Kathy’s centre
Sadly in August 2014, co-founder Kathy Smedley passed away. To honour her memory and work following her passing, the Kathy’s Centre was built and established as a beacon of hope. It stands as the vibrant heart of Act4Africa within the Mayuge District of Uganda. Read more about Kathy in our tribute here.
To build this centre we partnered with Engineers for Overseas Development (EfOD), a charity run by young professionals from the construction industry. We worked with them to ensure that Kathy’s Centre was built sustainably and to a high standard. Together we developed an eco-friendly design for the building, complete with solar panels and modern EcoSan toilets with disabled access. Training of the local workforce and construction commenced on 4th August 2016.
The centre was built using Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks rather than traditional fired brick: these bricks are environmentally-friendly, strong and durable, reflecting our commitment to sustainability.
Local labourers were trained to use the press to make the high-quality bricks and to build the centre under the guidance and expertise of EfOD. Eco-friendly brick-making production also helps provide an income for Kathy’s Centre itself, ensuring it continues to have a positive impact on local lives for years to come. The Interlocking Stabilised Soil Block (ISSB) press was donated to Act4Africa by EfOD, following the construction of the Centre. Two of them are now employed by Act4Africa to make bricks for sale to the communities of Jinja and Mayuge.
Thanks to the fantastic work of EfOD volunteers, the shell of the Centre was completed in January 2017. The internal fit-out of the centre was then carried out during 2017 and completed by the official opening in September 2017. Watch a video of the building works here.
Deeply rooted in the local community, it provides vital health and support services to vulnerable women and children. The centre also houses Kathy’s Kindergarten, our pre-school, and serves as a hub for training in agriculture, enterprise, and financial literacy. Watch the opening ceremony video here.
