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Our Italian volunteer Maria Silenzi, who went to Uganda within our ESC Humanitarian Aid project “HAND”, funded by the European Commission and hosted by our Irish partner Viatores Christi’s Uganda Branch, completed her 1-year activity.
Initially, Maria served as an assistant to the current manager of the Women’s Desk, an office focused on empowering women and building their capacities in thematic areas such as health, gender, and human rights. Her responsibilities included contributing to project proposal writing by gathering data on poverty levels and Domestic & Gender-Based Violence (DGBV) in specific Ugandan districts, conducting two field monitoring visits to collect photos and videos, creating informational and promotional materials for ongoing projects, and supporting field officers in their activities at the Production Unit, which is part of the WASH-M program (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Menstrual Health). She also attended a workshop on aquaponics and hydroponics, and created an illustrated cookbook featuring Ugandan traditional dishes. This resource, complete with photos and videos, was designed to assist and inform future volunteers with dietary restrictions.
After a few months, at the request of the director, Maria focused on designing and implementing a project aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of Ugandan communities with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. For this initiative, Maria managed every aspect of the project. She was fully responsible for: * Writing the project proposal and a final case study overview, * Researching best practices and identifying new local partners, * Scouting and selecting beneficiaries through calls and on-site inspections, * Conducting networking activities and presenting the project to various stakeholders on multiple occasions, * Creating budgets and reports, * Managing the work team, contracts, and payroll, * Designing promotional materials and disseminating them both online and offline, *Overseeing the interior design and setup of the “Caritas Kampala Second Chance Charity Shop”, * Organizing online and offline fundraising campaigns, including charity box initiatives in Uganda and Italy. In Italy, she hosted her family-and-friends’ charity event on Sunday, October 27th, to promote the project and raise funds.
In Uganda, Maria participated in cultural centres and events, as well as visited organizations and institutions that promote the significance of Ugandan art and crafts — not only in economic terms of sustainability but also in social terms for community development and cultural preservation. These cultural identities vary widely across regions. She gained insights into various forms of expression, from established practices to emerging trends, and how these mediums interact. Regarding her project specifically, she explored how Ugandan fashion is now integrating with visual arts, theatre, music, and tourism.
Throughout the project, Maria developed a range of written materials tailored to different audiences, including activity reports, social media posts, fundraising documents, official emails, and newsletter articles. Each required a distinct approach. This experience expanded her professional vocabulary and understanding, particularly regarding project-specific terminology.
She created an online fundraiser. You can click on the link to find out more information. – GOFUNDME : https://gofund.me/f5b130fb Pay attention not only to the description but also to the ‘Updates’ section at the bottom.
Maria and her team successfully opened a thrift “shop + lab” to sell second-hand and upcycled clothes. This is not just a shop but a safe, clean, and welcoming space designed for a modern and youthful community of disadvantaged individuals, where they can share experiences, explore new ideas, and express their creativity. The first upcycling workshop taught and inspired young women from St. Dennis Vocational School in Nkumba to adopt new practices and embrace opportunities through more sustainable and eco-friendly fashion. She also involved the catering class, enabling them to benefit from the workshop while saving money, which she later reinvested into purchasing essential materials for the school. Additionally, she arranged donations to help cover tuition fees for economically disadvantaged young women—not only those enrolled in the fashion design department.
A dedicated charity office was established to implement and promote various charitable activities in collaboration with other departments and project partners. This initiative fosters growth, connection, and a sense of belonging through teamwork and cooperation. Services offered to the community: livelihood support, counselling, trainings, events, volunteering opportunities, disaster management, advocacy and awareness campaigns.
Through advertising and advocacy efforts, the organization’s visibility was enhanced. This led to greater community engagement, active participation, and the attraction of potential donors and collaborators. She also opened opportunities for partnerships.
For the first time, Maria stepped out of her comfort zone. She challenged herself to explore, reinforce, or address different aspects of her personality. This activity in Uganda for one year confirmed that working in the field of development and international cooperation is absolutely what she wants to continue pursuing. We would like to thank Maria many times for her unbelievable outstanding work, devotion and commitment to her assignments and long term positive results in the target group.
