VET WITH A DEMONSTRATION FARM

I am Anne Adeke a Ugandan,  PhD BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT student,  holder of post Graduate Diploma in Labour Policies and Globalization, Advanced Professional Training, Master’s Degree in Management Studies- Financial Management option, Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management (Honors), ACCA part 2 (Part time), BA Degree in Business Administration-Accounting/Finance (Honors) Uganda Diploma in Business Studies (Full time) 2 years, Diploma in Business Management and Administration

Key achievements to date Sourcing for funding, planning for research, coordinating the research team, supervising the activities, analysing documents, planning and strategizing. Collecting data and information, prepared financial statements at the end of each financial year, ensured effective delivery of services to all fund members. liquidity positions and tax management, ensured budget and budgetary control and daily, Assets verification etc.

Prepared bank and accounts reconciliation statements, taxation management and periodic income and expenditure variances analysis and periodic reporting. Monitoring capital projects for upcountry airports

Uganda has a large number of people who are unemployed, uneducated, partly educated and failing to find jobs and move out of poverty. Serere and the neighbouring districts not being exceptions on this phenomenon. National statistics 2019 reveal that there are only 44.4% of women working. Meaning, 54.6% are unemployed, 62.9% of the employed completed at least secondary education meaning the rest below secondary and 38.1% of secondary leavers are unemployed. This problem has been revealed by increased crimes, an increase in number of the poor population, widening education gap between rural and urban schools as well as average income, gender inequality increase. These statistics reveal that there is a big social and economic challenge that needs immediate attention.  The eastern edge empowerment institute with a demonstration farm is designed to resolve these problems. The institutes will train, create businesses and jobs as well as help communities plant trees.

Uganda has a large number of people who are unemployed, uneducated, partly educated and failing to find jobs and move out of poverty. Serere and the neighbouring districts not being exceptions on this phenomenon. National statistics 2019 reveal that there are only 44.4% of women working. Meaning, 54.6% are unemployed, 62.9% of the employed completed at least secondary education meaning the rest below secondary and 38.1% of secondary leavers are unemployed. This problem has been revealed by increased crimes, an increase in number of the poor population, widening education gap between rural and urban schools as well as average income, gender inequality increase. These statistics reveal that there is a big social and economic challenge that needs immediate attention.  The eastern edge empowerment institute with a demonstration farm is designed to resolve these problems. The institutes will train, create businesses and jobs as well as help communities plant trees.

Eastern Edge Empowerment Institute with a Demonstration Farm trains in vocational education both theoretical and practical classes held at the main campus as well as in the demonstration farm. After fully training students, the institutes assist the students in planting drought resistant trees and setting up businesses, they also oversee their growth and savings of proceeds for re-investment in a Sacco. However, the demonstration farm plays an independent role from practical training for example; carrying out agriculture research for better yielding seedling, practices etc., serving the rest of the community in modern agriculture practices, carrying out agricultural research for enhancing Agri-business opportunities. Supplying residents with agricultural farm products, carrying out value addition and having an established food stock facility. The institute offers apprenticeship for graduate students willing to gain hands-on skills for agriculture students must undergo further training at the Demonstration Farm before qualifying for certification and a starter pack.

The Teso sub-region communities who are living in poverty shown by low levels of education, high rates of unemployment, increasing gender inequalities, increasing crime rates etc. Already done the feasibility study,  a project proposal,  applications to donors and granters, registered the Community Based Organization, a request for operating license (Department of Vocational Education), Purchased land, prepared the necessary documentation, appointed the Board of Directors, engaged an architect to design plans for both the institute and the demonstration farm, engaged other stakeholders. and prepared financial statements for the last four years, among others.

Currently, we have not received the funding adequate to spur the expected outcome. nonetheless, we expect to carry out 9 researches, train 46,800 students, create 46,800 businesses, create 140,400 jobs and ensure 6.7 million draughts resistant trees are planted.

The Demonstration farm where poultry for example layers, crops for example; vegetables tomatoes, green pepper, maize, soya beans and animals like the Friesian cows and where 2000 people in Teso region will be trained in modern farming techniques by 2030. The demonstration farm will also provide value additions services as well as training on value addition to agriculture students as well as other community members in the same region

Our project through BTVET with the demonstration farm are focussed on elevating opportunities for all people, especially those who are traditionally left behind.

I saw the need and I experienced it personally. This encouraged me to do the feasibility study and concluded that there is need to focus on Vocational Education and Training for community’s empowerment. It was in 2016 when I tried to involve other people e.g. Aine Derrick to help develop a project proposal for this purpose, I also talked to the district leadership to get involved as well as the BITVET department. The response was positive and we moved forward. The local support especially on funding the construction of the institute structures was not forth coming So, I decided to focus on international aid, my savings and terminal benefits. In the beginning, I did all this while still at my job, but as time went on it became increasingly difficult to handle both, I then resolved to leave my job to focus on helping the communities, I have invested all my savings and terminal benefits to try access evidence for commitment in the project. the only hope we have now, are the well-wishers for capital funding. We have not lost hope yet but look forward to a successful conclusion of the project.

It is in-line with my area of competence. It affects my people where I grew up from. I am now enlightened to see the need for community empowerment that would see my people socially and economically empowered. Meaning that, many will have jobs, many will be out of poverty, fewer will be attracted to crimes, school dropouts will be reduced, gender equality will be realised, education gap will be bridged between the rural and urban education, family planning will be encouraged, domestic violence will be reduced and a better standard of living will be realised, among others.

The time and distance so far covered indicates that I am in position to deliver the project and solve the problem

My skills and key achievements to date include Sourcing for funding, planning for research, coordinating the research team, supervising the activities, analysing documents, planning and strategizing. Collecting data and information, prepared financial statements at the end of each financial year, ensured effective delivery of services to all fund members. liquidity positions and   tax management, ensured budget and budgetary control and daily, Assets verification etc.

Prepared bank and accounts reconciliation statements, taxation management and periodic income and expenditure variances analysis and periodic reporting. Monitoring capital projects for upcountry airports

We have a risk management strategy. We have a specialized board of directors, approval by the National Environmental Management Authority. we have competent staff. we have well wishers. we shall do the insurance. Use of technology, among others

I have been a staff of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority for the last 28 years. I have been and I am still the national treasurer of the amalgamated transport and general workers union since 2006, I hold relevant qualification for this project, I am an excellent researcher, I have expert and committed staff, I am certain I will have funding from the grantors and donors where we have submitted our applications, I am doing what I have passion in that is, helping the poor and disadvantaged people and the ability to be a good team leader, a networker as well as trusted and I am  highly endowed with integrity. the project is broad based in that it trains, educates, skills, adds value among many others. I am a very compliant leader who always looks for the best in whatever I do. I put my people above myself, I often consult where I am not sure.

It trains, creates businesses and jobs for students, aids in planting of drought resistance trees, does research both social science and agriculture and enhances value addition and use of modern  and commercial agriculture techniques away from traditional and subsistence agriculture farming hence directly leading to empowerment of communities, industrialization and economic development of a country as a whole.

It directly enhances the MDGs eg. poverty reduction, quality education, gender inequality, food and nutrition, among others.

Next Year

Carrying out 1 research, training 5,200 students, creating 5,200 businesses, creating 15,600 jobs and planting 750,000 droughts resistant trees, Value Addition. We expect when we are set to serve at least 200 per annum by the end of 2021. 

Next Five Years

Carrying out 5 research, training 26,000 students, creating 26,000 businesses, creating 78,000 jobs and planting 3,750,000 droughts resistant trees, Value Addition. We expect when we are set to serve at least 1000 per annum by the end of 2025.

Next ten Years

carried out 9 researches, trained 46,800 students, created 46,800 businesses, created 140,400 jobs and ensured 6.7 million draughts resistant trees, Value Addition. We expect when we are set to serve at least 2000 per annum by 2030. 

Next Year

Carrying out 1 research, training 5,200 students, creating 5,200 businesses, creating 15,600 jobs and planting 750,000 droughts resistant trees, Value Addition. We expect when we are set to serve at least 200 per annum by the end of 2021. 

Next Five Years

Carrying out 5 research, training 26,000 students, creating 26,000 businesses, creating 78,000 jobs and planting 3,750,000 droughts resistant trees, Value Addition. We expect when we are set to serve at least 1000 per annum by the end of 2025.

Next ten Years

carried out 9 researches, trained 46,800 students, created 46,800 businesses, created 140,400 jobs and ensured 6.7 million draughts resistant trees, Value Addition. We expect when we are set to serve at least 2000 per annum by 2030. 

Capital funding and COVID-19 pandemic

Seeking for well wishers support like you and others for funding and integrated the COVID-19 requirements in our operating system

We are hoping to partner with you and a few others

We ensure agriculture students of our institute will need practical skills to manage their funds. they will need new products and techniques of production, they will need to learn how to add value to their products. they will need a place to acquire this. the institute demonstration firm is the only solution to that.

Using expert staffing, technology, robust policies, accountability, compliance with local and international requirements, supervision, donor involvement, risk management policies, among others.

The only funds are our limited savings which has been spent on other activities so far. grants are still on application. we do not anticipate debt equity because we are a charitable organisation

Donor applications only

NO.

ITEM

EXPANDED

AMOUNT (USD $)

1

Income

Donations

27,000

Grants

250,000

Savings (Land Acquisition)

79,000

2

Government support                    

25,000

TOTAL

381,000

3

4

Class room block Construction

210,000

5

Electrical /plumbing installation

20,000

6

Class/office furniture

44,000

7

Class equipment

Mechanics, electricity, plumbing, carpentry, catering, etc.

110,000

8

Solar System

17,000

9

Water system

Including water tank

15,000

10

Training Materials and Resources

28,000

11

12

Automation of operations

Computer applications (Software and Hardware system, application development)

42,000

13

Start-up Packs

174,000

14

Miscellaneous expenses

19,000

15

Demonstration farm

54,000

TOTAL BUDGET

733,000

FUNDING DEFICIT

(352,000)

We can get an opportunity for funding in order to help the communities in need especially Serere and the communities surrounding it.

At the moment we only have stakeholders. This will be required most in research and commercial farming technology and techniques.

Organisation that we share similar objectives, Agricultural research organisations, those dealing in modern farming, and those with appropriate technology.