Summary:
Children Transport Water During Pump Failure
The Kyabirukwa Convent and Dairy in Southwest Uganda is in critical need of donors. The pressure of an expanded population of children many who have been orphaned by catastrophic diseases and illnesses has placed severe stress on the water supply, the power system and the sewer system. The population in the three schools and hospital is about 470 students and faculty each and student populations are expected to double again in two to three years. Additionally, after privatization that was mandated by presidential decree the milk cooperative that buys from the Convent Farm was unable to pay its milk bill reliably, and payments for milk are already six months overdue. As an alternative the farm manager believes a Convent-on-site-Milk Parlor to process cheese and yogurt is needed that will supply these products to the children in the schools, the hospital and the outside communities. Power for the Milk Parlor refrigerators is unreliable so that a Bio Gas Digester using cow manure as a feed source with a 5KW generator has been designed and is considered highly feasible.
30 year milk transport vehicle
A technical evaluation and assessment together with real cost for each area where funds are needed was made in June, 08 by an American Engineer with 20 plus years of experience in sustainable and renewable technologies in developing countries. He interviewed the managers in each targeted area and together with them assessed the critical situations and developed a comprehensive and united plan to solutions. These solutions are listed below as specific numbered projects. Also, during the comprehensive interviews other critical needs were also identified such as keyboards to introduce music into the curriculum, computers that today are non existent at the schools, and expanded lighting at the schools using solar technologies. They are also listed as projects in Project 8, Other Critical Needs.
Primary School Director with Broken Water Pump
Donors are encouraged to read all of the listed projects and choose a project that interests them. Individuals, schools, libraries and other organizations are encouraged to participate. Contributions should be made with checks made out to Engineers without Borders International, PO Box 1392, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. Engineers Without Borders International in a registered 501(c) (3) Corporation.
General Information:
The Kyabirukwa Convent Dairy Farm is owned, maintained and operated by the Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel and includes within the Kyabirukwa Complex a 100 cow dairy farm with substantial pastures, Secondary and Primary Boarding Schools, a Health Care, Level 3 Facility, a Novice Training Center, a Convent, a Vocational School and a Priest House. There is also a satellite Farm and Convent at Rwobugaigo, Ugunda. The mission of the Sisters is directed at the Lowly Human Kind and Poor People of Society with the objective to elevate them and uphold their self-esteem in society by “Evangelization through Integral Formation and Education for the Lowly of Society”.
History:
Sister Cleophas - Center
The Mission is worldwide and was founded at Kyabirukwa, Uganda in 1960 by Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a Canadian Organization. It was invaded and completely ransacked in 1979 and used as headquarter by the army who slaughtered the herd of 300 cows for meat for troops. The sisters had to run for their lives and when the troops left they ransacked the farm, taking even the tin off the roofs. Since then it has been rebuilding while serving the indigenous congregation of Mbarara Arch-diocese, Uganda, and Border Communities of nearby Tanzanier and Rawanda.
General Situation:
Weather patterns are a primary concern when evaluating Western Uganda due to extreme variations in rainfall. During six months of the year water supply is more than adequate and flooding is not uncommon while during the months of June, July and August very little if any rainfall is recorded and rainfall can be absent for up to 90 days. During the three interconnecting months between the high volume rainfall and the drought period, rainfall is adequate.