Support Martin's Vision for Sustainable Agriculture in UG

My name is Ashley Rowley and I live in Grand Junction, Colorado, US. Through a mutual friend, I met a very intelligent, ambitious young man from a poor village near Kasese Uganda named Martin. We have become friends, and he has shared with me his dreams of supporting his community with sustainable agricultural projects and education. He also tells me about the hurdles and struggles keeping him from accomplishing his dreams. Last month he shared some unfortunate news: “I was pushed back home at the gateway on Friday for not having paid tuition at the University. I am going back for my struggles again, the world is very difficult.” He is a student at the Rwenzori International University in Kasese studying agriculture. It is the first university to have its main campus in Kasese District and opened in 2021.

“I want to raise money for agricultural projects like poultry and pig keeping and beekeeping. I also want to start a critical thinking students’ group and build demonstration gardens to improve food security in the many communities in western Uganda at Kayangende community. I further seek help for my tuition at the University so that I complete my studies and after I will be patrolling the community and teaching.” Martin has already started a beekeeping project with the help of friends donating to his cause. He is currently learning to keep other insects from invading the hives.

“I live in the hills of Nyakabingo in the Rwenzori mountains where severe soil erosion has left the land infertile and people have failed to get food that sustains them in various seasons. The area I grew up in had an average income of $3 per month. My parents have jobs, but they have a very small piece of land to plant some crops for home consumption and they work on other people's gardens to get some food. My village is remote and hilly and we have no access to electricity or clean water and the community experiences severe soil erosion. The community largely lacks food and schools. I started my primary level but I was helped. My parents could not afford school requirements. I used to walk barefoot uphill to school. The school was poor, so I was taught by untrained teachers; the school had no library or laboratory and only three classrooms. We often studied outside under trees. But I am appreciative because I still live despite the challenges. The sponsor of my secondary level education abandoned me due to the fact that she is too old and I am now struggling to get tuition for my course of agriculture to help my community overcome the challenges faced. I have many ideas that will help to transform my community, but I am limited by finance. I kindly request my generous well-wishers across the world to donate to me and my community to help me start measures to improve soil fertility and control soil erosion as well as promoting education of other people in the community. Thanks for caring about me and my community.”

Martin invites anyone to connect with him via Facebook: Masereka Martin Kiketha.

I am fundraising on behalf of Martin because he unable to collect directly from the GoFundMe page in Uganda. All funds will be transferred directly to Martin via World Remit.

- Ashley