Community in Action

A story of Local Response from Bugonga community, Uganda by Stella Kapele, Botswana

Community in Action

We saw community in action

Community taking charge of their own lives

A mindset change

Irrespective of the limitation before them

The limitation that can shutter their own dreams

But no

We saw strong characters.

Catherine in the Bugonga community after realising that people were facing different life challenges, she used her resources to help them. She was later joined by other committed characters such as Mama Rose, and they sat together, planned and developed strategies to help one another. The community managed to realise their potential, and the skills they had. They loved each other, and with that I saw self-reliance, determination and unity. One amazing thing about this community is that they are from different denominations (churches) and religions, but still work well with each other. Amazingly, their love for God is what brought them together.

The chairperson, Mama Betty, alluded to the fact that their government or politicians did not give them support irrespective of the efforts made by the group. But this did not at all hinder them from pursuing their dreams. They went further by identifying more members and helping each other to address their limitations.

In many countries, such as my own, the government provides such social services to its people; at some point it complements what its people are doing or totally provides, especially to the vulnerable groups such as the elderly, orphans and the like. So what is now needed from the experience gained in Uganda, is encouraging our community back home to act, beyond social services.

What I learned in Uganda is something that needs to be nurtured, and learnt or passed to the future generations of this country and abroad, because I believe it is sustainable, it’s part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It’s all about attitude

Positive attitude

Let’s instil that to our people

Because with it

We can all feel better, do better, serve better, think better and live better.

When we foster unity and love in the group, then we are able to wake up to our inner strengths and act- regardless of whether social services are provided or not.