Field visit to monitor the lemon grass project in Uganda

Report on the field trip in Uganda

Maiko Ohnishi from Global Bridge Network (GBN) from Global Bridge Network visited a Japan Fund for GlobalEnvironment supported project which deals in expansion of lemon grass cultivation and environmental protection in Uganda.

Ohnishi visited the youth who previously participated in the lemongrass cultivation and environmental protection training.

This picture shows the lemongrass he cultivated after the completing the training.

　

Youth who took a training

Youth started lemon grass growing in his area

 The land is filled with gravel and granite rocks but lemongrass is a very strong and when properly cultivated, can grow in between stones and rocks. 

Lomongrass growing between the rocks

This helps in preventing soil degradation by water runoff which finally leads to environmental conservation.  

Somkes burning cultivated area by local residents 

On the other hand, the smoke seen at the background of above picture shows the residents burning land including cultivated areas. Burning of land leads to environmental degradation and from here we can tell that the general public has poor knowledge about environmental conservation. 

Local NGO, SORAK CEO showing how to cut grass for youth

Such a small child helping

Increase in environmental protection awareness training is therefore very important in the future. Creating environmental conservation awareness among school children can also contribute to environmental protection. Thus, our project includes teaching children in local schools about the environment.

SORAK buys the lemon grass after it is harvested. The first harvest is done just 3-4 months after planting and each tone of harvested raw lemon grass is bought at about 285 USD. This income helps to send a child to school for a year.

SORAK owns lemongrass distillator

Putting lemongrass

View from the front

Build a fire

　

Essential lemongrass oil 

 Lemongrass oil is extracted from the lemongrass at the distillery owned by SORAK and the sales are used to improve (household) income.  

　

The youth who receive training go on to cultivate lemongrass which results in both environmental protection and income improvement. This project therefore has a positive impact and GBN will continue to support it.  Thank you!

Next report will be about the "environmental education and awareness campaigns" conducted in local schools for children 

*This project is supported by Japan Fund for Global Environment of the Environmental Restoration (JFGE) and by Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)

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Report on the session ’Training of Youth & Women in lemon grass growing and environmental protection’

Hello, this is Global Bridge Network (GBN)!

This time, we are going to report on ‘Environmental Protection through Expanding Lemon grass growing and Education in Uganda’

Actually, this is our first report regarding an Environmental Program in Uganda!

Objectives of the program

1.     To train Youth and Women to protect and conserve the environment through involving them in lemongrass growing.

2.     To discuss possible ways regarding environmental protection by laying strategies and ways of growing lemongrass.

4 trainings in total (Youth and Women 2 times respectively) were held in two different areas in Mubende. A total of 101 youth plus 99 women participated!

The trainings were also attended by the sub county chief and the chairperson which makes us believe that these people have a strong interest on environmental protection in their area.

Date of sessions：

Training for Women：20th April & 26th May 2017

Training for Youth：27th April & 1st June, 2017

Contents of the sessions are as follows,

Training course for the youth

①      Sensitize them about the importance of lemongrass growing and promote a strong environmental conservation by the use of laws

②      The need for the youth to know their current role in protecting the environment and the importance in engaging the youth in lemon grass growing

Training course for the women

①      Sensitize them about the importance of lemongrass growing and it being an income generating activity plus a measure to improve livelihoods.

②      Enlighten them about the highest levels of unemployment amongst women and the need for them to involve in environmental protection i.e. women’s maximum efforts to environmental restoration through using approaches like lemon grass growing.

These trainings successfully led to discuss pertinent issues causing the massive environmental deterioration in their area among participants including the sub county leading team, the women and youth. The trainings also enabled members to find a new direction in regards to considering lemongrass growing as a best practice towards environmental conservation and as an income generating activity as well.

One youth leader was quoted saying, “This training has really opened my eyes as I didn’t know that lemon grass can protect the environment and as well enable me earn money for a living.  I will plant it as soon as the planting tuffs are distributed.”

By implementing these trainings, we have faith that the youth and women will realize that lemongrass growing is effective for environmental protection and income generation!  

Please review the details in the reports below,

・1. Report on training of WOMEN in lemongrass growing

・2. Report on training of YOUTH in lemongrass growing

Next report will be about the field visit made by Ohnishi from GBN to monitor this project through visiting a youth who conducted lemon grass growing.

Thank you so much and see you soon!

*This project is supported by Japan Fund for Global Environment of the Environmental Restoration (JFGE) and by Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)

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Report on a baseline survey and impact assessment

A Happy New Year！

Global Bridge Network (GBN) has started 2 new projects with our partner, SORAK Development Agency in Uganda in 2017 and all projects are to kept on going till 2018. We really appreciate all your kindly cooperation and supports.

We would like to report about the baseline survey and impact assessment of the “Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges to Stop Adolescent Girls’ School Dropouts in Uganda”.

The baseline survey was conducted in April, 2017 so as not only to understand the current situations but also be able to implement this project as much effective as possible.

Assessment ongoing at St. Josephs’ Kibalinga Primary school (Baseline survey)

We also conducted the impact assessment in October, 2017 to evaluate the completed project and it would help to propose suggestions for the next project in 2018.

Through these reports, we hope you to understand the reason why we conducted this project and find the effectiveness. We would highly appreciate it if you could also check other activity reports.

＜Baseline Survey＞

This survey was made for clarification of current situations about improper Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), lack of teacher and parents’ understanding, and support from the government which was done through interviewing school girls who already experienced menstruation.

A quoted part of the report.

“School administrators, teachers and senior women teachers and school children agree that there is an urgent need to supply MHM commodities. It was also stated that these MHM commodities should come along with training, washroom infrastructure supply and involving female parents in the making of reusable sanitary pads in order to make the activity acceptable and sustainable.”

Please see more details!

MHM Baseline Survery Report _April 2017.pdf

＜Impact Assessment＞

The MHM and reusable sanitary pad making were conducted to school girls and boys, teachers and guardians. We would like to introduce some parts of the results of these training as follows.

Discussion at Lwawuna Primary school (Impact Assessment)

• 31.3% of the respondents confessed to have learnt and had started putting into practice the basis on proper MHM.

• 37.5% of the respondents were proud to have acquired skills on how to make reusable pads and to use them.

• Girls never used to talk to their parents and guardians about menstrual issues. However after the training 6.3% acknowledged to have started opening up to their guardians. After the training, it was noted that girls and their parents have started open discussions about sexual reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management issues. Even parents who had not participated had learnt from their friends that they have to have open discussions with their daughters and had started disclosing.

Besides, the boys’ behavior changed towards menstruation. After the sensitization, they were no longer laughing at girls. They helped with sweaters and jackets in case of an accident and when they see a girl with a stained dress they ask other girls to help or inform a female teacher.

School attendance during menstruation was also improved. Missing school in the past 3 months because of menstruation periods: 95% of the female pupils who were interviewed noted that they were no longer missing school because of periods.

Please see more details!

MHM Impact Assessment Report _2017.pdf

With these results, we believe that this project could contribute to the improvement of educational environment among school girls. We will try to continue and expand this project. We really appreciate your endless support and cooperation!

GBN hopes for happiness to you all and as well wish you a great 2018!!

Thank you very much.

*This project is supported by Lush Japan Co., Ltd.

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