What we do

Here is a taster of the things we do at The Lukobe Project

The Dehydrator

There are hundreds of mango trees around the village. Once a year, after the short rains when the mangos ripen there are more than enough to go round. Most of the children’s bellies are full of fresh, sweet and juicy mangos. The rest of the mangos that aren’t consumed fall to the earth and rot on the ground.

During the dry season when the land is barren, brown and dusty there is a shortage of food and malnutrition is especially prevalent.Our idea was to prepare, dehydrate and properly store the dried mangos so there could be a supply for the children around the village. Volunteer Zach Swett from WA, USA lead the team of boys in the assembly of the dehydrator.

The Orphanage

This dormatory is home to 30 children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. This building was constructed in early 2007.

Recently we have made some improvements:

In April of 2008 we installed windows and screens, also security gates. We now have a ceramic tile floor that replaces the old dirt one. We installed two solar panels that provide light for the children to study. Now our children are all set to study... thanks to donations, we have new desks, new chalk boards, new school supplies and light to see everything.

Water supply

The villagers of Lukobe take their water from a small polluted pond which provides for 1000 people. In order to supply the orphanage with a more reliable, healthy and convenient water source a well was hand dug and supported with several cement rings. Unfortunately the well has since dried up.

After the well dried up, we held a community meeting and made agreements to set up preventative measures to reduce the risk of contamination of the village water source. A Bio Sand filter has been placed at the pond for the villagers' use.

HIV Nutrition Program

In an effort to improve basic standards of living for village families living with HIV, an intervention program was started by bringing food to single mothers who suffer from HIV/AIDS.

People taking ARV drugs to fight HIV require a balanced diet. Healthy diets enable the drugs to work with little side effects so the mothers have the opportunity to live a higher quality life and have longer to care for their children.

Shown in a photo is Mama Parika who has unfortunately passed on.

Brick Making

It was an exciting time at Lukobe when the brick factory started. It was meant to lessen the cost of building the dormatory.

The brick factory ended up earning its weight through providing employment to 20 locals and paying for itself as an income generating project.

Bricks were made out of soil, shaped in a mold and baked in huge carefully built kilns, using rice husks as fuel.