Buganda Region Icolew Learning Centre Commissioned with New Pit Latrine.
By Mayengo Godfrey Communication Officer Mityana
The Buganda Region ICOLEW (Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation) in Banda Town Council, Mityana District, marked a significant milestone this week with the official commissioning of a five-stance pit latrine and monitoring of ongoing activities at the learning facility.
The commissioning ceremony was led by the Resident District Commissioner Joseph Drake Mukiibi that brought local leaders, trainers, and learners who gathered to celebrate the progress of the center, which is fast growing Centre of skills training and literacy in the region.
Speaking at the event, Sseruwagi Godfrey, Chairperson LCIII of Banda Town Council, noted that the learning center started as a humble village initiative where community members invlolved in buying land and by that time he was the secretary on the executive of the local council.
"The community bought one and a half inche of land using 25% of the money that was allocated to the LC with the aim of getting a place where they can meet amd make meetings on the parish level and use it for immunization in the community which showed our commitment,” said Sseruwagi.
Sseruwagi called upon leaders at all levels to support the center further and help transform it into a full-fledged technical training institution to cater for the people of Mityana district.
Carol Namazzi, Senior Community Development Officer in charge of Gender who serves also as the coordinator for Icolew, explained that ICOLEW replaced the Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) program and they have over 150 students who are benefiting in the different skills that are taught at the region Centre.
Namazzi said that DVV international has supported the region Centre with materials and equipment’s to use by learners and also bout a television set for the learners to watch at the facility.
“We now train in tailoring, hairdressing, basic literacy, and many other skills. This Centre is very important for community transformation,” she said. She also shared that Mityana District was selected to host the regional ICOLEW center for Buganda, which covers over 26 districts.
A proposal has already been submitted to the GROW program seeking funding for expansion. "If we secure the funds, we hope to construct more buildings at the center because the one we have cannot accommodate all the leaners because they are studying in shifts," Carol added. However, she cited critical challenges including lack of electricity and absence of computers at the facility.
David Muzira, District Community Development Officer, emphasized the importance of adult education where he said that they want to see all people can write and read because the world is moving globally where people need to know how to write and read.
“We want to ensure that people who came here unable to read and write can now do so confidently. This center is changing lives, and we need to maintain a clean and welcoming environment,” he said.
Muzira said that Ministry of Gender through DIT they want to make qualification network where they can give out exams and they award certificate and after studying a learner can advance to another level and graduate. He added that they want to see what is happening at Mubende Hub Happening in Mityana district at the region centre.
Jack Byaruhanga, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer reaffirmed their support as the district and he said that they cannot sit as the district when they have a big project like this in the district. “As a district, we are fully committed to the growth of this facility. Being a regional center, it will attract learners and visitors from many districts,” he said.
Byaruhanga informed the members that they received a donor who want to start up a demo garden for vegetables and they are going to take the donor to the facility and asked members when they start the demo they have to copy what is done and take it in their homes.
Drake Joseph Mukiibi, Resident District Commissioner, extended appreciation to both learners and trainers. He thanked the district for constructing the new latrine at the learning center and urged the members to use it well so that they don’t get diseases from it.
RDC Mukiibi went further to urge parents to prioritize education and take the children in schools and he said that if a parent did not get the chance to go to school they have to use this chance to take their children at school and also use the learning centre as their centre for development.
. “Encourage your children to attend school and use this center to acquire lifelong skills,” he said.
Mukiibi Urged learner also to take a method of saving money using the village banks and he said it will help them to add value on what they are being taught. “Start a saving culture when your studying if you save money at the end of the course you can use that money to buy material that you can use in your business”. Said Mukiibi.
Oliver Nassuuna 16 years learning hair dressing at the facility thanked the district for setting up the region centre and she said that her mother had no money to take her at school and she was at home sited and saw her friends when coming from the centre and they told her to join. “ My friends advised me too come and learn skills at the region centre and I had to tell my mother and when I told her she asked me what skills they are teaching when I told her that I want to learn hair dressing she allowed me to study” said Nassuuna.
Nassuna has advised fellow girls who dropped out of school to come and get this chance of acquiring skills.
Stuart Monedde the chairperson region Centre said that the facility has attracted many youths who want to learn skills and the main challenge they are facing is the small space they have.
He asked government to come out and help them to construct more buildings so that they educate many youths in the community.