Rayland Rural Development Organization is a voluntary, not for profit, Community Based Organisation that was formed by persons with a vision to support, unite and promote community development in Iyolwa Sub County in Tororo District. Our goal is to promote community empowerment through building local capacities to handle HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, support and care services; handle self-help and income generating activities and education for the marginalized children.

It was formed in 1998 and registered on 15th August 2000 as a CBO operating in Tororo District. The organisation has membership of over 500 members from within Tororo district. The majorities of these are either in subsidiary farming or involved in micro and small-scale business activities.
To a great extent many are dealing in survival activities characteristics of informal sector operations. They include smallholder farming, cattle keeping, market vendors, housemaids, brick making, tailoring, and handcrafts to mention but a few.

A majority of these community fall under the most productive age group and sexually most active. They are either employees, employer, self –employed or just a member of the wide community. It is important to note that the workplace is not separated from the community where they live although some may work in an atmosphere that is separated from the community.

The relatively high financial need of some people has leads to situations of sexual exploitation of women and schoolgirls who need money. The exchange of gifts for sex has also added pressure on young people allowing the acquiring AIDS. Cited examples of women/girls pressured into sex with older men are often their sponsors. 

Poor feeding, inadequate housing and lack of hygiene has made HIV/AIDS infected persons even more vulnerable to AIDS related diseases.

Vision
Our vision and mission is to promote community empowerment through building local capacities to their own activities

Mission The mission of the organisation is to promote rural capacities to demand for and also work towards quality health care support services.

RARUDO serves as a mobilising, networking, information, advocacy for improved livelihoods, quality health and better education, promoting economic empowerment for community particularly women and youth to improve self-reliance, building their capacities to manage their own income generating activities.

Aim
It is with aim of improving the standard of living of the marginalized groups by promoting sustainable development through provision of socio-economic activities, good health and educational services.
 

Thematic Areas
Rayland Rural Development Organisation’s work is carried out through Capacity Building, HIV/AIDS Advocacy that include, AIDS education and training, counseling, prevention, primary healthcare, support and care, implementation of income generation programmes, and provision of educational support to over 400 Orphans of AIDS, girl child and other vulnerable children trainings and vocational training and protection for school dropouts and adult education and networking thus bringing RARUDO’s programs under three key thematic areas:

• Economic Development

• Health

• Education

Objectives 

• To implement income generating projects aimed at creating sustainable income sources for vulnerable women and youth groups, the activities will involve: - high value crop production, bee keeping, piggery, poultry farming, fish farming, food processing (i.e. addition of value to agro-produce) and animal traction.

• To train and support local communities in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS through advocacy, prevention, support and care, home base care, training counseling aids and peer educators and information dissemination awareness to reduce its social economic effects.

• To support orphans of AIDS, girl-child and vulnerable children through provision of educational facilities namely: better schools at rural based, vocational rehabilitation centers, school fees, scholastic materials, uniforms etc.

• To promote respect for human rights among members especially promoting awareness of rights of children, women, disabled persons, youths and marginalized groups in the society.

• To promote advocacy and networking between the various development partners and carry on consultancy in all fields for learning.

• To promote the preservation and the protection of the environment, and to raise funds from donations, grants and investments to further the objectives of the organization.

• To improve rural livelihoods of the communities through enhanced adoption of improved agricultural practices and modern technology as well as encourage addition of value to agricultural produce in order to improve the social economic status of the people through increased productivity, enhanced human resource development and natural resource management.

• To improve the standard of living of the people by enhancing proper use of natural resources as will be indicated by the ability to meet their basic needs in life namely - adequate food, decent housing, clothing school fees, medical bills etc.

• To support and foster improved life skill training and knowledge on Sustainable Organic Agriculture among local communities for improved nutrition and household incomes. 

• Provide participating farmers with improved seeds, improve market research for the processed and unprocessed produce, practice-improved technology such as irrigation systems, small-scale agro-processing industries, processing food using solar dryers to promote increased income at household as well as organizing.

• Establishing and adopt micro credit and saving scheme among rural community to maximize income at grass root with the overall goal of fighting poverty.

• To mobilise, sensitize and involve vulnerable youths and women in project activities and adopt rural micro entrepreneurship; increase opportunity for the homeless to acquire affordable housing, decent clothing, etc.

• To carry out capacity building training as strategies to improve the performance and output of the members
   

Yours sincerely,
Onyango Joseph

Executive Board Members

Our Partners

The River Fund, Uganda AIDS Control Project through Community HIV/AIDS Initiatives CHAI, World Vision.

How To Help

You may make your donations to support RARUDO activities of which 100% of your
Support goes to the intended activities and to the beneficiaries.

All European and Canadian checks are acceptable by River Fund in the US through Jaya Canterbury-Counts for Rayland Rural Development Organization and all Checks are payable to River Fund.

In Uganda to Onyango Joseph for RARUDO cheques payable to Rayland Rural
Development Organization
 

For further information contact:

Email:  jpjaya@aol.com
www.riverfund.org