Blog & Updates
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Hunger Relief Efforts Update 1
Our team has arrived after a 510 mile journey to Moroto, completed food and medical supply pick up and completed two days of distribution. This effort came together after our team in Uganda shared their heart for the starving in this area. Despite the circumstance there is so much JOY.
Our team has arrived after a 510 mile journey to Moroto, completed food and medical supply pick up and completed two days of distribution. This effort came together after our team in Uganda shared their heart for the starving in this area. Despite the circumstance there is so much JOY. That is our word for this outreach. We are providing nourishment for the body and encouragement and hope for the soul. Our team for this outreach/ relief work is made up by Isaac, Gilbert, Ubaldo, and Lucky.
Our team is targeting to feed about 422 families during this effort. The food relief sacks you see are holding “posho” maize flour (cornmeal). On the first day they distributed food to 122 households. From the pictures below you will see that some of the sacks are delivered to remote huts/ areas. Other times the truck is used and distribution happens from the truck.
THANK YOU for partnering with us to meet this tangible need and love His people. This outreach has provided amazing opportunities to be His hands and feet, pray for people, and bring hope in a dark time. Stay tuned for another update in the next day or two as it continues.
Uganda Famine Relief
Have you heard about the famine in Uganda? About 2 weeks ago, we received news from the TCI Uganda team of a terrible famine happening in Karamoja, the northeast region of their country. Our hearts were broken as we saw picture after picture from Uganda news sources of starving and desperate people.
Have you heard about the famine in Uganda? About 2 weeks ago, we received news from the TCI Uganda team of a terrible famine happening in Karamoja, the northeast region of their country. Our hearts were broken as we saw picture after picture from Uganda news sources of starving and desperate people. In the USA, we had not heard anything about a famine, so we were shocked at what our eyes beheld. We even wondered if the pictures were real. After doing some research and making a few phone calls, we discovered that the situation was in fact quite real and quite devastating. Drought and Covid isolation had thrown these dear people into an unthinkable crisis. The TCI team wanted to help.
Within a few days, Gilbert and Isaac from the TCI Uganda team were making the long journey to Karamoja, specifically to the district of Moroto and surrounding villages. They found desperate situations there. Mothers who had not eaten for days. Grandmothers too weak to stand. Many who had gone without so the children would have something. Children with stunted growth and distended bellies. One 3 year-old child whose development was so affected by malnutrition, he could not walk or talk. Over 1,000 children have died so far, and more are dying every day.
Gilbert and Isaac have since returned home, but as I write this post, they are preparing to leave again to bring food and supplies as well as medical intervention back to Karamoja. Would you consider donating to this effort? Would you also spread the word to help us raise funds?
Thank you for whatever you can do to help. We are truly grateful!
Happy New Years 2022!
Dear friends of TCI, As we approach the end of another unusual year we are so grateful for your gift of love and support. "Alone we go fast but together we go far" is our motto - and we've recorded a little video to share what we have accomplished together.
Dear friends of TCI,
As we approach the end of another unusual year we are so grateful for your gift of love and support. "Alone we go fast but together we go far" is our motto - and we've recorded a little video to share what we have accomplished together. We are excited for all the GOOD we will accomplish together in 2022!
Justine - From Shy School Girl to Program Manager In 10 years!
We first met Justine as a young teenager in Kiburara in 2010 (photos with Frank and Sue above, 2012). She was attending the Kiburara Annual Youth Conference and though she was a somewhat shy girl, she was bright, enthusiastic and willing to help wherever it was needed.
We first met Justine as a young teenager in Kiburara in 2010 (photos with Frank and Sue above, 2012). She was attending the Kiburara Annual Youth Conference and though she was a somewhat shy girl, she was bright, enthusiastic and willing to help wherever it was needed. On several occasions, she accompanied us as our translator when we travelled out to the villages. It is wonderful how God works! One of the US team members helped her to get a bachelor’s degree in rural development at Uganda Rural University. Now ten years later, we are thrilled to announce that TCI has hired her as our Program Manager. Her life’s calling is to stop the vicious cycle of poverty and to uplift the rural communities in East Africa. We are looking forward to all that we will do together.
Schools opened for examination candidates
We are so thankful that in spite of significant hardships, many of you have given generous support to our work in Uganda. We have been able to bring help to hundreds of families through food-packs and radio teaching even in the midst of the lockdown.
We are so thankful that in spite of significant hardships, many of you have given generous support to our work in Uganda. We have been able to bring help to hundreds of families through food-packs and radio teaching even in the midst of the lockdown. Some of the restrictions have recently been lifted and our teams are now resuming in-person training programs in the villages.
Ironically, the recent relaxing of restrictions has brought about acute hardship for private schools. Two weeks notice was given by the Ugandan government that schools would open on October 15, but only those students sitting for the national exams in the spring are allowed to attend. For Alpha Omega Secondary School, tuition will come from about a quarter of the normal number of students and will not be adequate to run the school (teacher’s salaries, a resident nurse, food for the students, etc., in addition to complying with all the new COVID operating procedures). Sadly, many private schools will be forced to close.
Alpha Omega Teachers gather for action after 6 months of no teaching!
We put out an urgent plea for funds to help. Thanks to the generous donors who made it possible for Alpha Omega Secondary School and Brainstorm Primary (elementary) to open and pass the Covid inspections. They would not have been able to open were it not for your help. There was so much joy for the teachers and students!
For One Woman your giving made all the difference.
The walls of the small hut were made of woven sticks plastered with mud and as they walked up to it, they could see the holes in the walls and patches where fresh mud had been attached to try and repair the damage. There was a roof, but there were gaps between the top of the walls and the roof.
The walls of the small hut were made of woven sticks plastered with mud and as they walked up to it, they could see the holes in the walls and patches where fresh mud had been attached to try and repair the damage. There was a roof, but there were gaps between the top of the walls and the roof. A heavy downpour with high winds the day before had made the damage worse and she had been preparing some mud to do further repairs. Moving into the hut, they saw that all she had was the bed she was sitting on, a small stool, a few jugs for water, one cup and one plate, a knife, some clothes hanging near the ceiling and a few other simple possessions. Her kitchen was a small fire-pit right next to her bed. As they began to talk to the lady, they learned that she was just 54 years old though she looked far older than that. She had been married and had given birth to twelve children but all of them had died. She is now a widow and when her husband died, he left her with no land which means she has no way to get money or provide food for herself. She lives all alone with no one to take care of her or provide for her. She said “I get food from those who intend to help me. If you feel mercy for me, you give me something to eat. I have no hope but I am just requesting help. Whatever you feel you can give, you can give me.”
They saw that she had only part of a bag of maize flour and she didn’t even know what she was going to eat for lunch. Fortunately, Lucky and his wife Shilla had brought some bananas for her so she said she would prepare that with some salt.
Out of the 130 families who were recipients of our food packs, this is the story of one of the women. Members of our Ugandan team paid her a follow-up visit. Thanks so much to those who supported us in providing funds for the food - these are the kind of lives you are impacting. To her, your giving made all the difference.
Flooding last night following harsh drought
As the Covid-19 pandemic has continued world-wide, Western Uganda has endured double challenges to the food supply because of drought during what should have been the rainy season. In the midst of this food crisis, last night in Kiburura and surrounding villages, a fierce rainstorm toppled trees and homes and caused tremendous floods, wiping out most of the meager food crops that had survived the drought.
As the Covid-19 pandemic has continued world-wide, Western Uganda has endured double challenges to the food supply because of drought during what should have been the rainy season. In the midst of this food crisis, last night in Kiburura and surrounding villages, a fierce rainstorm toppled trees and homes and caused tremendous floods, wiping out most of the meager food crops that had survived the drought. This is a continuing story. Relief funds are being collected to help them survive and rebuild. Please consider making a donation.
April 2020 – COVID 19 - REMEMBER THE POOR IN UGANDA!
Here in the USA the COVID-19 virus pandemic has us in various degrees of isolation; 6 feet apart, “shelter in place”, and under “lockdown” and we can’t easily buy toilet paper or wipes or masks. However, we still have many resources and comfortable homes to be quarantined in compared to our friends in Western Uganda.
Here in the USA the COVID-19 virus pandemic has us in various degrees of isolation; 6 feet apart, “shelter in place”, and under “lockdown” and we can’t easily buy toilet paper or wipes or masks. However, we still have many resources and comfortable homes to be quarantined in compared to our friends in Western Uganda.
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.” - Deuteronomy 15:7
Photo: Annah with 5 of her 6 children. Abandoned by her husband, she gets food by working in neighbors' farms and had just started her small FAITH garden. With COVID-19's lockdown order, she cannot go out to work in her neighbors' farms anymore to get food for herself and her 6 young children.
For a week or so, families have been sheltering in place in Uganda - the churches are closed and reliant on the radio to hear from their pastors if they are able. Uganda’s schools are closed but children in the villages can’t access school online. The economy is severely affected and many basic foods such as salt have tripled in price while the maize that rural farmers rely on for their income has dropped to about half price as markets in nearby countries have been cut off.
On March 25, President Museveni announced that all public transport by bus, taxi, trains and boda- bodas (motor bike) is prohibited. Markets are open for food items only – and nothing else. All these anti COVID19 virus measures are being strictly enforced by the authorities.
However, just prior to all this we at TCI got very encouraging reports from the ongoing village projects where the Paradigm Shift Personal Leadership training and the FAITH gardens had begun. This is a method of using all available land around the home to grow vegetables to ensure that there is Food Available In The Household (FAITH). Here are a few of the comments from some of the participants:
ANNAH- a single mother of six says: “TCI is good because in the past we were in darkness and now people in community they ask me where I got this kind of knowledge.” Faith gardens have helped her because she gets food to feed her children and people in community come to collect vegetables and it creates friendship.
EVERESTO, a village chairperson and father of 7 says: “TCI’S work with us is good because it has changed my old mind and community members are waiting for paradigm shift training and FAITH gardens have helped with food production and I even get money from people in the community after harvest.”
LAUBEN, a father of 8 children, is observing that there is now an increase of food security at home and also a little income from harvests to support family and tuition fees. He says that FAITH gardens have helped him to get vegetables and a balanced diet and also created friendship with people in the community as he has given them eggplants and seeds. “I wish every Individual in the community to learn from ideas given by TCI and the community people are very happy after seeing outcomes.”
“TCI is good because I gained a lot in changing my mind and people in the community are demanding trainings” says Kasembo Allen
With isolation of families, no groups allowed, and communities crying out for the TCI training – we have decided to use a two-pronged approach:
1. RADIO -We will use radio broadcasts to reach as many households as possible. Our team of Uganda trainers have mobilized for action and are in final preparation to launch the TCI training via radio on Friday April 3. They will share the Paradigm Shift / Leadership training materials and incorporate methods for FAITH gardens. In addition we will provide air-time for Pastor Moses to reach his congregation and related churches at this time. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Jesus and to spread our very practical messages to millions of listeners. These will help these communities in this time of confusion and great economic uncertainty.
2. FOOD PACKS – Many families are in need of relief right now and we will provide food packages containing Maize, beans, salt and soap for very needy families (identified by the local pastor of the villages) where we have been working.
We understand the difficulties that are facing many here in the USA but we ask you to please consider giving a monthly donation for our work among those who are in dire need in Western Uganda or else donate $25 dollars which will purchase one food pack. Go to this this site to donate online:
Abandoned But Not Hopeless
Abandoned by her husband, Annah was left to provide for her family. She works all day farming and is barely able to eke out an existence and provide 2 meals a day for her six children.
By Eda Cabaluna-Michaud
Abandoned by her husband, Annah was left to provide for her family. She works all day farming and is barely able to eke out an existence and provide 2 meals a day for her six children.
TCI staff encouraged her to attend the Transformational Leadership Training so that old, negative paradigms could be transformed into ones that revive hope, confidence and the right perspective to pursue her dreams.
“Little by little, one step at a time in the right direction toward your dream” was what the training taught her. Clarity of personal goals and a clearly articulated desired future for her family is key in the paradigm shift training. Once people value what matters most to them, they will be inspired to do positive, helpful actions that will continue to propel them to overcome poverty and reach their desired future.
When asked how she could change her present situation, she said: “If I can do better farming and get money from farming, I would achieve what I want for my children.” She added “Or if I can at least have money to start back yard animals to sustain my children’s basic needs.”
TCI currently helps participants of the paradigms shift training to start FAITH (Food Always In The Home) gardens in vacant plots of land around them. The FAITH gardens aim to help families have a continuous source of food while waiting for the harvest of their main crop or main source of livelihood.
To supplement the FAITH gardens, TCI is raising funds to help Annah and other poor families to start backyard animal raising. We invite you to journey with us through your prayers and donations.
TCI’s work: Giving hope for the journey of life
It was a fine afternoon. We were visiting a small village where one of our new friends, Caroline lives. As we entered the village, a group of children came running to greet us. We greeted them “Agandi!” (local term for ‘good day’). Some of them were carrying empty jerry cans and pointed to where they collected their drinking water.
By Eda Cabaluna-Michaud
It was a fine afternoon. We were visiting a small village where one of our new friends, Caroline lives. As we entered the village, a group of children came running to greet us. We greeted them “Agandi!” (local term for ‘good day’). Some of them were carrying empty jerry cans and pointed to where they collected their drinking water. We followed them for a distance and saw their main water source – murky, cloudy water emerging from a small drainage pipe underneath the road. We asked what they used the water for. “Drinking, cooking, washing and bathing, everything,” their mother answered.
It’s easy to conclude that they are in a sorry state, yet, we do know that there is something they can do about their situation. Just boiling the water and washing hands before eating would eliminate so many of the water-borne parasites. In addition, utilizing the vacant plots of land around their homes for food crops and vegetables is a simple strategy to implement as part of lives to help break the cycle of poverty and poor health. This is one example of how TCI works with communities. We begin with where people are and help them look at their situation with eyes and minds of discovery. Through our training and workshops, we facilitate a paradigm shift in their thinking: We help to open their eyes to see that what they thought was a hopeless state, is not. When they think that help from outsiders is the only solution leading to happiness, we lead them to discover that they can do so much more for themselves. So many villagers think that they have very few resources but we show them that they are surrounded by under-utilized land and when they think there’s no way to escape their poverty, we share with them that there is so much they can do in their situation. And more so if they work together as a community! They only need to know how!
Our work is very new, yet, we have already received very encouraging responses from four villages that have committed to start FAITH gardens (FAITH stands for Food Always In The Home) around them and encourage their neighbors to do the same.
Please join us as we journey in giving hope to those who have less in life, starting with the people of Jerusalem’s four villages.
TCI Training and Launch in Kiburara - A Great Success!!
For the past four weeks, Eda and the Local Ugandan TCI team have been enthusiastically training students, teachers and villagers in Capacity Building and Leadership development along with preparing for the TCI Launch.
For the past four weeks, Eda and the Local Ugandan TCI team have been enthusiastically training students, teachers and villagers in Capacity Building and Leadership development along with preparing for the TCI Launch.
On Saturday November 9, the official TCI launch in Kiburara was attended by about 500 very supportive local residents. The rain miraculously held off for the fundraising Run/Walk and students and townspeople eagerly participated in anticipation of winning the prizes.
Students of Alpha Omega School prepared and served food for the guests, participated in the run, organized an eating competition and a poster design competition. They also put on an excellent drama depicting the effects of community transformation.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the official opening of the TCI office was carried out by the Vice Chairman of the Local Council who wholeheartedly endorsed the strategy of TCI and is committed to support Pastor Moses and TCI as long as he is office! What a great beginning!
Because I have none!
It was a beautiful morning as Mama Sarah and I took our morning walk along the Ibanda-Kamwenge Road. We tried to be regular in our morning exercise by walking about an hour before starting our day's work.
By Eda Cabaluna-Michaud
It was a beautiful morning as Mama Sarah and I took our morning walk along the Ibanda-Kamwenge Road. We tried to be regular in our morning exercise by walking about an hour before starting our day's work.
Along the way, we passed by children getting out from rough, gravel inner roads walking in the same direction as us. Children and adults alike took a pause from their walk to look at us as if wondering where we are heading to. Most of the children walked barefoot and I could not help asking the oldest of them.
"Because I have none!" was Caroline's quick reply when I asked why she walks barefoot. Caroline is 16 years old and a prefect in her school. I asked how far she had walked or how far is her house from school. She can't tell us the distance nor the time it takes her to school, but said it's very far! She walks to school everyday.
Meet Caroline!
I noticed the clothes she wore which turned out to be her school uniform was wet. "I washed it last night and didn't get dry," she explained, "and this is the only pair I have!"
I told her I want to be her friend and know her more so I invited her to come on Saturday and maybe after we talk or chat, we (with Mama Sarah) can walk her back to her house to meet her family. Mama Sarah had been very helpful in my conversations with children and folks as we do our morning walks.
Excited to talk with Caroline and know more about her!
Some of my friends from Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland have planned to put up a love basket during their care group meetings and encourage every one to drop some amount each time. Their goal is to save enough to give some children shoes so to make their daily walk to school feel a little better.
If you feel called to join us and share your blessings wih the barefoot school children in Western Uganda, please contact us at TCInternationalUS@gmail.com.
Changing paradigms - a step towards transformation
Changing paradigms of dependence and powerlessness to a paradigm of hope and belief in our dreams is the theme of next week's Board Meeting and Project Planning of Transformed Communities International (TCI) - Uganda which will run for three days in Kiburara, Ibanda District, Western Uganda.
Changing paradigms of dependence and powerlessness to a paradigm of hope and belief in our dreams is the theme of next week's Board Meeting and Project Planning of Transformed Communities International (TCI) - Uganda which will run for three days in Kiburara, Ibanda District, Western Uganda. The meeting will also be attended by TCI President & Executive Director Eda Michaud.
A recent assessment facilitated by TCI-US together with the local leaders of the Covenant Global Ministries showed that one of the major obstacles to development is the unhelpful paradigm of dependence and resignation - "we are poor and there's nothing we can do" mentality.
"There is something we can do, and we should do something about our people's difficult situation," was what Pastor Moses, TCI-Uganda's Chairman of the Board told the local assessment team in July.
What Is Paradigm Shift?
The concept ‘Paradigm shift’ dates back to 1962 when Thomas Kuhn, a well-known physicist, philosopher and historian of science, introduced the now-widespread term to countless settings. Paradigm shift means an important change in the way of thinking that leads to a change in the way of doing things. The same way that Khun puts paradigm shift in the field of science, it is the same paradigm shift that works in real, day to day life of groups and communities we help. Paradigm shift calls one to change the way he or she thinks and do things. When applied to poverty allevation, paradigm shift brings a sustained surge of hope and inspiration to the poor and needy that propels him or her to change the way they look at their ‘lack’ of many things into ‘haves and can do’ thinking. Such thinking provides an unexplained energy that inspires one experiencing a paradigm shift to change the way they do things. For a purpose. Yes, such change in thinking is always inspired by a purpose. A purpose for a better tomorrow. For a better future. Towards a personal mission and goals that come with the positive change in perspective. This is the paradigm shift I started in Western Uganda in October which now has more than 140 people benefiting and asking for more paradigm shift training and activities.
Very much tailored from the book ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey, the training normally runs for four days at 8 hours of sessions per day with eight modules that must be taken in the order listed below. No participants are allowed to join unless he or she begins with Module 1.
Module 1 – Foundations
Module 2 – My Desired Future (or Begin with the End in Mind)
Module 3 – Be Proactive
Module 4 – First Things First
Module 5 – Think Win-Win
Module 6 – Seek First to Understand Then to Be Understood
Module 7 – Synergize
Module 8 – Keeping the Goose Alive (Sharpen the Saw)
Meet Eda Michaud
Eda has extensive leadership and management experience in a broad range of relief and development initiatives throughout Asia and the Pacific. She has spent 27 years with three international relief and development organizations: Catholic Relief Services, World Concern and ZOA International. As a development worker, Eda has worked with the poor in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, China, Thailand, Afghanistan, North Korea and the Philippines and lived in seven of these countries.
It is due to her drive and experience that we are established as an organization!
TCI Uganda embarks on its first project!
Just two months from its conceptualization, Transformed Communities International (TCI) - Uganda is ready to implement its very first project, the “Capacity Building for TCI Uganda and KAOSS – Phase I”.
Oct, 2019
Just two months from its conceptualization, Transformed Communities International (TCI) - Uganda is ready to implement its very first project, the “Capacity Building for TCI Uganda and KAOSS – Phase I”.
Eda Michaud, TCI US’ President & CEO arrived in Uganda on September 30th to provide both management and technical support to the project, working hand in hand with Pastor Moses, Chairman of TCI Uganda, his other Board members, staff and volunteers.
It was an exciting week for TCI Uganda to get Eda back to the country after her first visit in July. The first news Eda broke to Pastor Moses was the approval (by TCI-US) of TCI Uganda’s first project, the Capacity Building – Phase I.
When it’s God’s will, it surely will be done!
Both parties were not only committed to moving forward with the strategies they designed during the three-week assessment and planning workshop two months ago, both are ready to take on the work!
The Capacity Building Project – Phase I will work to build the skills of TCI staff, community leaders, teachers and students to help change people’s ways of seeing themselves as helpless individuals to a group endowed with talents and surrounded by resources they can use to address their underdevelopment and reach their desired future. Not the usual project that presents big funding and numbers of targets but definitely what the local leaders see as necessary to set a strong foundation to which future development projects can build on. There is no arguing to what local leaders believe as the best way to proceed– we always must remember and honor them as the real experts of their situation!
Join us in this exciting journey of transforming the lives of marginalized people in hard-to-reach communities in Western Uganda.