Filling the community center!
Posted by Claire Bristow and Sarah Whitney, Global Development Fellows
Now that the community center building has totally taken shape we are excited to really get moving on the INSIDE! The committee has made big plans for programs that will run inside for fitness, education, computer and world cup screenings. Now that the committee has all of these programs planned and ready they are looking for the equipment and furnishings they will need. The Project Steering Committee has decided to divide and conquer to get what they need.
Two girls, Excellent and Ethel are making big plans for the computer room. They have been working on a business plan for an internet cafe that will provide people in Utah with computer access in their village for the first time! Excellent and Ethel will be looking for donations for anything to make this possible. They need computers, a printer, a fax, a photocopier, paper, desk, chairs. Their dedication to this project is amazing. They see huge potential for the people of Utah and for themselves. They are both very young mothers who are so intelligent and have so much to offer and this project can provide them with a job and skills they will need to further themselves. They both have had computer training so they will be able to assist the people of Utah with resumes, emails, job searches, news websites and much more! They will be writing letters and calling potential donors to gain the resources to get this idea off the ground.
Rames, a soccer and fitness enthusiast will be focusing on getting sports equipment for the hall so that soccer teams and individuals will be able to work on their fitness and wellness! He is hoping to find equipment donations from gyms. He is looking to start with free weights and simple exercise tools to get this idea moving. He wants to see people coming to the community center gym every day to lift weights and train. He knows how important fitness is for health and he wants Uta to have access to a new way to train.
Thoko is a member of the local government of Uta (the Community Development Forum). She is also a member of the Project Steering Committee and has dedicated her time to work to get those resources that will be necessary for community meetings. This means Thoko will be trying to find enough chairs, a podium and tables. She will be looking for wholesalers and donors for these.
The last initiative that the Project Steering Committee is looking towards is a projector, a screen and black out curtains! These can be used to screen World Cup soccer matches and films. This will help provide a safe place for young people to hangout and watch the games. This will also help to generate income for local women who can sell food and beverages at these events.
All of these programs are going to help give the people of Uta something they’ve never had access to and are going to generate income for the community. With these tools, anything is possible!
