Food for the Hungry/UK
Registered Charity 328273

Makhai, Uganda

Written by Moses Mwalye

26th January 2004

Makhai was once a hopeless community, but it is now turning into an amazing example of courage, determination, faith and hope.

The village had one primary school founded in 1930 by the Church of Uganda. The School was constructed with mud and wattle walls with no furnishings such as desks, books and blackboards. When FHI entered the community, the school had 6 teachers, only three of whom were trained, and enrolment was 120 children. There was no office for the head teacher.

There was a common belief that Makhai was bewitched and that there was no hope for development in this area. So what was the problem? What where the churches, leaders and families doing in this community since 1930 when the school started?

In September 2000, FHI entered Makhai community with staff member Moses Mwalye living incarnationally with the purpose of introducing the VOC through the CDP. To begin with, 50 children were enrolled into the CDP programme. Moses began interacting with the leaders, churches, and families to find out whether they had any plans to develop Makhai.

"On a visit one day to the local council chairman Mr. Nathan Wekono," writes Moses, "When I asked him if there was anything they were doing as leaders to develop their school, he replied, "This community is totally bewitched, for it has lasted 70 solid years and is still in this very state. The residents are too poor to afford anything. Do you think such a community will ever develop?" he asked.

"I was quickly reminded of the VOC training I received, and in particular the section on "Ideas have Consequences." I began to share with Nathan the idea that God's purpose of creating human beings like you and me was to help us live meaningful lives, free from poverty, disease, fear and hunger. As we finished sharing this idea, another resident (appearing drunk) burst out in words, "Buy us some local brew instead of wasting your time on developing this forgotten community. You will never change this community, no way!" There is always resistance and obstacles to change.

"Building relationships through home visits and meeting often with church leaders has helped Makhai community progress. After facilitating a Bible study on the book of Nehemiah about the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem, people began making bricks, digging sand and stones and other local materials. Though few in number, they were determined to make enough bricks to construct a pit latrine at the school. FHI facilitated their efforts by giving cement, timber, iron sheets and other materials not locally found for the construction, and they soon had their first proper latrine.

"This motivated the community to make more bricks to begin an office and staffroom for the school. Soon, more members became involved and used their skills to complete these development projects. In 2003, the community made 30,000 bricks, which helped to construct 5 classrooms for the children. Again, FHI facilitated with cement, timber, iron sheets, nails and other materials not locally found.

"Other projects and programmes have been birthed as a result of the new vision the people of Makhai have for their community. They have constructed a small health unit (sickbay) for the children. The school has piped in water, with concrete tanks to hold the water. A literacy group called Makhai Sisimukha Fal class has been formed through a partnership with FHI and the churches are now working together to support it in harmony.

"Families have changed positively, for example a parent who loved to be at a local drinking place every morning had this to say; "I was a true lover of local brew and every morning you would find me at Kasubi drinking brew. I would not care about this development business because I knew Makhai was bewitched. But now I would rather invest in the education of my children." Indeed, he is now one of the top leading project members on the construction committee.

Makhai community is now moving forward and continues to attract people both near and far because of its journey to development.

QUOTES:

A member of the school management committee: "Truly this is God's mercy at work. People have been telling me about God's mercy but now I have seen it at work here. You do not need to go to urban areas to see development; you can see it right here in Makhai."

A beneficiary parent and widow with 4 orphans: "God is really great. Who knew that Makhai would one day look like this? This is unbelievable. My children can now go to school and can sit comfortably on desk and in classroom which was completely unheard of before FHI came here."

One of the developers of Makhai: "The school is amazingly beautiful. If someone came to Makhai after being gone, they would be completely lost to locate Makhai."

The pastor of Makhai Revival centre: "FHI has brought us unity and team spirit. We could not do this before because of denominational differences. This is the first of its kind, I pray it continues."

Jennifer Wekoyera, a community member: "I never imagined that an Anglican could easily fellowship with a Pentecostal in one room, thanks to FHI."

Paul, a community member: "If someone who left this place before FHI's involvement in this community came back now, they would not believe what is happening in this community."

Difaasi Shimasi, a community member: "What did FHI give our young men? We no longer see them in our drinking joints."

The community is now more active than ever before, with the making of 60,000 bricks to raise houses for the teachers in the year 2004. The school now has 13 trained (qualified) teachers with teaching certificates. Plans are under way to have the school playground made to match the growing number of children. Many people from neighbouring communities have started asking Makhai residents to give them tips on development issues.

Well, that is the new Makhai of today. Want more news? Just visit the community, you will get much more than the pen can express!!