KAMPALA —The Community Integrated Development Initiatives (CIDI) a not for profit Ugandan organization has unveiled plans for the jubilee celebrations— and its journey of impacting lives.
The week-long celebrations are scheduled from Thursday September 29 where a whopping 300 guests are being expected to attend.
CIDI was founded in 1997 but officially registered in 1999 in Uganda.
In its 25 years of serving Ugandans, the organization’s strategic actions have been directed towards improving the lives of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized through community empowerment and provision of material and technical support.
Ms. Hellena Kasujja, the Deputy Executive Director CIDI says the major strides have been achieved through a multi-program approach in areas of; Sustainable agriculture, Water and sanitation, Health and Advocacy and governance.
CIDI operates in 28 districts across the country with regional offices in Soroti, Rakai, Nakapiripit, Yumbe, Kyangwali and Kampala specifically targeting marginalized communities within urban poor settlements, rural communities, Most at Risk populations and refugees, women, youth and children.
Ms. Kasujja says the organization pays close attention to thematic areas of agriculture, health, education, climate change, water hygiene and sanitation.
“We have undertaken interventions and created impact thematic areas improved food security and household incomes,
4,362 HHs have received sustainable agriculture technologies, capacity building in modern agriculture methods, been organized and trained to form farmer cooperatives, market support and established Village savings and Loan Associations reaching about 17,925 house holds, she says.
CIDI is also one of the leading feacal sludge collectors and transporters in Kampala city, a high contribution to the city’s sanitation. A total of 2,732,555 people have benefitted from our WASH interventions.
The other areas of focus include maternal and child health care
“Over 134,641 persons have benefited from these services 63,871 of are children who were given Vitamin A supplementation and deworming while 70,860 mothers received Maama kits. CIDI has also strengthened WASH in Healthcare Facilities through the provision of 13 Placenta Pits and 13 Incinerators,” Ms Kasujja says.
On youth empowerment and skilling, Kasujja says, CIDI has supported 8,280 youths to acquire various vocational skills through training and mentorship in various enterprises.
“CIDI has mobilized and organized 1320 Youth in 6 Associations in Rakai and Soroti and they undertaking income generating activities including wine making, bakery among others
“Over 135,243 youths across Uganda have been supported to organize into a National Youth Advocacy Platform-NYAP that provides them avenue to access and engage directly with regional, national and international leaders and policy makers on issues of importance to youths”.
In areas of education, Kasujja says that her organization has been working on promoting a conducive learning environment for learners and that they have worked with the Ministry of Education and Sports to develop school feeding guidelines, which she says are key in eliciting community involvement in school feeding.
“11,462 learners have been able to access heath and nutritious meals since 2019 in Soroti,” she says.
On humanitarian support, Kasujja revealed that CIDI supports the refugee communities with emergency necessities, and that it builds their capacity to adoption and self-sustainability.
In the last 25 years, she says CIDI has distributed 700 tons of food to communities hit by crisis and other WASH supplies, planting materials and animals for 382,546 refugees in Bidibidi and Yumbe refugee settlements.
On knowledge generation, she says CIDI has documented a number of learnings and success stories that it will share.
Also as part of information dissemination and sharing CIDI achievements, the Executive Director of CIDI, Dr Jjuuko Fulgensio, has written a book titled “EPIC PERSISTENCE”. The book is citing his long journey in community development and founding of CIDI and it will be officially launched that day.
In this book there are several articles about what others say about CIDI and Dr Jjuuko Fulgensio including very long term International partners.
Commenting on the celebrations, Ms. Kasujja says that the 25 years of serving communities and innovating for the future, “we would like to pause and reflect as well as celebrate our achievements”.
The much sought-after celebrations will be under the theme “Celebrating 25 years of Community Service. Leaving no one behind.”
She says several key partners including government will have a very firm presence owing to their cardinal roles.
How the Silver Jubilee will be held
Ms Kasujja said
CIDI has organized several activities to including the Silver Jubilee Celebrations scheduled for September 29th starting at 9am to 5pm at Silver Springs Hotel Bugolobi.
She said the event, will be officiated by the selected Chief Guest, who will at the same time launch the EPIC Book.
“The celebrations will feature key note Speakers from CIDI’s partners, government and scholars,” Ms. Kasujja told this website, noting that during the Celebrations, CIDI will share its success stories, challenges, lessons learnt, as an illustration of its journey since 1997.
This major event will target 300 people from government agencies, donor community, CSOs, media and beneficiaries.
The event will be end with a party to which selected guests will be invited, she said.
Furthermore during the celebrations, CIDI will award outstanding contributors to its 25 years’ journey in community development.
The organization will also hold media engagements ghrough TV, Radio and social media about its 25 years journey.
During these engagements, Kasujja said CIDI will also share about its impact, approaches, what works and what doesn’t work, sustainability mechanisms and most of all how to ensure impactful community development.
The media engagements will run for a week starting on the 26th to 30th 2022, Kasujja said, they will help in the sharing of knowledge and lessons learnt with the public.
The other actives include an exhibition on September 29 where CIDI will be showcasing of all CIDI Technologies including ECOCA Solar Stoves, Solar Sacks, Gardening School, CIDI water, Cesspools among others.
The Organisation will also conduct community outreaches where it will conduct a community clean up with emptying subsidies to communities and schools as a way of giving back to the community.
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