Resources in Entebbe, Uganda are unreliable, at best. We were forced to create ways to generate our own necessities: water, electricity, even food. Using the methods of Permaculture, we developed successful systems to take care of our needs, and the needs of other children’s homes in the area who were far worse off. We collect rainwater from gutters installed along roofs and routed to underground tanks. After receiving solar panels as part of a grant, we built solar sheds that control the water pumps and outdoor light fixtures for much-needed security lights around the children’s dormitories. The children in these homes eat a very restricted diet – one thing, every day, that is not very nutritious.

We addressed this problem by building farms, again following the ideas of permaculture. We used pigs to fertilize soil that had been used as a football field, then planted crops which are now thriving. We have relocated the pigs and are developing more land. Cows, rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, geese, have all become part of our little school farms, as have every type of vegetable and fruit that we could plant. The climate here is equatorial, which is perfect for farming, and we are beginning to see great results. In the future, we are hoping to help these children learn how to maintain these systems, and also produce products such as cheese, honey, bread, and mushrooms in order to generate income for the home, or at least just feed themselves.

We have used the natural resources which are abundant in this fertile land to meet the needs of these poverty-stricken people, and have taught them how to do the same in the future so that they will never be without the basic necessities of life ever again.