Millennium Villages Blog

Korean delegation with some villagers in Ruhiira

A high level Korean delegation visited the Millennium Village of Ruhiira, Uganda, on December 9, to witness achievements made possible by the partnership between the Government of Korea and Millennium Promise.

Established in November 2008, this partnership known as the Korean Millennium Villages Project (MVP) is a five-year, $8 million commitment to support a pilot development program in Uganda and Tanzania. The partners include the Korea International Cooperative Agency (KOICA), the UN World Tourism Organization Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty Foundation (UNWTO ST-EP Foundation) and Gyeongsangbukdo Province. In July 2009, an implementation agreement was signed to support two villages in Ruhiira and two others in the Mbola MVP, Tanzania.

The delegation was co-led by the governor of the province, Kim Kwan-yong, and Ambassador Dho Young-shim, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of UNWTO ST-EP Foundation.

Following a briefing by the MVP team on interventions and progress, the delegation took the bumpy ride across Ruhiira’s hills to see firsthand how the community’s living conditions had improved thanks to a multi-sectoral approach supported by partnerships such as Korea’s.

The first stop was Kigabagaba primary school, where Governor Kim officially opened a new classroom block. The establishment is one of the 21 primary schools in the project area benefitting from MVP interventions like the school meals program, construction of classrooms, standardized exams, and teacher training.

The head teacher, Jascinta Kyasimire, thanked the Korean delegation for the support and said that the school had benefited from the school meals program, rain water harvesting systems, 3 new classroom blocks, rooms for the head teacher, her deputy and staff, vegetable seeds, as well as teacher trainings.
The delegation then visited a goat farmer, Ndyomugyeni John, who has established goat rearing as a small enterprise with the project’s help. He took the delegation around his farm and showed them how he manages the zero-grazing goats on his small plot, while preserving pastures.

Governor Kim at the protected water source

At Kanywakali water source, the chairman of the local community briefed the delegation about the water challenge in this hilly and highly eroded area. By protecting the water source, the MVP has improved people’s livelihood, he told them. The water user committee and neighboring community members performed the local Kikiga dance in jubilation. The community asked the Governor to support the water pumping project which, by bringing water uphill from the valleys, would reduce the walking distance to the nearest water point from an average of 3km to 1km. The Governor urged community members to continue supporting MVP interventions for their development.

The delegation was then accompanied by the excited community members to the Nutrition cooking demonstration, clapping and chanting songs like “Millennium etukolire” (meaning, Millennium Villages Project has worked for the communities). At the demonstration, women were learning new ways of preparing local available foods to improve the nutrition status.

Opening the new maternity ward

The highlight of the visit took place at Kanywamaizi Health Center II, where the village health committee, local leaders and patients witnessed the launch of the maternity ward. Ambassador Dho officially opened the center and inspected the spotless ward with beds ready to receive pregnant women. Villagers gathered outside were singing songs of praise, their ululation filling the air.

Ignatius Byaruhanga, an official from Isingiro district local government, thanked the Korean delegation for their generous support. ‘I would like to assure you
Governor that the project staff are hard working people and involve us, the district and community, in planning, monitoring and supervising, as well as community feedback meetings,’ he said.

‘As the district, we are very impressed because we see results at every stage,’ added Mr. Byaruhanga.

A woman present at the launch said she hoped to get pregnant again, so that she can benefit from the brand new facilities at the maternity ward.

In his closing remarks, Governor Kim said that Korea would try to strengthen the partnership with MVP and Isingiro district, where Ruhiira is located.

The Mbola team wearing the gifts sent by the delegation

The next day, the delegation flew to Tanzania where they met in Dar Es Salaam with Dr. George Sempeho, Country MDG Support Advisor and MVP Country Coordinator, who briefed them on progress made in all sectors in Mbola, namely community development, education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, business development and infrastructure. Governor Kim commended the impressive progress and confirmed his country’s commitment to support the MVP initiative as its contribution in the fight against extreme poverty.

The delegation could not visit the Mbola Millennium Villages due to time constraints, but they sent the field team gifts in the form of t-shirts and caps.

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