Team Blossom Africa’s story
A group of us are taking on the South Wales Three Peaks Challenge in March 2024. This will involve climbing the Sugar Loaf, Skirrid and Blorenge mountains all in one day!
We have chosen to raise funds for Blossom Africa who support communities in Uganda to adapt to climate change. Blossom Africa has worked with communities in Bunambutye, Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda since 2013. In this time they have witnessed the challenges faced by these communities on the frontline of climate change. More unpredictable and extreme weather resulting in too little or too much rain has led to frequent crop failure. This has a huge impact on the region which is largely reliant on subsistence farming for survival.
Blossom Africa currently supports hundreds of people in Bunambutye through Village Savings and Loans (VSAL) groups. Access to loans helps members of the community to diversify their sources of income and become less reliant on subsistence farming. For example, by accessing a loan they may be able to start or expand a small business, buy animals or hire land or farming equipment to improve their yields. This is particularly important when formal banking systems and loans are inaccessible for many members of the community.
The groups’ savings have also enabled members to pay school fees for their children and to cope with unexpected events such as medical expenses or poor harvests. Blossom Africa occasionally provides additional funds to the groups which they can use to give out more or bigger loans. Blossom Africa also provides group members with maize and bean seeds and training in adaptive farming methods to support their harvests.
Blossom Africa works with the Mbale Tree Planting project to provide valuable tree seedlings to the community. Trees are vitally important in the fight against climate change, they capture carbon and stabilise soils. They also provide fruit to eat, fodder for agriculture, firewood and shade.
Blossom Africa also runs a goat’s project where goats are provided for members of the community. The firstborn kid of each goat is given to another group member, thus ensuring the sustainability and wider impact of this project. Goats can help provide some security and build resilience, they provide milk for children and manure for farming, and an additional source of income through the sale of offspring.
Over the last 18 months Blossom Africa has also started a programme of vocational training in the community. So far they have run tailoring and carpentry training and set up work spaces for these projects in the community. These programmes have been very much welcomed by the community. This training, and the provision of start-up resources has enabled young people to learn a skill which will enable them to earn an income and provide for their families. This can be life changing for young people who have been unable to finish school and therefore have few job prospects or opportunities. The community are keen to develop the existing programmes through the provision of additional tools and resources and would also like to undertake additional vocational training, for example, in motorbike mechanics. This sponsored walk will raise funds for this programme specifically. If you have any questions or would like any additional information then please email on [email protected]
Thank you for reading and for supporting this sponsored event for Blossom Africa!
Blossom Africa is a registered CIO in the UK (charity number 1161993) and has CBO status in Bulambuli, Uganda
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