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Transforming communities through innovation
During Uganda's first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, David was introduced to Shaluwa from an informal conversation with a boda-boda (motorcycle) rider while on his way back home from work. At that time, EII was seeking out families in our community that had been severely impacted by the pandemic and the consequent shutdowns, while trying to secure funding support for these families. These were especially difficult times in Uganda not only because people were losing their lives to COVID-19 but their livelihoods as well. Unfortunately, the funding we were hoping for did not come through after the families in need had been identified. Unwilling to give up, David discussed the challenge with the EII team and every member rallied to make a small contribution to the families in need, helping them cover their basic needs. Since then, the EII team has made this a routine, diligently helping at least one family in need to meet their basic needs every 3 months.
Meet Ponsiano!
Ponsiano Ssenyonga is a 65-year old living in Kiyimbwe, Masaka, Uganda. He is a single father whose ex-wife dumped him and left him with their 4 children at a very young age because he wasn`t financially stable. His elder son is aged 15 years and the rest are below. For him to survive financially, he has been working as a caretaker of a residential home and garden that belongs to a certain family that stays in Kampala, with tailoring skills, he does knitting repairs for the locals in order to earn a penny that contributes to his children`s school fees and their basic needs.
One big urgent challenge that needs to be addressed is the lack of shelter for him and his family. With sad news from his bosses, he was told to relocate since they have already found a potential buyer who currently owns the property. It is with this property, where he had been given shelter of a single room however soon Mzee Ponsiano will be homeless at his elderly age and it is a bit challenging for him to search for employment opportunities in order to better his life. He has been given an eviction notice of 3months time to relocate.
From his late father`s inheritance, he received his land share, and over the past years, he has been struggling and yearning to put a small simple house where he can raise his children but all in vain due to financial hindrances since he earns a little from his work. As Econstructive Innovations Initiative, one of our 5 objectives is to transform communities through designing and constructing low-cost durable housing for orphans, the homeless, and aging people. We have taken action and designed an affordable, comfortable, and durable simple housing unit. We, however, can’t manage to build it alone without your generous support.