【Partner】STUDIO BARJARA（Ms. Atsuko ）

We are pleased to introduce Ms. Atsuko, who is the head of STUDIO BARJARA.

Ms. Atsuko is offering African style dance and Pilates lessons, and she is also active as an organizer of GBN’s international exchange event Sanyu! In addition, we have received various support such as donations through the sales of dance costumes.

Good smile♪

She talked about her work, why she started to teach African dance and collaborations with GBN, etc.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

<What is your current work?> 
I have been mainly organizing “African style dance,” which is not traditional African dance but mixes various genres of dance. Besides that, I am active as a lecturer for hip hop & house dance classes for adults and children, Pilates lessons for women who are not good at exercising and function training, as well as health gymnastics for elderly people. I also organize and coordinate dance events, etc.

<Why did you start to teach African style dance?>
Originally, I was mainly learning street dance and jazz dance for becoming professional dancers. However, when I joined a workshop on African Dance at the dance school, I was moved by this dynamic and expressive dance; therefore, I began to learn it. I want many people to feel their heart will be liberated and feel great through dance, so I started to offer African style dance classes.

Looks very energetic!

<What is your passion in cooperating with GBN and your feelings toward Africa?>
I myself live without international assistance, but I am mainly working to teach African style dance. African style dance is supporting my life and I feel joy and sometimes sadness … I feel a lot of things.

I thought that maybe it was about time to give back to African style dance by helping Africa. Therefore, I am cooperating with the activities of GBN through organizing some events and donating from the sales of dance costumes. By deepening collaborative activities, I am glad that I can learn about Africa today and interact with lots of Africans through GBN.

I would like to continue my support and do what I can do by looking at Africa as a country that I still do not know much about.

<About African Style Dance lessons>
STUDIO BARJARA is waiting for you to start our dance lessons regardless of age and dance experience♪ Come join us!

Be sure to check out STUDIO BARJARA’s website!
https://www.studio-barjara.com/ (in Japanese)

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

We really appreciate her continuous cooperation.
Thank you very much, Ms. Atsuko!

＊GBN's Facebook＊

Report on “Mobilize 16 schools into active ‘environmental protection clubs’ including tree planting”

Hello, this is Global Bridge Network (GBN)!

Regarding ‘Environmental Protection through Expanding Lemon grass growing and Education in Uganda’, this is the second report of 2nd year of this project.

Environmental protection club in the tree planting at school

This time, ‘Activity 1.7 Mobilize 16 schools into active ‘environmental protection clubs’ including supporting them plant 100 trees per school (fruit trees)’ were carried out on June to Sep 2018.

16 environmental protection clubs were created and these clubs are made up of 20 children each school.

Roles of these clubs

• School based clubs provide an excellent opportunity to foster environmental education and champion environmental responsibility that the formed environmental protection clubs will be the lead teams when it comes to issues concerning the environment in their respective schools.
• These clubs provide best ways of teaching their fellow young about environmental issues and carry out waste management, soil conservation, and tree plantation.
• These clubs are creating awareness, advocacy, conservation, maintenance of school environment, and have brought unity in the schools.

SORAK staff participated in launching the tree planting

Children showcase the tree seedlings

Outcome by the club activities is positively impacting the environment by tree planting and are sensitizing their fellow pupils in hygiene and proper waste management.

School based environmental protection clubs were successfully formed and they promised to work hand in hand with SORAK, school management committee to keep an open eye on the environment.

You can find the details in the reports below,

Activity 1.7 Mobilize 16 schools into active environmental protection clubs

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

＊GBN's Facebook＊

【Event】Sanyu! vol.3（2019/3/21）

"Sanyu" means "Happy" in Ugandan language.

Global Bridge Network(GBN) collaborates with African dance group, "Studio Barjara" and African Jembe(African traditional drum) group, "African drum class Djembe players" in this event to introduce many variety of African culture :)
We have African dance shows, drum show, introducing GBN’s activity and African craft shop.

We are looking forward to meeting you in our event!

・Date and time: March 21st, 2019 13:30～15:30 (Open 13:00)
・Venue: MOANA (Minatomirai line, Bashamichi station)
　https://tabelog.com/kanagawa/A1401/A140104/14030826/
・Program:
　13:00　Open
　13:30　Start and introducing GBN activities
　14:10　Free time(communicate between guests)
　14:30　African style dance & Jembe(African drum) show
　14:50   Free time(communicate between guests)
　15:10　Ugandan dance time
　15:30　Close

・Ticket: 3,000 JPY(Advance), 3,500JPY(At door)
   (Incl. Free Drink & Buffet)
・Performers: STUDIO BARJARA、African drum class Djembe players、Global Bridge Network
・Booking: https://ssl.form-mailer.jp/fms/67d31824571916

This QR code is also available for your booking!

・Contact: info@globalbridgenetwork.org
・Organizer: Global Bridge Network
・Coordinator: STUDIO BARJARA

＊GBN's Facebook＊

【Educational Environment】Impact Assessment Report

This is the second phase of the project on ‘Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges to Stop Adolescent Girls’ School Dropouts in Uganda’ supported by funds from the Lush Charity Bank of Lush Japan, Co., Ltd.

At this time, we will report about Impact Assessment report of this project made in December, 2018.

This study targeted and assessed all categories of beneficiaries and reached 48 pupils (12 boys and 36 girls. Pupils interviewed from each of the 3 respective schools included; Lwawuna P/S 21 pupils, Kibalinga P/S 15 pupils and PCLC 12 pupils.

Lwawuna MHM club representative facilitating the training

This exercise further assessed 8 community members who had earlier participated in the parish based awareness raising on SORAK made reusable sanitary pads, out of 8 who were assessed 6 were female and 2 were male. The assessment further interviewed 2 school managers (1 from Lwawuna and another one from PCLC) and 3 senior woman and 3 senior male teachers.

The process of data collection among learners commenced on 20th November 2018 and ended on 27th November in Lwawuna Primary School, Nabingoola Sub County, St. Joseph Kibalinga Primary School and Precious Child Learning Centre (PCLC), Kibalinga Sub County respectively.

PCLC learners making reusable sanitary pad

Every stakeholder has changed their attitude towards menstruation.
We will show you the parts of report as follows.

・Boys have become supportive. As a result, there is reduced stigma and many boys have even joined clubs.

・Teachers have improved their attitude toward girl’s menstruation. They had never provided information on menstruation in the past, but after SORAK project, they openly teach about menstruation issues.

・Parents are no longer shy to talk about menstruation with their own daughters because they feel they have some information about menstruation acquired from SORAK. Some parents are asking for more trainings.

Learners displaying reusable sanitary pads they made.

Based on the MHM Project performance and availability of funds, SORAK could improve menstrual hygiene management among in-school adolescent girls plus achieving better grades. 

SORAK had also created incredible impact in the community, among the targeted schools of implementation, boys, girls, teachers and parents.

Click on the following link to view the report on

'Impact Assessment Report'

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

＊GBN's Facebook＊