Global Bridge Network’s blog: GBN' director Maiko Ohnishi's field visiting in Uganda in 2019

Oct 28^th 2019

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 menstruation more 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 29^th 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 requested in 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.