Community Voices Shape The 2025/2026 Development Plan For Atek Village

On 25 September 2025, community members of Atek  Village , located in Telela Parish, Ayer sub – county, Kole District , came together for a village planning meeting aimed at identifying key development priorities for the 2025/2026 village development work plan.

The meeting brought together local leaders, community stakeholders , and residents in a participatory forum that allowed villagers to openly discuss the challenges affecting their daily lives and proposed solutions for inclusive and sustainable development.

Purpose of the meeting

The village planning meeting was organized to consult community members on the key social , economic  and infrastructural challenges facing atek  village . the views gathered  are intended to inform planning  processes at parish , sub – county , district, and national levels to support equitable resource allocation and effective service delivery.

Participation and leadership

The meeting was attended by 42 community members of different age groups. It was officially opened with remarks from local leaders , including :

Mr. Obich Richard ,LC1  Chairperson , Aket      village

Mr. Okello George , LC2 Chairperson , telela parish

Ms. Akite Juliet,  sub – county Official

Mr. James Nyeko,  Field Officer SDF

The session was later guided by the sub – county Official who led the community through a structured discussion on identifying and prioritizing key village challenges .

Key Issues Raised by the community

Community members highlighted several pressing development needs , including :

Shortage of clean water sources , with a call for more boreholes , inadequate desks and housing for teachers in nearby primary schools , limited access to health services , due to long distances to existing health facilities and the needs for more ART clinics and community outreaches  , poor road conditions – especially roads leading to essential services point like clinics , markets

On behalf of elders and persons with disabilities , the SDF representative raised additional  concerns , theses included :

Installation of ramps in  churches , schools and health facilities, –  inclusion of representatives of elders , persons with disabilities , youth in future planning committees , deployment of elder and disabilities representatives  to support improved services access.

Despite the success of the meeting , some challenges where noted , including :

Low community turnout  linked to the ongoing political season , Limited time due to the number of villages to be covered,  and heavy rainfall  which affected scheduling and attendance.

Way forward and conclusion

Local officials commended the community for their active participation and emphasized that the issues raised would be consolidated and forwarded from the village level to the parish, sub – county and relevant ministries for consideration in development planning and resource allocation .

Meeting be held in community halls to reduces disruptions caused by bad weather , better planning and realistic timelines be adopted to allow full community participation

The village planning meeting in Atek  Village demonstrated the importance of community – driven development . by engaging residents directly , the meeting ensured that local priorities are clearly identified and integrated in to broader development plans . continued engagement with the community will be essential to ensure that the identified needs translate in to tangible actions and improved livelihoods .