Community Sensitization meeting
Deo Muhumuza
Sensitisation of potential beneficiaries and affected persons
The purpose was to bring together all the affected persons, the potential beneficiaries and all the concerned community members, partners to introduce to them the project idea, its anticipated impacts both negative and positive, whilst explaining the responsibility of the community members their roles during the implementation. This was also meant to get the different views and ideas of members to aid the successful implementation of the activities of the project. It was also meant to share with the community members the relevant knowledge required to utilize the wetland and its various resources/products sustainably in order to live in harmony with nature. The engagement involved teaching the members the need for their participation for each step during implementation. Different individuals or households were engaged in different activities in the wetland. This sensitisation meeting further explored how each activity in the wetland can be carried out to minimize negative impacts and maximize positive impacts both economically and environmentally. A call for a community meeting was announced on radio, church gatherings and other media. This was a continuous activity throughout the implementation of the project.
- The grant budget took into account communication expenses, plus conduction mass sensitization meetings.; refreshments were catered for.
- The ability to reach every member of the community through local council leaders, mass gatherings including the initial project launch event that was used as another platform for passing the information.
- The willingness of most members of the community to conserve natural resources especially those who were already organized in the community based environmental conservation organisation.
- Some members attended the meeting out of curiosity knowing that the project activities may negatively impact on their activities in the wetland since they were involved in illegal and destructive activities.
- Expectations in terms in the beginning were so low, and the mood changed gradually after learning of the several benefits that the project was coming along with, including alternative sources of income.