*This project is supported by Japan Fund for Global Environment of the Environmental Restoration (JFGE) and by Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)
1．VISITING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT-LWAWUNA
MUSLIM PRIMARY SCHOOL
Discussions with school teachers:
Madam
Biira, the deputy head teacher mentioned that Madam Judith who took in charge of
Menstruation Hygiene Management (MHM) Club in school passed away, thus Mr. Wilson has been working with the
menstrual hygiene management club. Then Madam Nalule Farida was newly
elected and is in
charge of MHM club currently.
The girls’ changing rooms, which were built
last year, are still in good condition
The
sawing machine donated by SORAK is still operating
Interviews to MHM Club students
Q: ‘What are the advantages of happy pads, reusable sanitary pads’?
Happy
pads keep proper sanitation
Happy pads are
cheap because you can wash and use them over and over
Use of
happy pads avoids bad smell
Q: What are challenges
of producing reusable sanitary pads?
The number of trainers are not enough
Materials
for making reusable sanitary pads are expensive
If you
use a same pad continuously for more than a year you might spoil
your body
The
number of sewing machines is not enough to produce pads for many students (There is only one machine)
Materials are not enough to produce many
pads
Q: How
can we overcome the challenges?
Training many
trainers.
Limit the use of time of reusable sanitary
pads
Providing enough
materials to make pads
Adding sewing
machines
Q: Other challenges about MHM club?
Shortage
of market for the pads because we haven’t made good pads like SORAK’s
Happy pads, reusable sanitary pads
The boys
always laugh at fellow boys who are in the menstrual hygiene management
clubs
The pupils
in the clubs always call upon other members to join the clubs and learn
how to make reusable sanitary pad. However students, who are willing to learn, reduced
due to limited trainers and machine to make the pads
Plan of
this project
Eddie a
Peace Corp Volunteer said that she will be joining Lwawuna primary school
and support sessions on menstrual hygiene
SORAK’s director Mr.
Kyeyune said he will send Ms. Babirye to come and train tailoring skills
at Lwawuna as an additional skill.
Mr.
Kyeyune advised the school to get a link of getting materials in the
making of reusable sanitary pads.
Mr.
Kyeyune also advised members of the MHM Club to make more
pads and bring to SORAK office for over lock and buttoning.
The
deputy head teacher, Madam Biira said that in case of more opportunities,
SORAK should incorporate more teachers into skilling.
SORAK’s
staff Shamim advised pupils to make pads in large numbers and the school
administration innovate exhibitions and make more market for pads.
Charles
requested for continued support even after leaving the school after the
primary leaving examinations.
2.
Kasaana Women group
Monitoring after the training on sanitary pad
making
～Issues discussed～
The women
after the training encouraged their children to make their own reusable
sanitary pads.
The women
became to talk about menstruationmore
freely with
their children after the training.
The women
meet every Sunday and learn how to make the reusable sanitary pads, but
they make every time they meet though they don’t have materials for making
pads.
A teacher
said though the materials for reusable sanitary pads are expensive.
Member’s voices
-The members said that the pads
are very comfortable to use and you can rewash and use again.
-Another member said she saves
money because she can use them for long.
-Another member said they make
pads and sell them in villages though materials were done.
-Another member said she took 13
pairs of pads and sells each at UGX 6000
-Another member took 20 pads and
sold in the community.
-Another member said she wanted
to get more pads and sell.
One
member asked where SORAK gets the materials to make reusable sanitary
pads. Then, Ms. Maiko from
GBN recommended that SORAK stock materials and
sell to the women in the communities whenever they need them.
SORAK’s
director Mr. Kyeyune advised women to hygienically avoid old clothes to
pad themselves.
Maiko
tasked all members after the meeting to be agents of happy pad reusable
pads sale.
One
member of women also asked in case they don’t have capital as agents to
get the happy pads reusable pads and director, Mr. Kyeyune, told
them they can always get on credit and refund the money after selling the
pads to communities.
The
member of women group also promised to sell the happy pad reusable
sanitary pads as ’ a group’
One
member inquired if SORAK can make reusable pampers for the babies as well
to avoid health effects associated with disposable pampers called ‘Happy Pampers’.
Then, Maiko proposed that next year let her find women making and selling
more Happy pad reusable sanitary pads.
Area
chairperson thanked the visitors for coming and bringing the project in
Kasaana. He also said he found SORAK training the women on how to make
reusable sanitary pads. He also encouraged women to take initiative and
learn
A women group poformed their beautiful dance
Oct 29th 2019
3. Ntungamo Public Primary School Environmental Protection Club
monitoring
The Head
teacher Mr. Julius said they planted trees with the help of the
environmental club and SORAK, Maiko and the other staff had a brief tour
around the school to see the trees planted and the school garden.
The headmaster of
the school Ntungamo also said that the environmental protection club had a
presentation and poem for the visitors and SORAK staff and Maiko
introduced themselves in front of the entire school. Director SORAK gave a
brief introduction of Global Bridge Network
Primary
two made a presentation on a poem about environmental protection.
Primary
six class also made a presentation and thanked SORAK for supporting girl
child and boys to protect the environment.
They also
sang about working hard to make environment a better place for all of us
to stay
They also
made a presentation about parents to support education of a voiceless girl
child even the girls with different abilities.
Maiko
thanked pupils for protecting the environment and also
encouraged other students
to join the process of protecting the environment.
Voices of
a club member,
-They also pick polythene bags
from the compound
-They also built sticks around
the trees to avoid domestic animals from destroying them.
-They need more trees
-They said that they meet every
Friday and care for the trees.
-They also said that they would
like to make a party to celebrate the achievements
Mr.
Kyeyune also said in case of a party to celebrate, SORAK should be invited
and also will celebrate, contribute something and provide music system.
Questions
from the club members
・ Is it possible
to provide T-Shirts or uniforms for the environment protection club members?
・Is it possible to get rain boots to aid us in our activities?
Others that took place
・It is proposed that the club members and school to get some writings on how to protect
the environment and requested them to be in local language.
・The Headmaster also requested for a fence to protect their trees and
crops to be destroyed especially from the side of the road.
・Headmaster thanked the visitors for the support and requestedin case of
more opportunities to include this school.
Lastly
・The members to the club gave some cabbage to Ms. Maiko
the visitor as a vote of thanks and appreciation
・Head master thanked Maiko for the support rendered to the school and
wished her a safe journey.
Received cabbage which environment protecthion club's students grew♡
We will make our effort to provide better support based on findings by this visit.
