World Humanatarian Day: meet a "small" guy who worked with us to start a solar powered internet center

Friday, August 17, 2012

World Humanatarian Day: meet a "small" guy who worked with us to start a solar powered internet center

Sunday 19, August is World Humanitarian Day. Have you done anything to help some one in need? Have you donated to a noble cause? Have you signed a petition for a just human rights cause? To celebrate World Humanitarian Day, we have singled out one “small” guy who worked with us set up the first solar powered Internet center in our region (southwestern Uganda). Waitresses who served him local food, local farmers, boda boda boys (motorcycle taxi) and children he met on Lyantonde’s dusty streets, called Ga-a-lanti instead of Grant. Grant Buhr who currently lives in Chicago Illinois worked with Project Focus from 2007 to July 2012.

2010 staff retreat in Lake Mburo National Park.

Grant lived and worked with us for almost one year. Before he left, we had Lyantonde Internet Center running. He worked like a professional social worker, mobilized communities, shot and produced videos, helped manage finances and danced with us to our local Ugandan songs. Its impossible write everything in this article but we hope you enjoy some the videos he worked on while living in Lyantonde. Michael: You need 365 days to listen to my story.

Michael: I first met Grant in 2007. It never came to my mind that I would work with him again because he was in different world; producing videos and music, lives in the U.S… On one of our trips on rainy day, I lost control of the bike and we crushed into a pothole full of dirty water. He knew I was a good driver and he trusted me with his life again. The most trying moment with him was when some one guy we all thought was honest almost conned our organizations $100,000 meant to construct a school. It was a very stressing time but we decided to move forward and here we are. As I said before, I need 365 days.

Adam: ( laughs) I remember him as a very strict man… he loved playing with children here.

Fatuma: (laughs so loud and tightens her scuff) Wabula simanyi kyakwogela ( I don’t know what to say) He was very hardworking, down to earth and I remember he once said he wasn’t going to shave until we had enough money to start Lyantonde Internet Center.

Enjoy some of the videos produced.

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About ICOD Action Network

ICOD Action Network is a registered Non Governmental Organization operating in Uganda, East Africa. Founded as Integrated Community Efforts for Development(ICOD) in February 2008, ICOD Action Network’s work extends beyond material support and touches upon the need to empower communities so that they can be able to sustain themselves.

ICOD Action Network targets marginalized households of vulnerable children, youth, orphans, women and HIV/AIDS affected and infected people and supports them by extending health services, constructing houses, constructing pit latrines, constructing safe water tanks, providing material support, providing food aid during famine, providing planting seeds, domestic utensils, clothing and providing HIV/AIDS training and counseling to groups at high- risk of HIV/AIDS infection. The organization is also implementing ICT and permaculture programs targeting rural farming communities.

ICOD Action Network has continued to inspire individuals in Southwestern Uganda's to find innovative and sustainable local solutions to end extreme poverty, hunger and diseases. These individuals have demonstrated leadership, selflessness and passion to help their community break barriers to individual and community development and have worked with their communities to find lasting solutions independent from external support. We have continued to work with and train such leadership to move their communities forward.

We believe that sustainable solutions to end hunger, extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS e.t.c are those developed from within communities because lasting solutions lie within communities. That's why we work with communities to create permanent solutions that can sustainably transform them Our approach has continued to inspire individuals and communities and has produced new leaders who have found lasting solutions for their own communities and replicated our work in hard-to-reach communities; that is how we are "ACTION NETWORK".

Vision and Objectives

ICOD’s vision is; “creating an empowered community, free from disease and suffering, leaving in pleasant conditions where human rights are observed”.

The organization is guided by the following objectives;
1. Working for sustainable community development of the rural poor, orphans and other vulnerable groups of people.
2. Increased awareness on HIV/AIDS to positively change people’s attitude and behavior
3. Improved capacity of communities and families to care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable individuals.
4. Increased household income levels of rural communities.
5. Improved capacity of orphans, youth and other vulnerable children to take informed decisions about their lives and improve their socio- economic status.
6. Advocate for adherence and observance of fundamental human rights in the community.

ICOD Action Network - Uganda

Friday, August 17, 2012