Vumba, Uganda, March 3, 2020
A unique program was offered at St. Catherine’s Orthodox Church in Vumba, Uganda last month by the Uganda Orthodox Church Mothers’ Union.
For three days, from February 11 to 14, Regional Trainers from various branches of the Union took part in practical training on the construction of food storage facilities, to increase access to quality food, reports the Union’s website.
The program aimed to equip the Regional Trainers with the necessary knowledge and skills to train other members in their respective region to better secure food and seeds for the next growing season, to help reduce post-harvest losses.
The training aimed to:
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develop food storage guidelines;
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equip Trainers with knowledge to properly use and follow the guidelines;
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train and equip participants with knowledge and skills on pest and disease control;
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equip participants with knowledge on good facilitation skills to be able to train the beneficiaries;
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equip participants with knowledge and skills in the construction of a standard food storage facility so that they can also train beneficiaries in their communities.
The implementation of the program and successful training in the various communities will increase access to quality food for households of Mothers’ Union members, by increasing food production and reducing post-harvest food losses, the Union’s report states.
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The Uganda Orthodox Church Mothers’ Union is a faith-based, non-profit organization that began its formal operations in 2003, “with a belief in God’s plan and design of a family where mothers/women are very instrumental in strengthening and sustaining life and they possess God’s given gifts and potential to contribute positively to the wellbeing and development of the family, Church and the nation as a whole.”
Since its humble beginnings, the Union has expanded to 60 Orthodox communities, and works with peace building and conflict resolution, adult literacy programs, spiritual enhancement, food and income security, and institutional strengthening and capacity building.