Report from the Budondo group

REPORT ON THE INTERCULTURAL LEARNING WORKSHOP HELD AT BUDONDO STUDY CENTRE IN UGANDA

Budondo Intercultural Study Centre is found 18km from Iganga town, Eastern Uganda. It is in a rural village with a population of about 10,000 people. The study centre is under a broad organization the Indigenous Theatre Art Action Group.

On 15th Jan 2009 a workshop was held and below is the report.

Attendance
Ase. Lars and Lennarth from University West, Dr Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare and Allen Tush from Makerere University and 16 members from the Budondo study centre attended.

Methodology
At the start the participants divided themselves into 3 groups with specific topics to discuss. Then they came together and each group presented. 3 major issues were selected at the presentation and 3 new groups were formed and each focused discussion on one issue. There was a lot of interaction on one issue. There was a lot of interaction through the day. There was also practical sessions on the use of electricity and solar changes with the study materials

Introduction

The workshop started with Ase taking the participants through the history of intercultural, beginning with the Andines, influenced by Paulo Freire. The Andines developed their own education system and patterns of research founded on Andines culture and based on the Kawsay philosophy. This development resulted in the formation of a Pluri- University.

The participants associated themselves closely with the Kawsay philosophy. What the Andine people lived through is similar in many ways to the challenges African peoples are facing.
The study in foreign languages, the neglect of our family values, the neglect of the philosophy of our fore fathers and lack of research into their technology , arts and medicine have maintained the Africans into a dependant state.

The workshop made strong imprints in the participants as to the need of cooperation and collaboration in order to sustain ourselves as we live in various setups.

On the African continent, man is faced with surmountable challenges: poverty, disease, illiteracy, primitive technology, dictatorship, ignorance climate change, etc and intercultural learning can lead us to self-liberation.

Session activities
Group 1. Discussion centered on sustainability:
• There is need not to misappropriate funds
• Ned to develop the spirit of togetherness
• Go for sustainable energy
• Need to prioritize
• Seek knowledge
• Create linkages and exchanges

Group 2. Discussion centered on economic elements
• Need to have knowledge in entrepreneurship
• Need for collaboration among entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurs be self reliant
• There be enabling environment
• Use of sustainable energy
• Need for prioritize self sustainability,
• Diversify economic activities
• Ned for collaboration among entrepreneurs
• Need to network on intercultural blog as well as creating a website for Budondo

Group 3: Discussion centered on social aspects:
• Need to develop communication tools and skills through ICT
• Put into practice entrepreneurship skills by finding out economic activities for sustainability and self reliance
• In working on an economic activity there is need to work with in one’s income.
• Work individually but meet regularly to share experiences
• Lack of energy seen as the main block to progress. Sighted solar and biogas energy as possible sources to harness.

Then each of the 3 groups presented a summary of their discussions. Out of all the issues discussed, 3 priorities were selected:
1 Sustainable energy, 2 Entrepreneurship, 3 Collaboration
Each participant joined a topic of interest. At the end each group presented a summary.

Sustainable energy group, possible sources of energy suggested:
Solar (Sun), Sugarcane wastes, Bio Gas, Wind mill, Charcoal, salt, battery, Peals from bananas, potatoes and cassava

How to get the source of energy
• Bio Gas: Get people with knowledge to carry us through a practical workshop and build a pilot station
• A select group of people to visit Kakira Sugar works, to find out how the company generates electricity out of sugarcane wastes.
• Solar energy: Need to lobby for funds to purchase solar panels for the Centre
• Ask Ministry of Energy to conduct with us a workshop on Bio Gas

Entrepreneurship Group
• Doing business is the only way to financial sustainability
• Before making choice of business, need to do research:- what problem in area
• How to overcome that problem
• Business be self sustaining
• Diversify business; earnings will come from different sources
• Encourage family business
• Seek knowledge to update oneself

Business that can be done at Budondo and have ready markets:
Poultry and Pig keeping, Growing of mangoes, oranges and planting trees, Building private schools, Building Theatre Hall, Fabrication

How to do Business

Be exposed to new opportunities, surf Internet, hold workshops and meetings, make visits and exchanges, always look for markets, join tailor-made courses.

Collaboration Group, interests to develop:
• Need to understand each other; what challenges lie between collaboration
• Collaboration as key to entrepreneurship
• Collaboration to seek information
• Collaboration as a strong tool to deal with one another
• Sincere communication
• Collaboration be towards learning, should enable dialogue where all feel they can grow in it
• Collaboration based on specific topics
• All concerned must know what collaboration is, when has it worked or not and how it can be improved.
• Need to understand the condition for collaboration. Have patience and think of what each will contribute to the development of others.
• Find different ways of collaborations
• Do not only look forward, look back as well and evaluate