Dreams for Future ACTions

Expanded Markets

During the fall of 2009, we initiated a cooperative effort with the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) chapter of Alma College to begin work to expand markets for goods of the area (such as their handmade baskets and jewelry) here in the US and other developed countries.  There are extremely few employment opportunities for the Muko region.  So, efforts like these are critical to be able to provide a source of good, sustainable income for the people.  It would also greatly expand our number of people working to help this area by having the students take this on as a project.

We are also beginning to look at sewn handcrafts as another source of employment and income for Muko.  Some initial training in making small hand-sewn items from African fabric has already begun. 

Water Quality

We have begun some early fact-finding to judge the needs for improvement in water quality for the Muko region.  Some of the ACT Uganda staff will be conducting some basic tests for a few of the common water sources for families in the area.  We will use these tests to judge the need for any further action.  Additionally, we will look at the specialized need for purified water in the health clinics.

ACT Centre in Muko

And lastly, a concept for an ACT Centre has also been developed by the ACT Uganda Board.  This would be a multi-purpose location to provide a place to work on handcraft goods that can be sold, to hold education programs on a variety of topics to enhance skills and improve health and safety, and to hold regional gatherings for ACT.  ACT owns our office building in the village and we hope to improve and expand the building.

Agriculture

Our dream would be to have a small group of farmers willing to work together to share production, with each producing something different thus allowing for crop rotation, and sharing the proceeds of their labor with each other. In addition we would like to establish storage for excess agricultural produce to allow sales of said produce at the optimal market time. Finally a nutritional program to educate the families about proper diet and cooking methods which best preserve the vitamins in their food.