Foundation for Development of
Needy Communities
Sam Watulatsu, Founder & Trustee
PO Box 2431Mbale, Uganda
www.fdncuganda.org
Mbale District, Eastern Uganda
•At the foot of the beautiful Mount Elgon.•Local Statistics:
•Education•Primary•Secondary, •University•Cost
•Health•Leading cause of death •Infant mortality•HIV/AIDS
•Employment
FDNC in Africa
FDNC Mission Statement
“FDNC strives to build self-reliance and sustainable development in the most impoverished communities of Eastern Uganda through strategies that promote community participation and individual empowerment.”
Organizational Goals To increase awareness of the plight
of unemployed, poor, idle and less privileged people in Uganda.
To promote education among youth by sensitizing communities and offering accessible skills training.
To improve the health status and standard of living in communities throughout the region.
To uphold basic human rights by empowering individuals with information and access to trained legal staff.
To use music and visual art as tools to bring new experiences and opportunities to the underserved.
Organizational Goals II To establish links
through which all people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or tribe can work together with a common goal.
To focus on impact-oriented projects, transformation in the lives of beneficiaries, and sustainability in program design and implementation.
Achievements As many as 10,000 Ugandans in the
eastern region benefiting directly or indirectly from FDNC’s programs
Recent award from President Yoweri Musevini of Uganda for 2007 International Youth Day, given to Sam Watulatsu and FDNC
Visit to FDNC project by President Musevini in early 2006
Long-term relationships established with American Jewish World Service, Church World Service, Ugive2Uganda, and other development partners
Acquisition of equipment including three four-wheel-drive vehicles and coaster bus.
Volunteers supplied to FDNC through the Peace Corps, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), etc.
Publicity through website www.fdncuganda.org
Many more
FDNC Background/Structure Founded In 1996 by Samuel
Watulatsu Governed by Board of Directors
with 7 members Operates in 5 districts in Eastern
Uganda Administrative office in Mbale
Town, Field Office/Project in Natondome Village
34 full-time staff members, 28 Volunteer Community Health Workers
Hosts numerous international interns and volunteers
New Executive Director, Justin Silbaugh, from United States
5 major programming areas
Programming Areas I Education and Training
Vocational Training Center Kisakye Memorial Special Needs
Center Youth Empowerment Program
The Arts Youth Brass Band Youth Orchestra FDNC Music School Jazz Band Traditional Dance Troupe African Arts and Crafts
Programming Areas II Community-Based Health
and Development Community Health Worker Program Day Health Clinic Nutrition Center Community Sports Program Adelaide-Mbale Childrens Health
Fund Human Rights
Paralegal Advisory Services Program
Institution Building Coalition Against Poverty Building for Sustainability Local and International Internships International Volunteer Delegations
FDNC Youth Band Program•Comprised of over 100 members
•Creating second youth orchestra in all of Africa here in Mbale
•Traveled to the UK in 2005 to perform in Wales
•Selected to perform at CHOGM in Kampala in November 2007
•Provides sustainable income for members and the organization by performing at many different functions
Vocational Training Center Provides affordable
instruction in: Carpentry Masonry Computers Tailoring Sustainable Agriculture Art and Design
Supports orphans and vulnerable youth
Promotes entrepreneurship
Special Needs Program15 regularly attending students, 30 registered students
Children with both physical and learning disabilities
Currently fundraising to complete construction of new facility
Transporting students to and from school is a major challenge
CHW Program 28 Community Health Workers
working in rural villages throughout the Eastern Region.
Providing education about HIV/AIDS, malaria, clean water, personal hygiene, nutrition, family planning, and more.
Arranging HIV testing and counseling with partner organizations
Providing training and assistance in income generation/saving activities such as beekeeping, fuel-saving stoves, kitchen gardening, pig and goat rearing, and more.
Volunteers at FDNC Hosted hundred of individual
volunteers and numerous group delegations from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and more
Focuses on empowering FDNC staff and local people with skills, as well as promoting cross-cultural exchange
FDNC does not charge fees for volunteers as other NGOs in the developing world do.
Future Plans for Development and Sustainability Construction of Building for
Sustainability and Mbale Music School to support FDNC administration and Youth Orchestra Program
Addition of new class offerings at the Vocational Training Center, including auto mechanics, hairdressing, etc.
Income generation projects at the Vocational Training Center, such as the Art Gallery, poultry rearing, newsletter, etc. to increase sustainable revenue
Creation of specialized Community Action Plans for all of the rural communities in our support network
Opening of a satellite office in another region of Uganda in less than 3 years
How can you help? What we have:
Human capacity Innovative ideas Locally available resources Commitment to
development
What we need: Training from skilled
professionals Materials such as musical
instruments, computers, mobile phones, sewing machines, etc.
Individual financial support Connections to additional
large institutional funding
What Your Money Can Do A $1 dollar cup of coffee
everyday (640,000 Ugandan Shillings a year!) can do the following in Uganda:
Pay the salary for our registered nurse for 3 months
Sponsor two students for an entire year of school at our Vocational Training Center
Provide surgery for two chronically ill children through the Adelaide-Mbale Childrens Health Fund
Install electricity at our new Special Needs Education facility
Purchase 5000 bricks for the construction of our Music School
Think what a $4.50 latte from Starbucks everyday could do?
We Need Your SupportWorking in partnership with individuals and
organizations in the developed world, anything is possible.
FDNC has a proven track record of bringing about change in Uganda at the grassroots
level.
We welcome you to become a part of the FDNC family and to do your part to make a
difference in Africa.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!
For more information about FDNC and how you can help to make a
difference at the grassroots level in Uganda, please visit:
www.fdncuganda.org