A new Makhai: Transformed from despair to victory

Making a change

Only 10 years ago, Makhai was a desolate, remote village in eastern Uganda. It was a typical African village. Poverty ate away hope. Helplessness was a lifestyle. Children’s daily routines consisted of tilling the land, grazing the family’s livestock or doing household chores. The inconsistent educational opportunities prevented children from advancing in knowledge. The rebellious joined the village rogues or took to drinking.

Despite the odds against it, the people of Makhai worked with Food for the Hungry (FH) and changed their community for the better. From building schools to practicing healthy behaviors, the community transformed into a nurturing environment for adults and children.

Now FH has slowly exited this community to allow the leaders and people to take full responsibility in directing Makhai’s future. The town now has strong saving and loan associations, church and school.

Makhai timeline

• September 2000—FH’s representative, Moses Mwalye seeks audience with community leaders in Makhai. There was very little interest in developing the school. The people of Makhai thought their community was cursed. FH enrolled 50 vulnerable children into programs for providing care.
• 2000-2001—Construction of initial two latrines with support from FH. The Makhai community made all the bricks and provided labor.
• 2002—Approximately 400 parents sign up to support the development of the school.
• 2002-2004—Construction of a school office, three classrooms and teachers’ quarters.
• 2004-2010—Enrollment of 646 children in the child development program (CDP) and 154 children were enrolled to receive care

There was also the construction of:

• Six extra classrooms and a playground with sporting equipment
• A library block and three staff houses
• Piped water and six rain harvest tanks
• One nursery school block and a school kitchen
• A fully equipped medical dispensary with hydro-electricity
• In addition, FH also helped create adult literacy classes, facilitated the introduction of income generating activities, which involved giving a female goat for families of enrolled CDP children, and introduction of village saving and loan associations.

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