Join us for an unforgettable celebration as CSRL marks two decades of impactful work in Kamuli, Uganda. 

As our year-long celebration continues, we take a deeper dive into our journey with reflections from CSRL’s early “pioneers.” 

Venue: Iowa State University, Reiman Gardens

Thursday, October 3, 2024, 3:00-8:00 pm  

Registration 3:00-3:30

Symposium 3:30 – 5:30 pm

Reception 5:30-6:15 pm

Dinner 6:15 – 8:00 pm

Highlights of the event (You may choose to register for any or all portions of the event)-

2024 marks our 20^th Anniversary, and because of you, we have much to celebrate! 

As part of our year-long celebration, we invite you to view and share our feature film, 

Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: 20 Years of the Iowa State University – Uganda Program. 

Hear our origin story, learn about the challenges we have faced, and see how your contribution is making sustainable rural livelihoods a reality in Kamuli, Uganda.

Thank you for supporting the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods!

Watch the film on our College of Agriculture and Life Science Vimeo site: https://vimeo.com/973093087?share=copy

 

The Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods has released the 2023 annual donor impact report "Sustainability and self-sufficiency." Read about the visit by His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, King of Busoga, Uganda, to Iowa State University, a new project related to improved amaranth genetics, and many updates to continued projects made possible by donor support. 

As proof of the synergetic connection between Iowa State University and The Busoga Kingdom of Uganda, a memorandum of cooperation and understanding was signed on Aug. 17 to formalize cooperation and collaboration to benefit both institutions.

His Majesty and President Wintersteen sign their names on the MOU document inside the President's office in Beardshear Hall.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is honored to host His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, King of Busoga, Uganda. Please join us for a special seminar where the King and members of his delegation will share their experiences in improving livelihoods in Eastern Uganda.

Host:             Dean Dan Robison, Endowed Dean’s Chair

Date:              Thursday, August 17

Time:              4:30 – 5:30 pm

Location:       142 Curtiss Hall (Dean’s Conference Room)

We’d like you to meet ISU students in this short video who also believe in the cause and volunteer their time and effort here in Ames to increase economic opportunities for our partners in Uganda!

Help them and us to spread the word and reach our goal to assist more aspiring individuals in obtaining the knowledge and boost they need to provide for themselves and improve their families’ long-term livelihoods. You can join the effort by donating to the CSRL Skills Development for Self-Reliance FundISU Campaign through 11:59 pm on July 8, 2023. Please share the link and donate: https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/CSRL23

Mwebale Inho! (Thank you very much)

 

Iowa State University’s Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and its Uganda Program (ISU-UP) use the power of education to develop responsible global citizens and thriving local communities that benefit from food and financial security, healthcare, civic participation, social inclusion, and environmental stewardship. One key set of ingredients in achieving our mission is skills development for self-reliance. Currently, we cannot accommodate the number of mothers and youth who wish to develop their skills.  With your help, we can assist more individuals in obtaining the knowledge and boost they need to support themselves. Join our effort to provide projects like these that guide Ugandans to long-term sustainable livelihoods:

 

The Community Income Generation Innovations (CIGI) program through the Iowa State University- Uganda Program has allowed Betty to learn a new skill of soap making. Being a part of the Soap making group, Tweyunge (Let’s Unite), has brought into Betty’s life the social support, dignity, respect, and vital income she needs to become self-sufficient, provide for her children, and improve her family’s long-term livelihood.

You can easily help others like Betty – Sharing her story supports the cause, and every dollar makes a difference! In fact, double the difference! Generous donors will match all contributions through the first twenty-five thousand. https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/CSRL23

Enjoy the full CIGI video here: https://youtu.be/ZYg3BexpRoY.

 

The Community Income Generation Innovations (CIGI) program through the Iowa State University- Uganda Program has allowed Marion to learn a new skill of weaving baskets which has immensely impacted her life. Help others like Marion who wish to develop their skills, enabling them to provide for themselves and improve their families' long-term livelihoods. Please share Marion's story and donate now to double your impact through matching funds! https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/CSRL23

Enjoy the full CIGI video here: https://youtu.be/ZYg3BexpRoY.

Two ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program areas were highlighted at the 2022 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. Recordings of these events are available thanks to our friends at the World Food Prize Foundation.

Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Practice in Uganda: https://vimeo.com/766545307

David Acker, associate dean for global engagement and director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has been selected to receive a Fulbright Specialist Program award.

The Fulbright Program aims to build lasting connections between people in the U.S. and those in other countries. More than 400 U.S. citizens participate in the specialist program each year, traveling abroad to share their expertise at various institutions. Participants are selected based on their academic and professional achievements, leadership in their field, and potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

The Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods has released the 2021 annual donor impact report "Spirit of Innovation." In the opening message Director, Dr. David Acker reflects on the tremendous spirit of innovation. Also included are updates on current ISU graduate students from Uganda, stories on the work of each program area, and measurable impacts made possible through generous donor support.

We did it! Thank you very much for helping us exceed our goal!

We at the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and our Iowa State University–Uganda Program team in Kamuli are truly grateful to you for supporting our new Early Childhood Development program. Your contributions helped exceed our $30,000 goal by raising a total of $36,520!

Thanks to you, pre-school-age children in the Kamuli district will have a more substantial opportunity for a brighter future. Your contributions will be directed toward improved nutrition, age-appropriate learning materials, more teachers’ aides/assistants, and appropriate school infrastructure, including classrooms, latrines, kitchens, and playgrounds that support safety, sanitation, and engaged learning.  

Can you believe that December is almost here?! It's Giving Tuesday and a perfect way to wrap up the FundISU CSRL Uganda Early Childhood Development campaign. Thanks to our generous donors we have reached 87% of our goal! And there is still time to make a gift to push us to our goal before this project ends on December 01, at 11:59 PM CST.

Every dollar makes a difference- https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/CSRL2021 

In the U.S. most of us have access to books for free through our neighborhood public library. However, books are not commonplace items in Uganda. One reason is that they are not affordable to most rural families. One book could cost the equivalent of a week’s worth of groceries! (bbc.com/news/world-africa-36230245). An outcome of this is that eight of every ten children of 10 years or under in Uganda cannot read (africanlibraryproject.org/). Join the CSRL Uganda Early Childhood Development campaign to help change this.

World Children's Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children (UN.org). We invite you to take action through the CSRL Uganda Early Childhood Development campaign.

First established in 1954 World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. November 20, 1959 is when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Kid-friendly dishes and kid-size furniture are much more than cute. Building a positive learning environment sets the table for the future. Learning environments are nurturing spaces that support the development of young children and include age-appropriate equipment, materials, and supplies.

Well-designed classroom environments for pre-school age children:

Support responsive caregiving Foster independence and feelings of competence in young children Encourage staff efficiency Promote children’s engagement Decrease challenging behavior Facilitate appropriate social interactions among children Provide structure and predictability

[iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu]

Toys that teach! https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/CSRL2021

Despite it being a critical developmental stage, early childhood education programs in rural areas of Uganda are extremely limited. With your help, CSRL hopes to change that at our partner schools in Kamuli District. A breadth of support is needed including physical structures, nutrition, teachers, and even toys!

In the U.S., we sometimes overwhelm our children with toys. In Kamuli, educational games and puzzles for small children are more of a rarity. Making the right toys available at the right time provides many physical and mental benefits to a child’s early development including-

Physical skills:

Hand-eye coordination Gross motor skills Fine motor skills

Cognitive skills: