St. Augustine Community Love Programme
St. Augustine Community Love Programme (SACLP) is a Ugandan NGO founded by Hon. Anywarach Joshua Carter. Angela Ross, a Vermont attorney, became acquainted with Joshua through giving Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts when he was a popular Ugandan disc jockey. Her family sponsored vaccination and education for his younger siblings. Then, with the help of her local church, she supported him through college and law school, after which he was elected to the Ugandan Parliament representing the Nebbi and Etrussi districts in northwest Uganda, where he promoted sustainable farming and education.
SACLP continues to serve the Nebbi district’s poor, as well as those in Zombo district in remote northwest Uganda. Partnering with SACLP, Alec Johnson paid tuition for several students, and he had begun an extensive academic scholarship program that has been one of TILT’s most substantial financial activities.
More recently, TILT has instead funded scholarships in technical/vocational education including welding, tailoring, construction trades, cosmetology, and auto mechanics. The first group of twenty recipients are all gainfully employed. Eighteen have started their own businesses and are now using their savings to pursue academic diplomas on their own.
SACLP runs many projects independently of TILT. For example, they are cultivating and propagating vetiver grass to control erosion and deter the pervasive termites in the region.
Learning that vetiver grass has been found to control erosion and to deter termites, a pervasive pest in the country, our primary contact with SACLP requested and received a grant of sets from the District Agricultural Agency. He is multiplying it for distribution to farmers whose fields are damaged by erosion uncontrollable by other means.
Twenty farmers in Nebbi District have been selected by the subcounty development office, nominated by village and parish officials with the advice of village and parish officials and submitted to their groups for a vote. Eight of the farmers selected are from the women’s VSLAs. The grower will give leftover divisions to other women in the VSLAs.
Our contact added that the VSLAs and farmers co-ops associated with SACLP are given priority by the development officers because of their commitment, implementation, and effort. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.”
SACLP also organizes local charitable works projects, such as re-thatching roofs for two widows whose roofs need to be replaced.
Anzilla Opera is a widow whose 4 children have passed away, and who is taking care of 8 grandchildren.
Liberita Nanu is a widow who is taking care of her only daughter.