Ugunja Community Resource Centre

In western Kenya, in the Siaya District of Nyanza Province, there is a town called Ugunja. The Ugunja Community Resource Centre has been doing valuable community development work there since 1988.

Registered as a community-based organization since 1997 and a non-government organization since 2004, UCRC is an umbrella organization for more than 60 local community groups. Its objectives are stated as follows:

UCRC strives to:

> Promote networking and strengthen both groups and individuals on appropriate technologies for environmental development
> Provide information which is readily available and accessible to groups and individuals regarding appropriate technologies for environmental development
> Provide a forum for sharing and exchanging information
> Facilitate resource mobilization in promoting group activities

Its projects and affiliated projects include:

Finance & Administration:
> Micro-finance

Information & Communication Media:
> Computer Centre
> GIS
> Library

Adaptive Research & Resource Mobilization:
> Sustainable Agriculture

Advocacy & Networking:
> Community Learning and Resource Centres
> Children
> Youth
> Women's Issues
> Disability
> Peace-building

Affiliated Projects:
> Nyasanda Community High School
> Nyasanda Technical Institute
> St. Paul's Health Centre
> Mundindi ECD Centre
> COSOFAP

There are many talented people - staff and volunteers - in Ugunja who have made the organization such a great success. They have developed several international partnerships, including several Canadian agencies. I'll have more to say about that in the coming weeks.