The basic idea behind the "Children a chance" project can best be summarised as follows: We believe in change. That is why we support disadvantaged children in Uganda - whether orphans, HIV-positive or with disabilities. For us, education is the key to development and self-determination. Uganda needs well-trained craftsmen, farmers and teachers who actively help to shape their country. Our task is to give children the chance to master their lives independently.
What began with the idea of developing a flagship project for Rotary development cooperation became reality with the "Campus of Practical Skills". Between 2017 and 2024, the Rotary Club of Gmunden and a total of 43 clubs from Austria, Germany and Uganda worked together with the NGO "Children a Chance" to realise a project that has given tens of thousands of people in Uganda access to water, electricity and education. The project was also supported by the province of Upper Austria, which contributed almost 40% of the total budget of 355,000 euros in funding.
The scale of the project in figures:
- 16 new wells drilled
- 46 existing wells revitalised
- 92,400 people in 83 villages supplied with clean drinking water
- 11 solar-powered pumping stations installed
- 28 large solar systems installed for schools and workshops
- 109 mini solar systems installed in households
- 9 irrigation systems built for agriculture
- 4 tricycles purchased for maintenance work in remote regions
- Training of 9 teachers who are training hundreds of young people in technical professions
"We wanted to create more than just infrastructure - we wanted to create real opportunities,"
says Walter Ebner, former district governor of the 1920 Rotary district and initiator of the project. Together with Ludwig Noska, also RC Gmunden, he supported the project for years - with heart, commitment and a lot of support from the entire Rotary community.
A place that gives hope
At the heart of the project is the "Campus of Practical Skills" in Nakaziba - a training centre where young people learn practical trades such as electrics, plumbing and tailoring. Windows, furniture, electrical systems - much of it is manufactured directly by the trainees. "This is where knowledge becomes the future," says Noska, describing his impressions.
The campus has already given over 500 young people prospects. For many, it is their first access to training, independence and self-determination.
A project that makes a difference
In the summer of 2024, Ebner and Noska travelled to Uganda to get a first-hand impression. They met children learning in solar-lit classrooms. Families who are able to use clean water directly in front of their homes for the first time. And young adults who are now maintaining their own infrastructure - a crucial step in a country where more than 70% of wells fail after a few years due to lack of maintenance.
One moment in particular sticks in the memory: a young woman who, after completing her training, had a water connection installed with her mother's first salary - in a house that had never had access to water before. "This is the cycle of change that we have initiated with this project," says Ebner.
Achieving more together
The project was financed from the Rotary clubs' own funds and with support from the state of Upper Austria. What once began as a vision is now a strong network across continents - based on Rotary solidarity, regional commitment and genuine partnership at eye level.
"This project shows how global cooperation can improve people's lives in a very concrete way,"
emphasises Günter Neumann, current President of RC Gmunden.
"It is an example of what can be achieved when many people take responsibility together."
