Here are some exciting updates about our project with the Adonai Center in Namugoga, Uganda!  First, a description of the project itself:

The project contains three separate elements intended to contribute to the health of Adonai children and the wellbeing of the entire community.

  1. Construction of two water harvest tanks for water collection on campus, and for community education. Always a critical issue, potable water can be made available at a small fraction of the cost of drilling a borehole through collection and purification of rainwater.
  2. Construction of a compostable latrine on campus. The latrines at Adonai are near full. This new, compostable latrine will improve the handling of fecal matter and improve sanitation. Because the waste is recyclable, and the latrine doesn’t fill, it will be sustainable. The latrine will also serve a public education function. The purchase of a reusable mold will subsequently allow the repetition of the project in the community, even as a business opportunity.
  3. Funds remaining after the construction of the tanks and the latrine will support construction of the Mission Centre and Guest House, which will enable support from external experts and learning expeditions, including from GlobeMed students.

So GlobeMed at Northwestern will be funding both the water harvest tanks and the new latrine.  Our support of the new water tanks will directly benefit the children and orphans that must otherwise walk over 30 minutes daily to get subpar, unclean water because there is currently no running water in Namugoga.  Our support of the new latrines will improve the cleanliness, hygiene, and sustainability of sanitation in Namugoga.  Both will improve the health and hygiene of these children by reducing their risk of being exposed to water borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera.

Additionally, GlobeMed at Northwestern will be developing a Public Health Awareness campaign with teachers at Adonai Family Uganda throughout the year. This campaign will address the benefits of these two forms of water and sanitation and be implemented by the GROW team during June-August 2013. Furthermore, the GROW team will be conducting research June-August 2013 through questionnaires and anthropometric measurements in which the baseline health of the students will be determined (we have already received consent from the community/head of Adonai Family Uganda). We are hoping to turn this into a longitudinal study which will produce meaningful data that we can use to improve the health of the orphans and the community.