By Godwin Abedican

Arua

Lions Aid Norway has launched an immediate takeoff of a 10 year greenhouse agriculture support project at Eruba Primary School in Arua district. On 22^nd of February 2023, the school and Lions aid Norway signed an equal partner’s agreement spelling out the roles and responsibilities of the school, Lions Aid Norway-including soliciting external finance and the roles of the community during the implementation of the project.  The project which will have production and demonstration sections funded by members of the Lions club seeks to provide skills in agriculture at grassroots level using the school approach such that the learners have a platform for practical studies as well as providing an initiative for the community to be able to take part in the project.
The 1-acre module project will see valuable crops such as new vegetables varieties as the major crops to be grown including Agroforestry which will be done in partnership with the community for project sustainability.

Loyce Drijaru, the head of the agriculture department at the school says the project has come timely and will aid learning. “In the past we have not been doing well in teaching because the demonstrative learning was hard to do. I believe this project now gives us the responsibility to be close to the learners, adding more efforts for the practical learning. A child who is a learner needs to touch, see and demonstrate,” Drijaru says.
This project is expected to be an all year running project and to ensure this, Lions Aid as part of the project will construct a shallow well and an irrigation system that will be used during dry season.

Benson Endroma Andima, the head teacher of Eruba Primary School says with the current curriculum such projects make learning more meaningful. “As we are yet in the abridged curriculum, in the abridged curriculum we teach science of which as a teacher, you need to show to the learners the practical. They need to see how the theoretical presentation can be applied. We are now gearing towards making the learners competitive to fit in the competitive economic world. I’m visualizing that this project will help the learners to acquire agricultural skills,” says Endroma.
According to Joseph Male the technical advisor of the project says community participation in this project will be key since it’s going to be an open project that looks at enhancing creativity levels among the community and giving them a platform to be able to suggest crops that need to be grown under the project “To have a community module project, it has many issues in any way we must to look at but embrace to see how we resolve them. We shall base so much around what to localize for the region such that people can embrace it. With those limitations, that will be there, we shall be moving with the community and being inclusive, they will be able to address as they arise and see how we can support them through it,” he says

David Mutayisa, the country coordinator lions aid Norway in Uganda, urges the community not to expect any monies inform of salaries or allowances during the project period since every money that comes in the name of the project will be meant for the project works only adding that people will only earn when they produce farm out puts from the project. “We want to be partners that can be relied upon, we won’t promise you what we can’t bring and whatever we promise we shall endeavor to try and ensure that we put in,” Mutayisa promised while speaking to the project stakeholders.  
Eruba primary school is one of the schools in Arua district with a unit for the deaf.

Annette Pemmer, the manager Lions Aid Norway, appeals that the project must fully cater for the learners with special needs at the school. “This will be a superb project for them because they will be able to learn in the same way as all the other learners despite the fact that they can’t hear. So I think they will benefit in the same line like all the other children, says Pemmer. She says, people need to be helped to help themselves to get a better life adding that, since agriculture is such an important part of Uganda, there is need to use the local expertise to see if something good can be done for the communities. “This is a long term project with a goal of sustainability such that the project can be left to run itself. Our next thing will be to see how we can assist the people commercialize and market the produce and also introduce packaging in order to take advantage of being close to the borders with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” she added.
According to Pammer, currently there are around 350 lions clubs in Norway with a membership of about 8,000 members that give money to support such projects.

COVER PHOTO: Annette Pemmer, the manager Lions Aid Norway speaking to the School stake holders about the project By Godwin Abedican