The Christmas 2007 'Gifts for Gilead' campaign allowed us to purchase a number of  pigs during our team visit  to Luwero in February 2008. Some were given to local people as in the picture to the left. However, it was suggested that we could start a new pig project at the school in Luwero. We were a little apprehensive  about this but agreed on the basis that it would teach 'good practice' in the rearing of these animals to both, the children at the school, other schools and the local community.

We were being guided by Rommie (the Welfare Officer), who we trusted to oversee the project and we committed to provide sufficient financial support, for the project. It was important that we did not let this project fail, as that would reflect badly upon us as an organisation in the eyes of the community.

Our experience has shown that it is important to give the right levels of support to any project.  Once the support is in place local people can be empowered to take decisions and be accountable for them.  It is important to state that the mistake often made by donor organisations, is to focus too much on their own success, rather than a shared success, which often leads to misunderstandings and/or failure of a project.

In 2008, we started with three pigs and a small pig-pen, which has now grown to support more than forty pigs and reached the point of becoming self-sufficient during 2010