The Rotary Club of Stourbridge
Worcestershire Farmers Overseas Action Group (FOAG)
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The Rotary Club of Stourbridge Worcestershire Farmers Overseas Action Group (FOAG) |
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LINKS
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FOAG and its work first came to the attention of the Rotary Club of Stourbridge one lunchtime in November1997 when David Harper, the then Secretary of FOAG, came to talk to the Club. FOAG is an independent charity that supports projects in Uganda that are seeking to improve the quality of life of their Communities. It was founded in 1981 by a nucleus of Worcestershire farming families to practically help to address the needs of rural Uganda. The core group has expanded over the years and is now supported by an ever-increasing number of associate members and organisations. Originally the focus was to be agricultural, but this has widened to encompass some educational and medical projects. FOAG works in a direct and personal way with organisations involved in development work, as well as with schools, teacher training institutions, agricultural colleges and church charities. One of the basic tenets of FOAG’s work is that all projects should be visited and reviewed at least once a year by representatives of its Committee. Visit the FOAG web site at www.foag.co.uk. After the passionate and inspiring talk by David Harper the International Service Committee discussed whether they should seek to involve the Club in the work of FOAG. The Committee was enthusiastic to do so and, to quote one of its members, “FOAG represents the ideal partner for an international project. They are local, know their business, have very low expenses, visit the overseas country regularly and know the organisations, with which they work and, most importantly of all, annually formally review and report on the progress of each project”. It was decided to ask Council to pledge £1000 to support FOAG and at its meeting in July 1988 this request was approved. Contact with FOAG quickly revealed that it would like to use our donation to improve facilities at the Masindi Centre for the Handicapped Child. At first discussion revolved around additional water provision but FOAG’s and the Centre’s priority was for a staff house. Their rationale for this was that as the Centre is about 9 miles from Masindi, to attract and keep good staff, a pre-requisite for quality education, it was necessary to provide good family accommodation at the Centre.
First Staff House Built in 1999
It was agreed that a staff house comprising of three bungalows, each with living and sleeping accommodation and an outside cooking area, should be built. The cost of the project was £3,120, £1000 from the Club and the balance £2,120 from FOAG. The staff house was completed in 1999 and four families are in residence.
Second Staff House Built in 2001
In the Rotary year 2000/2001 FOAG was again identified as the Club’s choice for an overseas project. This time both the International and Foundation Service Committees decided that they wished to support FOAG. Michael Clark and Mike McConville met with FOAG Officers and at their request it was agreed that the Club would again support the Masindi Centre by part financing another staff house. This time the cost of a three-bungalow house will be £3,250. Council has approved the International Committees’ recommendation that we donate £1000 towards this project. The project was completed in 2001 and four families are now in residence The Masindi Centre for the Handicapped Child is in Northwest Uganda some 9 miles from the town of Masindi. Until 2003 the Centre has no electricity and all its water supplies are collected from rain water. It was first visited by FOAG in 1987 and since that time they have supported the Centre with a number of significant developments and staff appointments. The Centre now has: · A full-time staff of over 43, including 2 former pupils. · Recognition by the Uganda Government as a “centre of excellence.” · A 50-acre farm teaching the pupils essential agricultural skills. · A network of support between FOAG and others on a co-ordinated basis. As we got to know the Centre better we became increasingly concerned about the safety of the children after dark as the only form of lighting was by using hurricane lamps. We were determined to provide some form of electricity and initially considered a photovoltaic system. However, discussion with the Rotary Club of Masindi and through them the Ugandan Government resulted in electricity being brought to the site and the Rotary Club of Stourbridge agreed to meet the cost of distributing the supply to all the buildings and wiring them for light. This task was completed in 2002 at a cost of over £7,000. In October Val and Michael Clark and Jan and Mike McConville travelled to the Centre and was involved in switching on the supply.
Electricity comes to Masindi
Mike McConville switches on the light and plants a commemorative tree
Michael Clark and Mike McConville at the ceremony to switch on the lights
The Two Mikes say good bye to the Head Teacher and her Deputy
The above photograph was taken as we were about to leave the Centre and our parting promise was to try to provide the Centre with computer equipment. In 2004 that promise was realised when 15 computers and associated equipment was flown to the Centre and an engineer travelled from the UK to install it and to undertake some initial staff training.
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