My name is Avril Bellinger, Honorary Associate Professor in Social Work at the University of Plymouth, Elder in Residence at the University of Glasgow UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts (RILA) and most importantly, long-time friend and volunteer with this fantastic organisation Kulika, visiting every year for 15 years.
I am honoured to speak on behalf of the Patron, the Archbishop of Kampala, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors, the staff team and the whole enormous Kulika family.
For over 30 years, Kulika has realised its vision of improving the quality of life for communities and environment by transforming livelihoods. It has trained thousands of farmers in ecological organic agriculture (EOA) and spread their influence through farmer-to-farmer extension.
Kulika is delighted to be delivering a pilot for One Health in two districts. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the powerful consequences of EOA to promote health through organic food production; soil conservation; plant and animal health, minimising chemical intervention; waste management; environmental hygiene; and community engagement. We all know that the problems we are facing globally are complex and connected. Kulika works systemically and proactively to increase holistic wellbeing. It continues to support activities after project funding stops and is active in over 27 districts all over Uganda.
The organisation’s core values of integrity, diversity, teamwork, commitment and learning are a point of coalescence for organisations like One Health, who recognise the power of EOA to deliver increased wellbeing to people, animals and planet one household at a time.
To end I want to thank the German funders, BMZ for awarding this third project to Kulika through Malteser whose trust, ongoing support and capacity-building are most appreciated. Finally but not least, thanks to the One Health team and its trainers for braving floods and difficult roads to get us ready for this launch. I give you Kulika! Thank you,
