Transformed Rural Communities through Community Participation

Abstract

The report discusses what transpired during internship in line with the objectives. The internship started on the 2nd June 2023 and ended on the 23rd October 2023 and happened in Kyabasenja and Kyankorogoto villages of Kabuga parish, Muhorro sub county, Kagadi district of western Uganda. During internship, the intern worked closely with the technical and political staff of Muhorro Sub County, the faculty supervisor, EM, religious leaders, opinion leaders and community members at individual, household, group and community level to implement actions in line with the four objectives to create change. Literature relatedness in line with objectives include; Visionary Approach, Community Action Planning, Participatory Action research, transformation, development, integrated rural development, rural development, Human Rights Based Approach to Programming, community driven development, care economy, governance, sustainable development goals, children rights, Africa agenda, Uganda vision, local government structures, epicentre strategy and appreciative inquiry. The methods used during the internship were; Visionary Approach (VA), Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and Community Action Planning (CAP). The techniques used included observation, documentation, home visit, interview and Instruments of mobilization. Tools used were; URDT scroll, flip chart, pen, markers and notebook The key results generated by the intern include; individual, household, group and village work plans inform of STCs, holding and attending justice, resource mobilization, sensitization and awareness meetings on government programs like PDM, YLP, WEP, PWD, SAGE and Immunization. Socio economic and humanitarian activities like Care Economy, hygiene and sanitation, nutrition, income generation and children rights were promoted. URDT programs like YAWU, URDTI and ARU were publicised as well as increased planning through CAP, GAP, PAR and community development work. It was concluded that ARU internship enhanced rural transformation through CAP and PAR I recommend the enhancement of the Visionary approach and Care Economy to catalyse rural transformation since it gives a sense of direction to people and communities as well as instilling an understanding that people are key to their development thus creating lasting change