Kikorongo, Lake Katwe, Uganda: This interview highlights the work of the Kikorongo Women Community, an organization led by Director Ithungu Jane and her team. With the funding and collaboration from the Gate 1 Foundation, the members of the Kikorongo Women Community have built a way to improve local conditions, empower their children, and engage the entire community. The conversation below explores the project, its impact, and the deliberate approach to community engagement that made it a success.
Gate 1 Foundation: Can you introduce yourself and your organization?
Jane: My name is Ithungu Jane, and I’m the Director of Kikorongo Women Community. We are a women-led initiative, and we run the Kikorongo Community School.
Gate 1 Foundation: Tell us about the construction project. What does it include?
Jane: The project established a permanent school structure with two classrooms, a teacher’s office, a storage room, solar power installation, and lavatories—We also added water harvesting and storage.
Gate 1 Foundation: What inspired this initiative?
Jane: The Kikorongo Village lacked accessible formal education services. Many children worked to support their families, which often led to early motherhood. Our goal was to transform lives, reduce harmful practices like poaching and risky firewood collection, and create opportunities for education.
Gate 1 Foundation: Who benefits from this new facility?
Jane: We wanted to make sure our new schoolhouse will benefit the schoolchildren and their families directly. Also, our teachers, volunteers, and the entire community. With this project, we will have a safe space to grow, clean water, and an active community working together.
Gate 1 Foundation: What were your key goals?
Jane: To empower children with practical skills, knowledge, and confidence, and to transform community livelihoods. We wanted to make sure children can stay in school, families can have the support they need, and that everyone was doing their fair share.
Gate 1 Foundation: How has the project impacted the community?
Jane: It’s been life changing. About 75% of children aged 2 to 12 are now enrolled in school. Parents appreciate that visitors often bring scholastic materials, easing their burden. We’ve also reduced roadside accidents among children who used to sell food.
Gate 1 Foundation: How did the community engage in this project?
Jane: Community involvement was central. Local unskilled laborers helped with day-work in construction, earning income and building ownership of the project. Families supported workers by selling food, creating a ripple effect on our economy. This deliberate approach ensured that the school wasn’t just built for the community—it was built with the community.
Gate 1 Foundation: What partnerships made this possible?
Jane: Gate 1 Foundation provided crucial funding. The construction team from Power Technologists and Tulima Solar made sure we had safe, lasting infrastructure. They helped to include us, and local participation added strength and sustainability.
Gate 1 Foundation: What challenges did you face?
Jane: Limited water supply slowed construction at times, but we overcame it through persistence and collaboration. We are a resilient group.
Gate 1 Foundation: What’s the status now?
Jane: The project is complete! The school is fully operational and offers a safe, welcoming environment for children and visitors.
Gate 1 Foundation: What feedback have you received?
Jane: The community is grateful for Gate 1 Foundation’s support. We appreciate that they spend time with us, listen to what we need, and that their approach is to help our strengths pull us forward. We are already planning to add more projects as we are growing.
Gate 1 Foundation: How can people get involved or help?
Jane: Reach us through our website, email, or WhatsApp. We need laptops, cameras, scholastic materials, children’s clothing, toys, balls, shoes, and school bags. Volunteers with experience in community development, fundraising, and education can also help out.
We also have a campaign to develop our local agricultural efforts. There is information for at our page here: Kikorongo Women Community School Nourishing Hope Garden – SeedMoney. We are collaborating with another local nonprofit, and their expertise in agriculture is very appreciated.
Gate 1 Foundation: What’s next for the Kikorongo Women Community Org?
Jane: We hope to build more classrooms, dormitories, and cottages for visitors, and continue growing our volunteer network. We have finally been able to set up our website too. If anyone wants to visit it and connect with us, we are happy to hear from them. Our website is KikorongoWomen.org.
Gate 1 Foundation: Thank you Jane, and we are also thankful for the way you work as a community. You have done such great work, and we are so proud to be included in your project. It demonstrates the power of collaboration and community-driven development. By engaging local labor, creating economic opportunities, and fostering ownership, Kikorongo Women Community and Gate 1 Foundation have laid the groundwork for sustainable change. The journey continues and with continued effort the vision for a brighter future in Kikorongo will become a reality.