Country Director Visits Kulea Watoto Client Groups

Country Director Visits Kulea Watoto Client Groups

IRC Country Director interacts with clients from groups enrolled under the Kulea Watoto project during a field visit in Makindye Division.

Elijah Okeyo, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Country Director visited groups of clients enrolled under the Kulea Watoto Project in Kampala. The visit was held at the IRC Livelihood Resource Center in Nsambya and the members from the Hope and Mwesigwa Groups were present.

Elijah thanked the project team for the good work done thus far. He urged clients that have been enrolled under Cohort 1 who were about to receive the boost up fund to put the money to good use that will benefit the children.

“As you can see, this project is called Kulea Watoto which means ‘nurturing children’, and not nurturing adults. This money you are about to receive is to boost your businesses so that you can be able to earn more money to take your children to school, meet their basic needs and feed them properly. Do not forget the children and use this money for your own good,” he said.

Elijah also lauded the trainers of trainees who were identified from each group for the tremendous work done in disseminating knowledge acquired from the Kulea Watoto.

IRC Country Director Elijah Okeyo interacts with a client enrolled under the Kulea Watoto project during a recently conducted field visit in Makindye Division, Kampala.

Members from Hope and Mwesigwa Groups showcased what they had learnt under the project discussing the various business plans that they had developed, and the positive impact that Kulea Watoto has had on them.

“I used to spend money recklessly but thanks to the project, I am now able to save my money and only spend on things that are essential for my children and my business,” Scovia, one of the clients said. Scovia also lauded the Village Health Teams (VHTs) for doing a great job in teaching them about nutrition for their children and the benefits of child play. 

IRC CD Elijah Okeyo listens to a testimony from a client enrolled under the Kulea Watoto project during a recently conducted field visit in Makindye Division, Kampala.

“The VHTs came to my home and taught me on how to improvise on things around me to make play materials for my children. Today, I am using empty tins, added with small stones to makes shakers, and banana fibers to make dolls for my child” she added.

The Country Director’s visit came at a time when the Kulea Watoto project team and Opportunity Bank were conducting sensitization on safe cash transfer and verification of account details in preparation for grants transfer activities to all the households registered and trained during Cohort 1.  A total of 946 households are expected to receive the boost up grant in Kampala.