Rural Agency for Sustainable Development
Encyclopedia
The Rural Agency for Sustainable Development (RASD) is an NGO based in the Ugandan town of Nkokonjeru. It was first established as a CBO
in 2000 before gaining NGO status in 2005, serving communities in the wider Buikwe, Kayunga and Mukono District
around Nkokonjeru. RASD has received broad support from the community through private donations and volunteer efforts as well as from the local government of the Nkokonjeru Town Council and Mayor. Engineers Without Borders groups from the University of California,Davis and Duke University have assisted RASD with new technology implementation. EWB-UK have recently started sending students on 3 month placements to help with ongoing RASD projects.
There are schools for hairdressing, carpentry, catering and nursery offered at RASD. Volunteer-taught classes provide students who do not have enough money for university-level education an alternative way to learn skills that will let them earn a successful living.
From the initial visit by Engineers Without Borders
from the University of California, Davis
, point-of-use water treatment was expressed as a priority of RASD. Following extensive trials of four treatment technologies, a biosand filter mold and training to build biosand filters was provided to RASD. The biosand filters are now an ongoing program of RASD in building and marketing the filters to the local community members. RASD marketing program includes micro-financing through their community backed finance institution.
In 2008 students from Duke University
brought two computers and established an Internet router at RASD. For a nominal fee, members of the community can use these computers for web access.
Another priority of RASD was improved sanitation. Students from University of California, Davis
designed and constructed an un-reinforced dome slab toilet. Further funding allowed twenty to thirty of these latrines to be constructed at households in the community. The dome slab design has been updated with an improved ventilated unit. EcoSan urine-diversion toilets have also been designed, and a working model is at RASD.
Students from University of California, Davis
also introduced hand-washing stations and developed hygiene training programs for RASD which have been held with community children in local schools and at RASD.
Most cooking is still done balancing a pot on three rocks with firewood below. The open cook fires produce excessive smoke and require ample firewood. Students from the University of California, Davis
introduced more efficinet wood-burning stoves which are made cheaply from local materials. RASD has taught a number of local youth to build these stoves for community member, providing minimal employment.
The Internet café runs off a solar power
generator. This also allows residents to charge cell phones and other small appliances without having to depend on power from the local grid.
To assist RASD in keeping students in school and healthy, students from University of California, Davis
helped RASD acquire Interlocking Soil Stabilized Brick (ISSB) making equipment from Makerere University in Kampala. The ISSB technology provides RASD with the ability to produce institutional sized water tanks for schools and clinics. Further research is underway to find economical household scale harvesting tanks.
Soil Science students from the Engineers Without Borders
from the University of California, Davis
have stepped up the agricultural efforts with RASD by obtaining a grant to provide ongoing assistance. Efforts include better composting and return of nutrients back to the soil, improved irrigation techniques and crop research to find better cash crop possibilities.
When a Peace Corp Volunteer recognized that she was not getting very good coverage of her education program through the school due to low attendance, she enlisted RASD to reach out and develop community-based education programs.
Recognizing the abilities of RASD, the US Embassy provided a small grant to enable RASD to provide biosand filters and dome-slab toilets to 50 families impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Another NGO with funding from USAID enlisted the abilities of RASD to help them establish a dome-slab toilet production project in the Tororo District in eastern Uganda.
RASD initiated and coordinated an arrangement with the Nkokonjeru Town Council and students from University of California, Davis
to provide training, tools and spare parts for the repair of local borehole pumps. The Town Council provided a plumber to be trained and to provide future routine maintenance and repairs, students from University of California, Davis
provided tools and training, while RASD provided the coordination and the creation of local water pump committees to ensure future maintenance schedules are maintained and pumps receive appropriate protection and treatment. Only 2 of 13 local pumps were operational when the program started and all were repaired and have since been maintained operational.
CBO
CBO is a three letter abbreviation which may mean:* CBO-FM, a CBC Radio One station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada* Central Bank of Oman* Central Boycott Office, a specialized agency of the Arab League based in Damascus...
in 2000 before gaining NGO status in 2005, serving communities in the wider Buikwe, Kayunga and Mukono District
Mukono District
Mukono District is a district in Central Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town' - Mukono.-Location:Mukono District is bordered by Kayunga District to the north, Buikwe District to the east, the Republic of Tanzania to the south, Kalangala District to the...
around Nkokonjeru. RASD has received broad support from the community through private donations and volunteer efforts as well as from the local government of the Nkokonjeru Town Council and Mayor. Engineers Without Borders groups from the University of California,Davis and Duke University have assisted RASD with new technology implementation. EWB-UK have recently started sending students on 3 month placements to help with ongoing RASD projects.
Mission
In coordination with local government and other motivated organizations, RASD strives to alleviate poverty in the Buikwe, Mukono and Kayunga districts by improving the health and economic opportunities of the communities. The focus of accomplishing this mission resolution is through development and coordination of programs for the benefit of the communities. The various programs encompass general health improvement, assistance for orphans, water quality and availability, sanitation, vocational training, and agricultural needs.
Programs
Notable programs at RASD include:- Vocational education
There are schools for hairdressing, carpentry, catering and nursery offered at RASD. Volunteer-taught classes provide students who do not have enough money for university-level education an alternative way to learn skills that will let them earn a successful living.
- Water Treatment
From the initial visit by Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders – International is an international association of some national EWB/ISF groups, whose mission is to facilitate collaboration, exchange of information, and assistance among its member groups that have applied to become part of the association...
from the University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
, point-of-use water treatment was expressed as a priority of RASD. Following extensive trials of four treatment technologies, a biosand filter mold and training to build biosand filters was provided to RASD. The biosand filters are now an ongoing program of RASD in building and marketing the filters to the local community members. RASD marketing program includes micro-financing through their community backed finance institution.
- Internet café
In 2008 students from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
brought two computers and established an Internet router at RASD. For a nominal fee, members of the community can use these computers for web access.
- Latrine sanitation
Another priority of RASD was improved sanitation. Students from University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
designed and constructed an un-reinforced dome slab toilet. Further funding allowed twenty to thirty of these latrines to be constructed at households in the community. The dome slab design has been updated with an improved ventilated unit. EcoSan urine-diversion toilets have also been designed, and a working model is at RASD.
- Hand Washing Stations
Students from University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
also introduced hand-washing stations and developed hygiene training programs for RASD which have been held with community children in local schools and at RASD.
- Fuel Efficient Stoves
Most cooking is still done balancing a pot on three rocks with firewood below. The open cook fires produce excessive smoke and require ample firewood. Students from the University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
introduced more efficinet wood-burning stoves which are made cheaply from local materials. RASD has taught a number of local youth to build these stoves for community member, providing minimal employment.
- Solar power
The Internet café runs off a solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
generator. This also allows residents to charge cell phones and other small appliances without having to depend on power from the local grid.
- Rainwater Harvesting
To assist RASD in keeping students in school and healthy, students from University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
helped RASD acquire Interlocking Soil Stabilized Brick (ISSB) making equipment from Makerere University in Kampala. The ISSB technology provides RASD with the ability to produce institutional sized water tanks for schools and clinics. Further research is underway to find economical household scale harvesting tanks.
- Agricultural Education
Soil Science students from the Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders – International is an international association of some national EWB/ISF groups, whose mission is to facilitate collaboration, exchange of information, and assistance among its member groups that have applied to become part of the association...
from the University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
have stepped up the agricultural efforts with RASD by obtaining a grant to provide ongoing assistance. Efforts include better composting and return of nutrients back to the soil, improved irrigation techniques and crop research to find better cash crop possibilities.
Notable Projects
Notable projects by RASD include:- Peace Corp Assistance
When a Peace Corp Volunteer recognized that she was not getting very good coverage of her education program through the school due to low attendance, she enlisted RASD to reach out and develop community-based education programs.
- US Embassy Grant
Recognizing the abilities of RASD, the US Embassy provided a small grant to enable RASD to provide biosand filters and dome-slab toilets to 50 families impacted by HIV/AIDS.
- USAID
Another NGO with funding from USAID enlisted the abilities of RASD to help them establish a dome-slab toilet production project in the Tororo District in eastern Uganda.
- Engineers Without Borders
RASD initiated and coordinated an arrangement with the Nkokonjeru Town Council and students from University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
to provide training, tools and spare parts for the repair of local borehole pumps. The Town Council provided a plumber to be trained and to provide future routine maintenance and repairs, students from University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
provided tools and training, while RASD provided the coordination and the creation of local water pump committees to ensure future maintenance schedules are maintained and pumps receive appropriate protection and treatment. Only 2 of 13 local pumps were operational when the program started and all were repaired and have since been maintained operational.