The Family Support Project has helped over 120 vulnerable families through women’s groups in two locations – the small fishing town of Igombe and the very rural Chole. However, all initiatives need time to reflect and the FSP is no exception. Plans are being made to hold a Family Support Conference in November, involving our stakeholders and, particularly, women from the groups themselves. We need to learn lessons to take the project forward.
In the New Year, we are anticipating new groups in Chole and Igombe, and plan to extend the project to include Mayega. John has already had discussions with the District Community Development Officer in Busega, Benedict Dismas, who is enthusiastic about working with us. An added bonus, Benedict is a big Liverpool fan!
The project has also begun to support one particularly vulnerable family in the village of Buswelu, near Mwanza. We should not give too much detail, for reasons of confidentiality, but the family have moved in with a wonderful caring ‘foster mother’. Busega Scotland will provide practical support, and modest capital for a small business to help make the arrangement self-sustaining. This is the first time that the FSP has supported an individual family and we hope things work out well.