been good, the plantation was destroyed recently by heavy rain and hail leaving MCEC at a loss. Efforts have been made to ensure that the plantation is brought back to its original condition.

Fatuma, a banana trader, loading the bananas she purchased at MCEC on a motorcycle.

Hygiene and Health

Energy-Saving Stoves and Saucepans

MCEC, with the help of its partners, managed to construct modern energy-saving stoves and give two stainless saucepans to Baitambogwe primary school, after identifying a need for stoves and saucepans at the school.

Godfrey and the contractor inspecting the newly-built stoves and saucepans.

Sanitary Pads

MCEC has donated a number of reusable pads to school-going girls and to women in the community to make them more comfortable while carrying out their daily activities. MCEC is now looking at producing a huge number of pads due to an increase in demand. These will be given out to the community.

Girls at Bugodi primary school displaying the pads that they received from MCEC.

WASH Program

In this quarter, education about worm infection was concluded in the three schools that were chosen for the WASH program pilot study (Baitambogwe primary school, Bugodi primary and Faith of Victory). The students are now more alert about their hygiene for fear of contracting diseases that they can avoid. The teaching assistants have now joined Judith in carrying out education.

Juliet talking to the pupils about hygiene and worm infection.

Community Visits

Tailoring Follow-Up

MCEC visited a number of beneficiaries from Tailoring Classes 1 and 2 to see their progress, understand how they are benefitting from the machines they were given, and to provide counselling services to them. Most of the women were working and they were grateful to MCEC and its partners for the efforts they made to change their lives.

Judith having a discussion with Shakira, a graduate from Tailoring Class 1, at her shop in Musita.

Health Centers

In an attempt to extend our services to areas that are in need, Godfrey and Judith visited various health centers to find out what MCEC can do to ensure that the people there can easily access the most basic services. MCEC focused on clean water access in these areas, and the need was beyond our expectations.

Godfrey having a brief discussion with one of the residents at Bute Health Center II.

MCEC is looking forward to drilling a borehole at Baitambogwe Health Center III that can be accessed by the people at the hospital and the community as a whole. It is also looking forward to providing a midwife to the health center to help in service provision. Godfrey and Judith visited the district to find ways to partner with the district and to also seek its permission to do the items previously mentioned.

Godfrey with Engineer Isaac in his office (water department) at the district.

Center Construction

MCEC, with the help of its partners, is undergoing various renovations to give it a new face.

A new poultry house was constructed and completed in preparation for another batch of 250 layer chicks.

The newly constructed poultry house.

The containers have been painted and windows have been installed to help with aeration. We are so grateful to our partners for the support and love.

The newly painted office with windows.

Human Resources

MCEC has been blessed with a new security guard this quarter that will be guarding all MCEC property.

Vincent, the new security personnel.

Challenges

1. Natural calamities: Strong winds, heavy rain, and hail that destroy the crops and lead to diseases in the birds and cows at the farm cause MCEC to suffer losses due to a reduction in sales.
2. Dry season: Plants in our garden do not grow as expected and the harvest is greatly reduced. The irrigation system was paid for in the first quarter but, as of the end of this quarter, the district has not yet fulfilled its obligations.

Conclusion

We are so grateful to the Almighty for the gift of life, the support from our partners and donors, and the board that has stood with MCEC throughout the quarter. We promise to keep working even harder in the fourth quarter.

Yours faithfully,

Godfrey Nkutu

Director Mayuge Christian Education Centre