The Cabinet Minister in the Uganda Pledges to Give Support to VOLSET Community AIDS Prevention and Child Advocacy Project.

Talking to over 100 people and 40 children who attended the VOLSET 4th Annual General Meeting that was held at Nakaseke Telecentre hall on the 6th of December, 2002, The Hon. Minister, Syda Bbumba expressed her innermost support to activities and programmes which are organized by this local NGO.  She pledged to meet 80% of the Information Centre and Office Block yearly hire in Nakaseke Town of Luwero District, Uganda.  She also donated a public address system to the same organization which she said would help in amplifying sounds when carrying out public meetings and seminars.

To crown it all, she responded positively and agreed to the organization's proposal presented to her to be the National Patron for VOLSET.  However, she stressed that, as a National Patron for this community based organization, she would see to it that its services are upgraded to suit the rural community's needs and expectations.

She advised that People Living with HIV/AIDS be helped to start sustainable activities and recommended local poultry breeds which she said there was a readily available market, and positive clients needed their products too.

CHILD ADVOCACY

In most of our communities, when any disaster strikes, children and women become the targeted sufferers.  Old women are also among the affected.  This was said by the VOLSET Co-ordinator while addressing the 4th AGM.  Mr. Festus Bazira noted with concern that some mothers had turned against their babies and children.  He told members in attendance that it was time to come up with some solutions on how to intervene, so that the future generation is saved.

Mr. Bazira called upon all members, volunteers, stakeholders, and friends to rise and speak for the children.  The time to keep quiet was over.  VOLSET now operates in 2 Local Government Districts: Luwero and Mukono, both in Uganda.