As we continue to celebrate our 10th anniversary
and look back on all that has changed and been accomplished, I can’t help but
think about the drastic changes we have seen in our little village of
Kitongo.
In May of 2006, then Assistant Director, Jacob Ngalaba, and I were simply looking for a place to start. We wanted a piece of land on the shores of Lake Victoria, and we wanted a remote location. That was it. We dreamed of creating a refuge for orphaned and vulnerable girls, a simple and safe haven for them to call home - never thinking of the impact we could have on an entire community.
What Jacob found for us was a small, four-acre piece of land in a village
called Kitongo. A narrow cattle trail (if you would even consider it that) was all that connected Kitongo to
the tarmac road, about 3.5 miles away. At the time, a few lucky villagers owned
bicycles which could carry them to the market and main road, but most people
were solitary, truly living off the land, rarely leaving the confines of the
area. Furthermore, nearly all of the
houses and buildings in the area were simple mud huts with dirt floors and
grass roofs.
Our campus grew slowly. Every year, we would add a few more
acres. We bought from our neighbors and about 10 acres were donated by the
village government, because of our efforts to help the community. Gradually,
our campus grew to encompass more than 70 acres. As our physical footprint
grew, so did our operations and our staff. What started with a handful of
employees grew to more than 70 full-time workers and can swell to more than 100
if you add in day laborers and construction crews. Soon, we had become an
economic engine for the entire community.
At first that “cattle trail” was a constant challenge. But
as JBFC grew, the district government took notice. Soon, they were working with
us to help maintain an actual (dirt) road to the village center. With more jobs
an opportunity came an influx of people, providing another reason to maintain
the road.
Over time, more and more people were employed and more
people came to Kitongo because of what was happening at JBFC.
Now, 10 years later, our road to Kitongo which used to see
only a few bicycles and pedestrians. Now is travelled by dozens of cars, small
buses, motorcycles, and bicycles every day.
There are several “guesthouses” (small hostels) in the
village center, stores, markets, and a growing, much more diverse economy. The
little village of Kitongo has seen an economic boom in the past decade. Today,
people are not limited to employment solely as a farmer or fisherman. There are
other ways to make a living.
And no longer does everyone in the village live in a mud hut
with a grass roof. As I look across the hub of the village, many of the
buildings have tin roofs and much, much sturdier walls and floors.
Read about JBFC's Origin Story here!
Want to know what the JBFC looked like 10 years ago? Click here to view photos!
Our Board Members reflect on the last decade of impact. Read their thoughts here!
