Three (3) Green Democratic Spaces in Yumbe, Mayuge, and Kampala

The three previously established green democratic spaces in Kampala, Mayuge, and Yumbe districts have undergone possible renovations and furnishing to provide a flexible co-working environment, enabling collaboration, sharing resources, co-creation of solutions to civic and social issues, and peer-to-peer mentorship.

As a result, 30 youth-led community-based organizations (10 in Kampala, 10 in Mayuge, and 10 in Yumbe district), as well as 10 other organizations, not part of the project, are actively utilizing the green spaces and their amenities such as internet access, furniture, and physical infrastructure (5 in Yumbe, 2 in Mayuge and 3 in Kampala).

The collaborative atmosphere and shared resources have significantly enhanced the impact and visibility of these organizations. This has attracted development partners to work with organizations, for example, The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) in Mayuge district, Plan International in Kampala, and DanChurchAid in Yumbe district.

In Yumbe district According to Kevin Kayodi, Executive Director of SAWA Community Sustainable Development, DanChurchAid, which came on board as a result of improved green spaces, identified SAWA Community Sustainable Development (SAWA CSD) and provided them with 1,950 fruit trees, including mangoes, jackfruit, avocado, oranges, and pawpaw. These will be distributed to 98 youth households: 58 households in Rwenda Parish, Kuru Sub County, and 40 households in Gojuru Parish, Kuru Sub County, in Yumbe district. This will significantly help youth generate income from these trees, improve their health, and enhance the environment.

Also in Kampala, Abudallah Mackey, Executive Director of Bamboo concepts, shared that, in order to support existing local climate actions in low-income or informal settlements, Plan International identified 3 organizations at the green space in Kampala. Bamboo Concepts was selected for the Youth Climate Action Accelerator grant, amounting to 7,000,000 Ugx, for a period of 4 months.

In Mayuge, Watsemba Sophie, Executive Director of HAGYE, also shared that TASO has chosen HAGYE to collaborate with families of individuals requiring palliative care for two years, with funding totalling 8,000,000 UGX.