Chickow Project
The Chickow project was launched during All Saints' Mission month in October 2005. It was the direct result of a visit to South Rwenzori by three adult and six young parishioners that summer. Concern had been expressed about the erratic nature of the clergy income in South Rwenzori and the strain this put on their wives when providing food for the family and paying school fees.
Whilst in Uganda I talked with Bishop Jackson's wife, Dorothy, herself the daughter of a priest and now married to one ! She had first hand experience of the difficulties of family life for clerics and was starting up a co-operative with other clergy wives within the diocese,- but she needed more capital . Some wives were already running chicken farms and one had a milking cow and a wayside shop. Therefore the project name was derived thus :- CHICKen and cOW - "CHICKOW".
It seemed most appropriate that funds raised in U.K. should be donated to this co-operative and be administered in South Rwenzori by their committee. I agreed that although I would be promoting the need for chickens, cows and goats, because this what I had seen and about which I had first hand knowledge, any money raised and transferred should be used by the committee as deemed most beneficial within the project's aims.
Requests for capital and business plans would be submitted to the committee for approval and, if thought viable, funds would be made available. A suitable re-payment scheme would be drawn up together with details of penalties for failure to pay.
During the recent visit, in February 2008, visits were made to several general stores in outlying villages and one in Kasese; a stationers and a sweet shop all of which had received grants and were thriving. Two new chicken farms have started; and a school for disabled children, run by a clergyman and his wife, had also been given financial backing
One of the chicken farms seen in 2005 had moved to better premises (see picture below of Ann Hewitt with Jennifer's chickens ) and was now also breeding pigs and goats. Elsewhere Joy, the milking cow, had produced a calf (see picture of Harriet, the owner, with Grace the calf.) The photo of me shows Ankoli bulls - one such was probably the father of the calf, as Joy is black and white !
It was very rewarding to see how the project had developed and I thank everybody who has supported Chickow and made all this possible.
Marian Pike March 2008
Anne Hewett with Jennifer's chickens
Harriet Tumwesigye with "Grace"
Monica presenting goats to three widows of the Mothers' Union project
Marian with Ankoli cattle and Rev. James Tumwesigye
