Our Partners – Caritas MADDO

Caritas MADDO is the development office of the Diocese of Masaka, Uganda. This Diocese includes the four government districts of Masaka, Rakai, Kalangala and Sembabule, covering a distance of 21,299 sq. kms with a population of nearly 1.5 million people Over 90% of the population live in rural areas where they survive through subsistence agriculture.

Photo: A dish rack constructed as part of the homestead Improvement project. (Caritas MADDO)

Background

Caritas MADDO was initially established in 1979 to provide relief to those affected by the civil war but since the late 1980’s its has become more focused on sustainable community development and has created dedicated departments with qualified personnel to meet this objective. As of 2008, Caritas MADDO has 25 staff working in 5 different sectors; social welfare, heath, water and sanitation, agriculture and education.

Community Empowerment and Model Schools Programmes

Caritas MADDO’s Community Empowerment to Address Health, Environmental, Water and Agricultural Concerns (CEHEWA) Programme aims to help conserve the environment, improve food security, public health, household income and access to water in Buwunga and Kyanamukaaka in Masaka District, Uganda. The three year programme is supported by Aidlink with funding from Irish Aid as part of a three year block grant.

Caritas MADDO is working directly with 1,800 households in 24 villages, who in turn train three more farmers each, giving a reach of 5,400 households (43,200 people). As a result of the training and support, 85% of households are using their new knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices including compost making and application; agro forestry; digging of contours; use of organic herbicides and pesticides. These practices are helping farmers to reduce costs and increase production. The farm yields have reportedly increased since the farmers started using the improved varieties of crops and using manure. 782 households now earn more than 3,000 shillings per day as a result of improved farm production which results in surplus crops that can be sold.

Caritas MADDO’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) model school project is being rolled out in phases across the 47 parishes of the Diocese. The purpose is to improve the learning environment in each of the model schools by strengthening the school managements, improving facilities and enhancing the capacity of the Diocese Education Secretariat to support the development and maintenance of primary schools. Following a baseline survey and some adjustments to the project design, year one has focused on the improvement of teachers’ accommodation, classroom furniture, and the construction of water and sanitation facilities in 7 schools selected by the communities in the parishes. All targeted schools received support on capacity building and emphasised community involvement.

Photo: A community based extension officer addresses his team in a session on HIV and gender. (Caritas MADDO)

Aidlink and Caritas MADDO

Aidlink and Caritas MADDO have been working together since the year 2000 on a range of community development initiatives in the areas of water and sanitation, education and agriculture. In order to further co-operation between the two organisations and recognising their mutual compatibility, Aidlink and Caritas MADDO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2005, which is reviewed by both parties on an annual basis. The partnership between Aidlink and Caritas MADDO has brought added value to both organisations. It has enabled Aidlink to realise its mission of supporting community led development initiatives while it has provided Caritas MADDO with project design and management assistance as well as a source of funding for project and capacity building activities.