The charity Kanaama Interactive Community Support (KICS) works in a rural sub-county in SW Uganda with a population of 23,000. Subsistence farming and small trading are the main livelihoods. Our objectives are to improve those livelihoods, as well as education and health. We work mainly with women and children. Women’s potential is unrealised due to limited education and lack of access to credit. There is a large number of orphans and vulnerable children living in the sub-county (nearly 900 were identified in 2021), often in very poor households with elderly relatives. Without support they do not attend primary school or drop out as they cannot afford the school levy fee. KICS aims to empower individuals and local groups so that they are agents in their own future development. KICS does this through enhancing skills and capabilities.
Our projects include: a microcredit project for women to provide access to small loans to improve agricultural productivity or develop small businesses (1,329 women have received 2,379 loans since 2010); A Saturday Centre for 42 orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) provides support with education costs, extra tuition, nutrition, health education and counselling. Project also includes support for caregivers to improve child care and livelihoods; Subsistence farmers receive training in modern methods and growing new crops which are climate smart; we have constructed domestic water tanks and WCs and upgraded school latrines; we have a programme of menstrual health education in local schools. We work with local charitable company called KICS Uganda which implements the projects.
