Our travels today took us to the northern part of Uganda to visit with our partner, International Lifeline Fund (ILF). We met with the local ILF staff and received a presentation on community health clubs. Community health clubs are created from the members of the local community and receive sanitation, health, and water training. The training is delivered via a community-based facilitator who delivers 20 trainings over a six-month period. Cultural change around water, sanitation, and hygiene is the ultimate goal. 

We also met with local water and development officials who collaborate with ILF across initiatives. One of those “only in Africa” moments occurred while we met with the local Chief Administrative Officer, when a baby goat entered the meeting and no one batted an eye. 

ILF also shared their stove project with us. We visited their stove factory and spoke with their Nepalese supervisor. The stoves are much more ecologically friendly, are more efficient, and reduce the smoke emitted and breathed in by the women who are responsible for cooking. The stove project has received international attention, as evidenced by the involvement of Notre Dame. The university is conducting research on the health benefits of the stoves, which currently cost $5 and are being implemented as part of the Health Club projects.

Finally, just as we were finishing our tour of the stove production, we observed the double rainbow seen at the top of the post, which we received as a positive sign of Water to Thrive’s partnership with ILF. 

 

Our travels today took us to the northern part of Uganda to visit with our partner, International Lifeline Fund (ILF). We met with the local ILF staff and received a presentation on community health clubs. Community health clubs are created from the members of the local community and receive sanitation, health, and water training. The training is delivered via a community-based facilitator who delivers 20 trainings over a six-month period. Cultural change around water, sanitation, and hygiene is the ultimate goal. 

We also met with local water and development officials who collaborate with ILF across initiatives. One of those “only in Africa” moments occurred while we met with the local Chief Administrative Officer, when a baby goat entered the meeting and no one batted an eye. 

ILF also shared their stove project with us. We visited their stove factory and spoke with their Nepalese supervisor. The stoves are much more ecologically friendly, are more efficient, and reduce the smoke emitted and breathed in by the women who are responsible for cooking. The stove project has received international attention, as evidenced by the involvement of Notre Dame. The university is conducting research on the health benefits of the stoves, which currently cost $5 and are being implemented as part of the Health Club projects.

Finally, just as we were finishing our tour of the stove production, we observed the double rainbow seen at the top of the post, which we received as a positive sign of Water to Thrive’s partnership with ILF.