Issue

Update

Issue 1 October 2013

ENVIRONMENTAL WOMEN IN ACTION FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THIS ISSUE

EWAD is currently involved in the Extending Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold to Africa Project (EFFGAP) – a Fairtrade funded project to improve artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) practices.

One of EFFGAP’s major undertakings is to ensure safe use of mercury while mining gold ore, or totally eliminate mercury use. Mercury is an extremely toxic substance that is very dangerous for humans. The project has in place several strategies which include: trainings, advocacy, study tours and procurement of protective gear.

Mercury Training CourseA training course was recently held in Busia on Proper Handling of Toxic and Hazardous Substances. Many of the miners had not been aware of the dangers of mercury, and they were concerned to hear about the implications for pregnant women and children who have been exposed to mercury and who are still under continuous exposure.

One small-scale miner in Busia, Stella Adeke (pictured above), shared her story:

“From the time of conception to the birth of my son, I have been using my bare hands to pan. The same container that I used for panning is the same that I used at home to bathe in. And when I gave birth, I used the very basin to bathe him. Today after learning about the adverse effects of mercury on our health, I realised that mercury could be the reason for my son’s eye defect.”

Success for EFFGAPThe training courses have been well received, and many of the artisanal and small-scale miners have had an attitude change regarding mercury, with one commenting that:

“I am so concerned about the mercury dangers and I do not know how the rest of our colleagues and the community will get this very useful information. I therefore urge my fellow ASMs to spread this information because I have noted that mercury use is a big challenge

for which we must urgently let everybody know.”

The use of retorts for safe recovery of the mercury has been demonstrated and promoted, and protective gloves and specific pans distributed for use only in gold panning – and not in the home as has sometimes been the case. The project will continue for the next two years so stay tuned.

Changing Attitudes to Mercury

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Digging for FishEWAD volunteers have been busy reinforcing the banks of the Kigungu fish farming pond, to make sure the fish stay in the pond during floods. Work is progressing rapidly!

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A Home for the HolidaysThe Katabi Children’s Home for orphans and vulnerable children is entering the last stages of building. The building should be ready for

Christmas!

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Digging for Fish

by Graham Johnson and Connie The Kigungu fishing communities have a new asset – a fish pond, installed by EWAD through the Conserving Lake Victoria Project (ECLAVP), funded by the UN Small Grants Programme. The fish pond will allow sustainable fish farming, rather than continuing overfishing of Lake Victoria.

The fish pond has already produced one harvest of catfish, but the banks have eroded due to rains and floods. Much higher banks are needed to survive during the rainy season. The EWAD team has therefore been out

in force, working with the Kigungu villagers, to build higher and better banks.

The banks were previously only slightly higher than the fish pond water. During the rainy seasons, the pond would flood regularly, and many of the fish would escape into the surrounding marshy areas.

Connie Atuheire, the ECLAVP project in charge, has mobilized resources and the community to build new and

higher banks. Thomas Abrahams and Graham Johnson have worked hard with Kigungu villagers Gerald and Salongo, among many others, to dig soil and build banks two feet higher than the water level in the fish pond.

Next StepsThe next step for ECLAVP will be to reinforce the banks with clay to ensure they survive long term. Then new fish will be introduced to the pond and the next round of farming and harvesting will begin.

Eventually, the Kigungu villagers will be able to rely on this new method of ‘fishing’ that will give them a sustainable source of fish while protecting the international waters of Lake Victoria.

FISH FARMING FACTS

Catfish and tilapia are the preferred

fish breeds for fish farming, but catfish burrow through banks and escape more easily. The next Kigungu harvest will be Tilapia only! For more information, contact the field person in charge:

CONNIE ATUHEIREewaprojects@gmail.com

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EWAD has welcomed three new volunteers, joining our team in Entebbe from September to December this year. The volunteers are:

Ü Thomas Abrahams, from the Royal Roads University in Canada. Thomas is studying for a Masters in Human Security and Peace Building, and his time at EWAD is allowing research for his thesis.

Ü Lisa Peacocke and Graham Johnson, from the United Kingdom. Lisa and Graham are mechanical engineers who are volunteering with EWAD during a 5 month sabbatical from their normal jobs.

Connie was kind enough to host a welcome celebration at her house, with tea and food for the whole EWAD team. Much fun was had, with stories being told of Margaret’s childhood, EWAD’s history, and the funny side of Idi Amin (yes, there was one!).

After a lot of searching, Lisa and Graham managed to find an apartment to live in during their time with EWAD. They then hosted a housewarming to properly ‘warm the house’ with the EWAD team. A mexican chilli con carne and some sparkling wine, along with the lovely people, made it a very nice evening.

The volunteers would like to thanks EWAD for the very warm welcome, and they look forward to the coming weeks and the important work to be done.

Welcome and Housewarmingby Lisa Peacocke

The EWAD family at Connie’s welcome celebration

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EWAD STAFF NEWS

An EWAD WeddingEWAD’s Shallon Ninsiima recently got married, and we wish her congratulations and much happiness in the years ahead with her husband!

Chickens from KigunguThomas Abrahams, after all his work with the fish pond banks, was given a chicken by one of the villagers. The chicken was cooked and eaten at Connie’s welcome!

FUNDING FACTS

10%The percentage of funding received from the amount needed to finish Katabi Children’s Home at Oct 1st.

42%The percentage of funding received from the amount needed to finish Katabi Children’s Home at Oct 27th.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further information on EWAD’s activities, or to donate towards their projects, please contact

MARGARET TUHUMWIRE, EWAD DIRECTOR+256 414 321 948 or ewamission@yahoo.ca

EWAD’s Child Sponsorship Programme is still going strong, with the generous support of sponsors from around the world. Over 100 children are now being sponsored through primary, secondary and tertiary education at boarding schools in and around Entebbe.

Unfortunately, many of these orphans and vulnerable children have no homes to go to during the school holidays – so the next step for

EWAD is to complete the Katabi Children’s Home, where these children can live during school holiday periods.

The home has been built over the past two years with funding from donors, and the basic building and compound are complete. However, recent heavy rains have led to water damage to the compound fence and the septic tank. Thanks to the great work by Paul Binyansi, Mathiusi Tumwesigye and the building team, risers have been installed to the septic tank openings and reinforcements are being done to the fence.

The remaining work needed includes:

A Home for the Holidaysby Shallon Ninsiima and Lisa Peacocke

Some of the EWAD team after measuring the Children’s Home dimensions for new gutters and rainwater harvesting tanks.

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Ü Rainwater harvesting system (gutters, rainwater CREST tanks and bases)

Ü Concreted areas around the house including the car park

Ü Internal electrical wiring, fittings and connections

Ü Tiling and painting of bathrooms, including doors and doorframes

Ü Final plastering and painting of exterior and interior

Ü Purchase of bunk beds and mattresses for children

Thanks to some generous donations, the gutter system has now been fitted and installed, and three CREST tanks have been purchased – one 2000 L tank, and two 5000 L tanks.

The bases for the tanks are under construction, and in the coming weeks, the full rainwater harvesting system will be put together. Then the team will move on to the internal work aiming for completion in December, ready for Christmas holidays!

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In mid-October, EWAD had a visit from Amani Mhinda (pictured right), the executive director of Haki Madini, an advocacy organization representing artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM).

Mr Mhinda is an expert in public policy, and has many years of experience in working with and advocating for small-scale miners. His visit was an opportunity to learn more about EWAD’s role in EFFGAP (Extending Fairtrade Fairmined Gold to Africa Project), and also to share his knowledge on ASM capacity building and how to influence public policy.

Currently, ASM does not register highly on the government’s agenda. The miners have little help or protection from large-scale mining corporations, yet they completely rely on their small-scale mining activities for survival.

Some simple changes to public policy could greatly help the miners

improve their work

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processes and standards of living, while still allowing investors and multi-nationals to mine and export. EWAD hopes to be able to influence public policy in this way.

Visit from Busia MinersFour ASM leaders from the Busia district also visited EWAD and Mr Mhinda at the same time, to share their experience of EFFGAP and how it has changed them.

One of them stated that before the project, the money they earned was spent “a bit on school fees, a bit on drink, and a bit on other things.” Now EFFGAP has really changed their attitudes – in particular towards mercury and saving. He is now in the position of sensitising others in his community.

He summed up his experience with the quote: If you are not willing to learn and change, you may as well take all of your money to buy the best sheets and the best blanket, and then lie down and wait to die.

Plot 1 Station Road P.O. Box 883

Entebbe, Uganda

ewaprojects@gmail.com ewamission@yahoo.ca

+256 414 321 948 +256 701 444 066 +256 772 444 367

Meet the EWAD Team!meet Charles Kasule Roland

How long have you been at EWAD?I have been at EWAD for 10 months now, since January, and I’m looking forward to my next months.

What is your background and what do you like to do?I was born 18 years back, went to Nkumba Primary and St Mary’s Kihende for my high school, and started working/volunteering in January. I like playing football in my free time and making friends. I also meet friends once in a while

What is your role at EWAD?At EWAD, I mainly volunteer in the Child Sponsorship Programme and administration. I help out with the children, visit them, and file their details, letters and reports. I also help out with administration, ECLAVP, and general duties at EWAD.

What is your favourite thing about EWAD?My favourite thing about EWAD is our lovely director, Mrs Margaret Tuhumwire, and the way she works around with things. I’m really inspired, and it’s best to get inspired from the best.

Tell us something funny about EWAD or Uganda!Something funny!! At EWAD we work as a family, from the director to the volunteers. It’s funny because it’s rare and so hard to find; that keeps EWAD going.

Do you have a favourite quote?“A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black because everything in nature is dark, except where exposed by light”. Leonardo da Vinci

Public Policy and Gold Mining

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