The sleepy village of Ssanga lies in the heart of the Mabira rainforest, where traditional livelihoods of logging and hunting have been outlawed. Life has become desperate for the isolated village as population stress, high levels of unemployment and rising rates of alcohol abuse affect the community. Community leaders identified a lack of education, among the greatest challenges facing the village with as many as 3 children of primary school age not attending school in every household. The community came together to construct a small schoolhouse to teach their children, sharing a single 1 x 1 metre chalkboard between all classes.
Raising The Village was invited to work with the Ssanga village to support them in their plans for the children and the survival of their village.

project objective

Project Costs

$30,000 CAD

Project Timeline

24 months
(June 2010–June 2012)

Infrastructure

  • 2 classroom blocks
  • 1 office and staff room
  • 1 latrine (4 stalls)
  • Desks and administrative supplies and training kit
  • 3 well recovery projects and training

Income Generation

  • Farming start-up kit
    (Farming equipment and seeds)

Education

    Ssanga Primary School
  • Increase the number of teachers from 2 to 5
  • Implement administrative management
  • Implement school meals

target objectives

  • Sustainable access to clean drinking water
    all year round
  • Improved access to education and basic education levels
  • Improved household income and
    quality of life
  • Improved crop yields and reduced soil nutrient depletion

PROGRESS

Infrastructure
Income Generation
Education

 65%
65%
65%

RESULTS TO DATE

Increase in females attendance from 2009
43%

(December 2010)

community involvement and support

The parents, guardians, and local village have committed to participation in the project through:

  • Focus group for needs assessments and prioritization of facilities and programs
  • Participation in school leadership committees to establish the program
  • Donation and lease of land to house the project and sustainable activities
  • Weekly volunteer labour hours to setup up gardens for income generation
  • Donations of construction materials, and participation in construction

stats

Ssanga Village, Mabira Rainforest, Uganda
(15 miles from nearest town: Jinja)

Estimated population of village and surrounding areas
620

Local landscape
The village is deep within the Mabira forest reserve, a lush rain forest with a rich variety of wildlife and vegetation.

Water source
A spring box that was constructed last year by the villagers about 1 kilometre from the school.

Accessibility

to village: Transportation is restricted as pathways are routinely washed out and flooded due to the nvironment, making it difficult to move supplies and equipment. Logging roads provide access to areas of the forest. However, travel by foot is the most common mode of transport.

to water: There are 2 reliable wells within 1.5 km of the village, and 1 unreliable water source 500 meters of the village, and 3 unused water sources within 1.5 km. The is an issue of watershed contamination throughout the community.

to education: Ssanga primary school is the only accessible school for the village. Due to a lack of infrastructure, administration, and teaching staff, the school was unable to support the needs of the community.

to healthcare: There is no health unit in the area and illnesses are often left untreated or need to be serviced at the nearest town.

to government services, resources and development programs: Ssanga has limited access to the local government and lack a knowledge and literacy has limited their ability to lobby and properly access available programs.