A Mother's Legacy Honoured - Young Lives Changed

Help build Maama’s Community & Cultural Centre: Supporting Ugandan young people to reach their potential

Hello, humanity, my name is Dativah, and I’m based in Sydney New South Wales.

The passing of my mother in Uganda in November 2020 was a devastating loss for our family and the wider community. Maama, as she was affectionately known, was a matriarch who opened her doors to all. She welcomed strangers to her table with food that was always plentiful, never wanting anyone to go hungry. Her boundless generosity extended beyond her immediate family; she visited the sick in hospitals and offered help to those in need.

As COVID-19 lockdowns left many with little food, my mother shared what she had from her garden. Despite these challenges, Maama remained resolute and happy. When I managed to travel through closed borders to pay my last respects, I saw firsthand how much she meant to so many people. Over five hundred people attended her funeral- young and old from various walks of life - each with stories of how she had touched their lives.

Staying at my mother's home in Uganda for six months was a significant milestone for me. It allowed me time to reflect and reconnect with memories of growing up under the loving guidance of such an inspirational woman – memories that will stay with me forever.

Despite some development, the lives of young people in Uganda remain largely unchanged. It's disheartening to see children as young as 15 having their own children and young boys resorting to sand mining, fishing, stealing, drugs and alcohol. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the situation by forcing schools to close and leaving more disengaged youth in trouble.

But there is hope. Ugandan youths are vibrant, resourceful, resilient and eager to receive education, secure employment and positively impact their communities. With over 77% of its population below the age of 30, Uganda has one of the world's youngest populations. Yet it also faces one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.

My personal goal is to create a transformative community and cultural centre in memory of my late mother, located in Bugabo village. Maama's Community & Cultural Centre seeks to amplify young individuals with opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, education and training, as well as creative and cultural activities aligned with tourism.

We aim to develop the centre into a dynamic hub where local youth can find passion, innovation, creativity, fun, and potential – all under one roof. Our primary objective is to raise $100,000 towards the realisation of our vision.

There are ways you can support this project:

1. Contribute donations or fundraise

2. Donate your skills and expertise

Currently,

• The land has been secured for the building

• Gardens have been developed

• Three young people have already been employed to maintain them

• A temporary barbed-wire fence has been put up alongside a plant nursery

Young people in Uganda have enormous potential but often lack opportunities or encouragement to pursue their aspirations. During my recent visit to Uganda, I talked with many young people about what they would like to do if given a chance. Their ideas were awe-inspiring and empowering.

Merely encouraging them is not enough though; I am determined to take action towards continuing my mother's vision for this community and helping these talented youths realize their full potential.

In the interest of improving the community of Bugabo village, we have proposed a three-phase project that will significantly improve the area. The first step is to dig and construct a well that will serve not only the Centre but also provide reliable access to water (this has been achieved).

Phase two involves building a durable and secure fence around the land. Instead of relying on expensive weekly fumigations due to anthill infestations, we aim to install a more effective solution.

Finally, phase three involves building a multipurpose facility that will house various amenities such as libraries, computer rooms, meeting spaces, exhibition areas, and outdoor activity spaces among others in addition to offices. An investment in this project would be highly beneficial for all members of the surrounding community.

Our sustainability plan for the centre is focused on providing unique food and cultural experiences in partnership with local tourism companies. Located near the shores of Lake Victoria, Bugabo village in Wakiso district serves as the perfect location to promote and preserve the indigenous arts, crafts, and culture of the community. We aim to partner with tourist businesses to offer international visitors an opportunity to experience our culture led by our young people while generating revenue for community centre projects.

To raise funds for building Maama's Centre, I've been selling handmade African crafts, clothes and accessories at festivals and we continue to do so. We will hold African high teas and authentic African dinners. We welcome support from individuals or organizations who share our vision and seek innovative fundraising ideas.

We are genuinely grateful for your kindness, and our hope is that we can make a profound impact on each individual whose life we touch. As Nelson Mandela once said, "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived; it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."