KAASO-Dep brings many benefits to KAASO!
We recently received a report from Dominic about KAASO-Dep, the Staff Development Association that issues microloans to individuals and groups working at KAASO to run small businesses to supplement their salaries. It is fantastic to see the benefits this is bringing to KAASO – we are excited to share an update on each of the projects with you!
The benefits of KAASO-Dep
- The well-being of both staff and students has significantly improved, as they now benefit from fresh produce from the gardens and farm.
- Staff members have increased their earning potential, enhancing their overall stability.
- Fewer staff members are leaving KAASO in search of better-paying opportunities, strengthening the community.
- KAASO’s farm production has expanded, allowing them to produce more eggs, livestock, bananas, coffee, and maize for both consumption and sale.
- The brick-making project has gained popularity, with their high-quality clay bricks proving to be stronger than others on the market.
- Staff members have developed better saving habits, leading to visible personal and professional growth.
- Time is now used more productively—rather than frequenting local towns in the evenings, many staff members focus on their personal projects after school.
- The initiative has created employment opportunities for young people across the area, further supporting the local community.
A message of thanks from KAASO
The Administration and Management of KAASO Uganda express their sincere thanks to Unity is Strength for its tremendous support in enhancing the economic, social, and physical well-being of its staff members and students.
Find out about each of the KAASO-Dep projects in more detail below.
Piggery project
The piggery project continues to thrive, contributing significantly to both the school and staff members involved. Here’s an update on its progress:
Current status:
- Total number of pigs: 37 at school, with an additional 16 kept by staff members at home.
- Piglets: 33 at school and 14 in staff members’ projects.
- Piglets sold: 87 from the school farm and 32 from staff members’ projects.
- Staff participation: 12 staff members are actively involved in pig rearing.
Financial impact:
- Income from school farm: 87 piglets sold at UGX 100,000 each, generating UGX 8,700,000 (~£1,874).
- Income from staff projects: 42 piglets sold at UGX 100,000 each, generating UGX 4,200,000 (~£905).
Key benefits:
✔️ Strong market demand for piglets.
✔️ Pig manure enriches crop production.
✔️ The project serves as a learning hub for the community, offering valuable pig-keeping skills.
✔️ Students gain hands-on experience in pig farming.
✔️ A reliable source of income for both the school and staff.
Challenges:
⚠️ High costs of pig feed.
⚠️ Expensive and occasionally scarce vaccines and medications.
Despite these challenges, the piggery project remains a valuable and growing initiative.
KAASO Piggery Project
Poultry project
The poultry project continues to grow, providing a steady supply of eggs, chicken, and income for the school and staff. Here’s an overview of its progress:
Current poultry stock:
- 500 layers (for egg production)
- 120 Kuroilers (improved local breed for both eggs and meat)
- 100 broilers (for meat production)
Sales & Financial impact:
- Chicks Sold: 763 chicks were sold this year, generating UGX 11,445,000 (~£2,465) at UGX 15,000 (£3.23) per chick.
- Eggs Sold: 1,046 trays (30 eggs per tray) were sold at UGX 300 per egg, earning UGX 9,414,000 (~£2,027).
- Net Income: After deducting feed and treatment expenses of UGX 12,327,000 (~£2,655), the project made a profit of UGX 8,532,000 (~£1,837).
Key benefits:
✔️ Provides eggs and chicken for staff and students.
✔️ Generates a reliable source of income.
✔️ Serves as a learning opportunity for students.
✔️ Supplies manure for crop farming.
Challenges:
⚠️ Disease outbreaks and infections.
⚠️ High cost of poultry feed.
⚠️ Limited availability of high-quality breeds.
Future plans: To overcome breed scarcity, KAASO aims to purchase an incubator to hatch its own chicks, ensuring sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
KAASO Poultry Project
Nursery Bed, Fruit, and Vegetable Growing project
The nursery bed and vegetable-growing project continues to do well, expanding both in size and impact. Here’s the latest update:
Current seedling count:
- Coffee seedlings: 12,500
- Eucalyptus seedlings: 23,000
- A variety of vegetables are also being cultivated.
Expansion & Usage:
- The nursery bed has been expanded from 10ft x 8ft to 30ft x 50ft to accommodate more seedlings.
- Vegetables grown on-site have been used to supplement school meals, improving nutrition for students and staff.
Income generation:
- Eucalyptus sales: 14,000 seedlings sold at UGX 100 each, generating UGX 1,400,000 (~£302).
- Coffee seedlings: Not yet sold but expected to contribute significantly in the future.
Staff involvement:
- 14 staff members are actively participating in the project.
Key benefits:
✔️ Provides valuable hands-on learning, especially in environmental conservation.
✔️ Generates income to support school initiatives.
✔️ Easy to manage and maintain within the school premises.
✔️ Benefits teachers, parents, and students both through education and produce distribution.
Challenges & Future plans:
✅ This year, fewer challenges have been encountered due to improved water access, with pipes now reaching closer to the nursery beds.
⚠️ However, sourcing high-quality cuttings remains a challenge.
Future plans: To ensure a steady supply of quality seedlings, KAASO plans to establish its own mother garden, allowing them to cultivate and source high-quality cuttings in-house.
KAASO Nursery Bed
Chair Hire project
The Chair Hire project continues to be a valuable initiative, providing essential support for both school and community events while generating income.
Current status:
- Total chairs available: 1,120
- Staff involvement: All members of KAASO-Dep are actively engaged in the project.
Financial impact:
- Throughout the year, chairs were rented out for 43 events, with some functions requiring the full set and others only a portion.
- Total income generated: UGX 14,345,000 (~£3,089).
Key benefits:
✔️ Supports community events by providing essential seating.
✔️ Used for various school functions.
✔️ Requires minimal maintenance and expenses.
✔️ Easy to manage and operate.
Challenges:
⚠️ Lack of dedicated transport to deliver and collect chairs from events.
⚠️ Limited storage space for proper chair maintenance.
Future plans: To acquire 8 tents and an additional 1,000 chairs to better meet the increasing demand for event seating in the community.
With these improvements, KAASO aims to enhance its capacity and continue serving both the school and the wider community.
The school truck carrying chairs to a local council function from KAASO
Brick-Making project
The Brick-Making project continues to be a key income-generating initiative, providing employment opportunities and supporting school construction.
Production & Sales:
- Total bricks produced: 145,000
- Bricks sold: 138,000
Staff involvement:
- The project currently involves 9 staff members, along with additional hired workers.
Financial summary:
- Production costs: UGX 4,350,000 (~£937)
- Firewood & other expenses: UGX 3,250,000 (~£700)
- Total expenditure: UGX 7,600,000 (~£1,637)
- Total income from sales: UGX 19,320,000 (~£4,161)
- Net income: UGX 11,720,000 (~£2,524)
Key benefits:
✔️ Generates income for the school and staff.
✔️ Provides employment opportunities for staff and community members.
✔️ Supports school construction by supplying bricks.
✔️ Offers an extra source of income for staff during out-of-school hours.
Challenges:
⚠️ Unpredictable weather conditions – Rain can damage bricks due to the lack of proper shelter.
⚠️ High fuel costs for brick firing.
⚠️ Manual labour limitations reducing production capacity.
⚠️ Water supply issues – Lack of pumps and pipes to transport water to the brick-making site during dry seasons.
⚠️ Transport challenges – No dedicated truck to deliver bricks to customers.
Future plans: To improve efficiency and productivity, KAASO aims to invest in better shelter, water pumping equipment, and a delivery truck to enhance operations.
KAASO Brick-Making project
Coffee project
KAASO’s coffee project continues to grow, bringing them closer to their vision of producing KAASO Coffee — a brand that will support vulnerable children at KAASO. Here’s the latest progress:
Current coffee plantations:
- Total coffee trees: 2,130
- Gardens: Planted across three different sites.
Expansion & Land development:
- KAASO has acquired a new 9-acre piece of land with support from Unity is Strength.
- Preparation work is underway to get the land ready for planting.
- This new coffee garden will be intercropped with beans and bananas, maximizing land use and productivity.
The Vision: KAASO Coffee
KAASO’s ultimate goal is to establish KAASO Coffee to not only generate income for the school but also provide essential financial support for vulnerable children at KAASO.
With continued dedication and support, this project is set to become the school’s largest income-generating initiative in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates!
KAASO Coffee project
Work on the new piece of land: Staff members at KAASO have been working hard on the new piece of land – they have been marking out where the planting will start with the guidance of an agricultural extension worker.
KAASO staff working on the new piece of land
Congratulations to KAASO on its excellent exam results!
KAASO proudly achieved 24 First Grades and 22 Second Grades in the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations.
The “Primary Leaving Examination” (PLE) in Uganda is a national exam that students take at the end of their primary school education (grade 7), assessing their knowledge across subjects like English, Maths, Science, and Social Studies.
Boda Riders, Staff, and Parents Celebrate 2024 Primary Leaving Examination Results!
Thank you so much for making all these projects a reality for KAASO – we are incredibly grateful. We hope you enjoyed reading the project updates. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
