This is the beautiful Kanyahamene
Kanyamahene (Khan-ya-ma-hen-eh)
We have all been working hard to get a community project off the ground in the small village of
Kanyamahene and in the flurry of project planning, sourcing materials and ramping up we have been a
little radio silent about this community and their hopes and dreams so here it is:
Kanyamahene, a community in the southwestern Kisoro region of Uganda, is located over 35 kilometers
from the nearest town center accessible only by mud slicked makeshift mountain roads. This community
earns on average less the $0.25 a day which has resulted in high rates of malnutrition, illness and low
rates of literacy within the community. Community members in this remote village explained that there
are three main challenges that perpetuate the extreme poverty they face every day:
• Lack of access to health facilities
• Decreased yields caused by animal raids and environmental damage
• Lack of access to potable water and sanitation
Like all RTV partner communities though, villagers had some ideas about solutions to help overcome
these barriers and have been regularly helping RTV form appropriate and self-sustaining responses.
• Bicycle Ambulance Program and Health Outreach to increase access to health facilities
• A bee hive fence to decrease large animal raids as well as increase agricultural yields and household income
• A goat cooperative to decrease animal raids and increase household income
• Improved access to a community reliable water source to increase water consumption and decrease water related diseases.
We know that with the commitment of the community and with a little help from RTV dedicated staff
we can make a real change in this community – a change that will last forever.
- find out more about Kanyahamene on our work page
You can't change the world, but you can change the facts. And when you change the facts, you change points of view. If you change points of view, you may change a vote. And when you change a vote, you may change the world. - DEPECHE MODE, "New Dress"
Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time. - Deborah Chaskin
Raising The Village is recruiting for new board members.
Deadline to apply is April 30!
Click here for more information.
Education is not only a ladder of opportunity, but it is also an investment in our future - Ed Markey
having shoes is a privilege
This is Madame Aisha - school teacher at Kanga Primary for 4 years. She believes in investing in the community's children.
hello, happy friday!
Kanyamahene is a small village that borders that Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which is home to African Forest Elephants, Gorillas and monkeys. It all sounds so exotic. However, when we talked to Kanyamahene village members and farmers didn’t think the animals were exotic – these animals are pests that are keeping households in poverty.
Elephants and other animals from the forest raid fields at harvest time which means less crops to sell, less household income, and less food available for households and their families. Kids often skip school armed with sticks, makeshift sling shots guard the parameter of the fields to scare elephants and gorillas from coming into gardens. This perpetuates not only poverty but high rates of illiteracy in the community.
Animals are naturally scared of African Bees (who isn’t really?) because of their painful and aggressive stings. RTV has decided therefore to pilot a “bee hive fence” using this natural fear to deter animals from crop raiding and produces additional forms of income through honey production. Hives are hung on covered structures ten meters apart on the parameter of a household’s field. A wire loosely stretches from one hive to another. Animals will naturally try to pass in between the hive structures thus pulling on the wire that will swing, and thus disturb the bees who will swarm the animals causing them to run away. Stopping the animals will lead to better crop production leading to more food for families and more income for farmers. A simple solution to an elephant sized problem.
It’s a new adventure for RTV and for Kanyamahene community members but we think it’s the bee’s knees (yes we went there).
If you want more information check out Save The Elephants publication African Elephants Run from the Sound of Disturbed Bees.
Elizabeth “Buff” Cox began serving on Raising The Village’s Board of Directors in early 2010 until her first battle with cancer began later in the same year. As our first elder statesperson, she shepherded a bunch of young, first time board members; helping to navigate the complex charity space and being the steady hand and voice of reason. Although she was uncharacteristically tasked with reworking our by-laws and constitution, she never let the administrivia distract from her true gift: Encouraging us to go for it and do it well. Buff will be missed, but her legacy will keep us moving forward.
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