The Dewe Project

The Dewe Project was amaaaazing! A huuuuuge success!

There were 12 of us who jumped on a matatu taxi and found our way to The Dewe Project, near Entebee. There was a long building in a middle of a large patch of land, right next to the beach... the first thing we noticed was how quiet and peaceful it was.. it was so nice just to get out of the city!






After exploring the grounds and having a quick nose at the beach we were greeted by Joe, along with some african tea and were made to feel very welcome. Joe taught the youth how to bake cakes... in particular cakes for occasions such as birthdays or weddings, as these sell very well in Kampala. The youth did very well in listening and picked up the skill very well.. they were so keen to make their own cake and it turned out great!





What was particularly good about this workshop was the fact that they were shown how to bake cakes on a charcoal stove... they heated up sand in a large pan, placed the cake in a tin onto the sand and then placed another pot on top to cover the cake.. creating an oven effect.. something they can easily do at home!














They also learnt how to make icing and decorated the cake.... it didnt take long before it was eaten up! yummy! It was great how Joe taught them as he could really relate to the youth as he too came from the streets but once he learnt how to bake using simple resources he was able to develop his own business! A great inspiration! I know girl in particular, Rachel, wants to start a cake and decoration business.. well, actually I wasnt aware at all until I introduced her to Joe and she beamed as she said 'Tia how did you know this is my dream, my prayers have been answered'!! So I have given her a bit of money to get some ingrediants and start her cake business... the manager of my guest house agreed to be her first customer!

After cooking the boys went to play football on the beach... oh yeh I went to the toilet and a gecco fell on my head!!!!!! It climbed up the wall and then jumped onto my head!! hahahaa...

In the evening we had a camp fire.. it such a lovely night! There was no electricity so we just had the light of the fire and as we roasted maize/sweetcorn and kebabs on the fire, the boys began dancing and singing.. haha it was very entertaining!


We all slept in one section of the Dewe building... actually I slept quite well.. better than I do at the guest house! For some reason I feel at home when I am with the youth.. its like they are family.. and they are so lovely to me and really look out for me.. so much that it blows me over.. they would make my bed and serve me first and are constantly saying how grateful they are... leaves me speechless.






In the morning we were shown around the land... it is sooo well thought out! They have a banana plantation.. they grow their own cotton, vanilla, many fruits, they have their own clay bread oven and kiln... oh yeh they have a cool satellite looking thing which uses the sun's reflection to heat up water.. they have a water well.. they have everything to be completly self sufficiant! Even a compost toilet haha! It was great that the youth were able to grasp an idea of how to grow crops... something I would like us to learn more about!




Theeeeen.. we learnt how to tie-dye material to make our own clothes, cutains and bedsheets! It was great fun and is a skill so simple that if mastered, can be used to create and sell a lot.

We were fed so well throughout the whole two days.. I thank all the workers there so much as it really was such a fantastic experience for us all.. the youth are buzzing and cannot wait to start using their skills and also to come back again and learn more!

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou to all of you back home who gave money to enable us to go on this workshop.. it has given the youth vision and a hope for their future... they are beginning to realise that having a bad start in life doesnt mean that they cannot learn or achieve things and they are beginning to understand the importance of working and how to make money.

Thankyouuuuu!! I am so humbled by this whole experience.. I just met Sam ( the owner of Dewe Project) ONCE at work... just by being introduced to him, completely unplanned.. and that one encounter have opened so many doors! Amazing! x