Three Wishes
With your help, we can work together to make a difference
in the lives of people who need so much and ask for so little...
Keith’s Doctor Joseph Odeke has 3 wishes and together with a committee from Keith, Tintinara, Padthaway and Mundulla is working hard towards making them come true.
The people of Dr Odeke’s home village of Katakwi in Uganda helped him to achieve his dream of becoming a Doctor. He now wishes to repay these people by providing them with some tools to make their lives immeasurably better.
First Wish
To provide the villagers with farm machinery and implements to enhance and improve the productivity of their farming- growing potatoes in particular – and providing them with the skills to use the machinery thus helping them help themselves to establish a sustainable farming future.
Second Wish
To provide materials and help build a medical centre at the village
Third Wish
To provide equipment to drill for water
Making the Three Wishes Come True
The undeniable spirit of rural communities, already faced with hardship of their own by way of prolonged drought, is once again coming to the fore as people throughout Keith, Padthaway, Mundulla and Tintinara are digging deep to support Keith GP, Dr Joseph Odeke achieve his ‘three wishes’.
The first wish is well on the way to success with a container of equipment and machinery already shipped to Uganda. Communities have been extremely generous in donating or heavily discounting thousands of dollars worth of machinery and equipment as well as donating money to the humanitarian cause.
But more money and equipment is needed and any donation large or small is appreciated. Agricultural equipment to aid in the establishment and running of a potato farm, equipment for the drilling of water and equipment and supplies to set up a medical centre in his home village of Atiror, 250 kilometres north east of Uganda’s capital Kampala, comprise Dr Odeke’s wish list.
Potatoes are considered a luxury in Uganda and the establishment of a productive potato farm could really make a difference to the people of Atiror, providing not only a sustaining food source, but also a valuable commodity for trade.
Spearheading the sourcing and repairing of machinery are Padthaway farmers, Kevin McMahon and Bryant Giles who began their quest to help Joseph nearly 12 months ago after hearing him speak about his life and his ‘wishes’.
Since then, the Keith, Tintinara and Mundulla communities have come on board and recently, a committee formed with Mig Brookman elected chairperson and Heather Cozens, Secretary/Treasurer.
Accordingly, the soon to be formalised committee will meet monthly, keeping their fingers on the pulse and working hard to raise funds and source equipment as well as help with the actual logistics of getting gear the many thousand of kilometres from South Eastern Australia to rural Uganda.
Incredible support thus far from the community is invaluable with monetary donations coming to just over $3,500. The Keith Lions Club recently pledged their support with a donation of $500 and personal contributions have been pouring in to the commonwealth bank account set up to receive donations.
The equipment sent in the first container included three Fordson Tractors, a rotary hoe, potato planters, ploughs, a cement mixer, tools as well as clothes and encyclopaedia’s to name a few.
The project is a mammoth undertaking and as with all good causes, more money is desperately needed to cover the huge cost of freight if they are to get the further shipments of equipment to the village.
Dr Odeke is humbled and extremely thankful for the support he has received so far.
“It is really fantastic.”
“Bryant and Kevin have given me incredible support. I can’t believe how many people have come on board and the communities of Tintinara, Padthaway and Keith have been amazing as well,” Dr Odeke enthused.
Charity missions similar to this have been undertaken over time with varying degrees of success.
Joseph, Bryant, Kevin and their team believe they have the recipe for success.
“We are doing it in a very sound way and think it is going to work. A crucial component is that we have a number of people who want to go over with the equipment to teach the use of it and we will be following up each stage,” Mr Giles said.
Joseph has gone with the first container, having recently been taught how to drive the tractors and will stay there for two weeks helping train the farmers in the use of the equipment.
“I had a very funny day learning to drive the tractor and am now ready to go,” Dr Odeke laughed, as he prepared to depart.
The education in the use of equipment and safety measures is a highly important part of the vision as a whole and will ensure the continuation and success of the potato farm.
A couple of community days were held prior to the first shipment leaving, to finalise machinery and implements. This provided community members with an opportunity to help out and become a part of this great project assisting with painting and small repairs.
Jodeke Members of the newly formed committee to support the Joseph Odeke Community Development fund