A woman from Llanfyllin, Powys has just returned from north east Uganda where she has been working with a small community to help them recover after years of insurgent violence and HIV related health problems.
Cordelia Weedon has been visiting the area as a volunteer with Mid Wales-based international development charity Dolen Ffermio over the last 7 years. On a previous trip she noticed that the local community had a large number of orphans and vulnerable children and wanted to help.
In 2015 she worked with Ugandan locals to set up the World Heritage Orphans & Vulnerable Children’s Project (WHOVC).
Cordelia said: “The first phase of work identified 14 children, the most vulnerable ones and provided them with monthly practical skills training starting with weaving then progressing on to tailoring, carpentry, shoe mending and jewellery making.
“The also received basic items they need like books, school uniforms and shoes which help them continue their education; as well as mosquito nets to help protect them from Malaria.
“Orphans are often looked after by the carers, so by doing this we take the financial strain off those community members.”
The children were also provided with some animals including goats, chickens and turkeys, along with maize seeds and training in livestock and childcare. Milk, eggs and meat from the animals can help feed the families and they use any surplus to sell to support themselves.
Using her skills as a professional photographer Cordelia has been running workshops for the local children to undertake Photo Diary projects to show everyday life from their perspective and boost their confidence.
Cordelia now intends to set up a link with a school in Wales and plans to use the photos to raise awareness about poverty in this area of Uganda. She also hopes to establish a link between a World Heritage Site in Pontcysyllte, Wales and the Nyero rock paintings World Heritage site in Uganda.
Joseph Opolot, one of the local Committee Members said: “The knowledge I acquired on the Permaculture Training Course opened my thinking and now I have a plan to implement it in my community and Uganda at large.”
Plans are already in place to work with the next group of vulnerable children in the community.
Liz Rees Programme Support Officer at Hub Cymru Africa said: “The skills training provided by this project has empowered a disadvantaged community and given them the tools to work towards attaining a sustainable income.
“Linking the children in Nyero with a school in Wales will promote cultural exchange and provide an engaging way for young people in Wales to learn about the challenges faced by young people elsewhere in the world.”
The project is being supported by the Welsh Government funded Hub Cymru Africa.
