TM Real Estate Group, a leading Alicante-based company in residential tourism, specialising in the construction and development of second homes along the Mediterranean and Caribbean coasts, faithful to its commitment to sustainable development, combatting poverty and social exclusion, has already implemented several projects focusing on combatting poverty eradication in conjunction with NGO Rafiki Africa, an Alicante-based non-profit organisation operating in Uganda.
In an area where 90% of the population work in agriculture and livestock farming, and where living standards for residents are very low compared to the 196 countries that make up the GDP per capita ranking (€855 in 2021), TM, together with NGO Rafiki, has completed construction and set up a water purification plant and an agricultural training school, as well as designing a microcredit programme for women, in the rural area of Kenziga, Sembabule district (Uganda). Each of these projects has improved living conditions for the area’s residents.
Creating the drinking water treatment plant in the area, which is severely lacking in water sanitation, provides access to drinking water for more than 600 pupils in local schools, their families and the people living in the vicinity.
Furthermore, construction of the Agricultural Training School, which was planned from the outset, is already underway and is attended by boys and girls of vocational training age, as well as adults, to receive training in agricultural techniques that will help them take advantage of opportunities offered by the land, learn a profession and provide them with a source of employment.
To conclude this project, which is primarily aimed at combating poverty in Uganda, a programme has been designed to provide microcredits for female empowerment.The first phase, which consists of training women in livestock farming skills and techniques, is currently underway, and the microcredits will be given to them next year. This will give beneficiaries a chance to start an income-generating activity to improve their quality of life and that of their families. More than 140 women are expected to benefit from the programme in an estimated 3 years.
In the words of Ángeles Serna, President of TM Real Estate Group: “It is important for TM to support these social projects so that they become a reality and bring economic and social development and opportunities for the people of rural Kenziga. Rafiki Africa’s wonderful work is helping to combat poverty in different dimensions: access to clean water, quality education and credit to help them set up small businesses.”
Such actions are making significant progress in eradicating poverty in this population group, helping to improve living conditions and allowing families to achieve a minimum living income that means they can live happily without having to emigrate. These projects contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 6 (water and sanitation), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), and SDG 4 (quality education).
Juan Amirola, president of NGO Rafiki Africa said: “Thanks to TM’s commitment and collaboration, projects such as the agricultural training module are already up and running and we are currently running talks for adult farmers; annual courses for young learners will start in February. We have also been able to make progress in the first phase of the microcredit programme which will lead to establishing small livestock farms before the end of the year.”
