GULU, NORTHERN UGANDA – A core principle underpinning RFW’s approach is community co-investment, and the Academy for Social Transformation (AST) pilot group is currently bringing this principle to life in the most tangible way possible. Construction is now underway for the building that will house their community maize mill, driven significantly by the group’s own initiative and resources.
Rather than solely relying on external support, the participants have proactively mobilized themselves. They are contributing significant amounts of their own time and physical labor, clearing the land, gathering locally sourced materials like bricks and timber, and actively participating in the building process. Alongside this physical contribution, the discipline of saving fostered through the AST program is evident as they pool collected savings towards the construction needs
This “sweat equity” is far more than just a cost-saving measure. It represents a profound, hands-on investment by the group in their own future and underscores their deep commitment to the maize mill’s success. Using timber off-cuts, the community built the milling house themselves, each piece of wood and beam placed not only bringing the structure closer to completion but also building shared accountability, collective pride, and lasting ownership of the enterprise they are creating together. RFW continues to provide mentorship, but the driving force behind this construction phase is undeniably the community itself.
