【Educational Environment】 Monthly Report Nov 2022 "Delivery of sewing machines and community awareness"

 

Project Team during the SRH session conducted in collaboration with Butambala Women in Development

<Activities conducted>

1.     Radio talk show in Mubende

2.     Air Spot Messages to raise awareness on support for girls’ education and increase on reusable sanitary pad users in all the 3 target districts

3.     Printing of MHM booklets and Teacher’s training manual in all the 3 target districts

4.     Delivery of sewing machines in the 10 project schools in Mubende

5.     Pad making in Schools in Butambala

6.     Community awareness in Butambala

7.     Happy pad promotion Centre in Wakiso

8.     Production of face masks at the Happy-pad Promotion Centre in Wakiso

 

1.     Radio talk show in Mubende

One hour radio talk show was conducted at Luna Fm in Mubende on 18/11/2022. The community was reminded about the need to support adolescent girls especially those that cannot afford sanitary material so that they can comfortably stay at school. The major talking point was about proper menstrual management, educating the girl child, the pad making training that will be conducted in the 10 target schools on reusable pad making, their usage and how to keep them clean. Also talked about the sewing machines that were delivered in the respective schools. Listeners were reminded that the pad making training will be conducted after the Ebola situation has stabilized.

 

2.     Air Spot Messages to raise awareness on support for girls’ education and increase on reusable sanitary pad users

Spot messages about Menstrual Hygiene Management, girls’ education and reusable sanitary pad are   aired as follows;

·     Mubende via Luna FM 6 times a day.

·     Wakiso via Voice of Kiryagonja 10 times a day.

·     Butambala aired 11 times at Voice of Butende and 10 times at Voice of Kikambwe.

3.     Printing of MHM Booklets and Teacher’s Training Resource Tools

There 300 copies of the MHM Booklet and 20 copies of the Teacher’s Training Resource tool that were printed on the 28/11/2022. They will be ready for distribution when schools open in February 2023. (Butambala)

Likewise, a total of 400 copies of MHM booklets and 40 copies of the Teacher’s Training Resource tools were printed for the districts of Mubende and Wakiso.

 

4.     Delivery of sewing machines and MHM T-shirts in the 10 project schools in Mubende

On 10-11/11/2022, sewing machines were delivered in the respective project schools in the presence of the teachers, identified tailors, MHM club members and other interested students. T-shirts were also distributed to the MHM club members. Participants were promised to receive the reusable sanitary pad making training when term one commences next year.

5.     Pad making in Schools in Butambala

Due to the Ebola outbreak in the country, schools closed for holidays on 25/11/2022 earlier than the national school calendars. Project activities did not commence as planned since there was a shift of school programming. However, the team received communication from four primary schools including Bule, Ntolomwe, Nkokoma and Lwamasaka Primary schools who indicated they had started theory of pad making shortly before closure.

 

6.     Community Awareness in Butambala

On the 26/11/2022, team engaged 124 children from different primary schools in Ngando Sub County at Budinse Memorial School. Out of the total 124 children, 56 were boys and 68 girls.

Among these, 8 boys and 24 girls attend three of the project schools including Lwamasaka, Butende and Butalunga primary schools respectively. 92 children came from other non-target schools. Team conducted a one-hour Sexuality and Reproductive Health session in collaboration with Butambala Women in Development (BUWODEV), a local community-based organization.

Children were mobilized for a 3-day event where we share life experiences with orphans and vulnerable children offering relief, counseling and guidance. We discussed puberty in terms of body changes, responsibility to protect each other, boys support for girls especially during menstruation was a key message and girls were encouraged to practice proper hygiene during their puberty.

Children from non-targeted schools were more reserved than their colleagues who came from the

3 target schools. They started opening up mostly at a time when a female facilitator from

BUWODEV was conducting the session and when they were grouped into smaller clusters.

“You told us that a girl who does not menstruate by 16 years is sick but I have my friend who menstruated at 18 years. Is she normal?” asked one of the girls. In response, the facilitator explained that when menstruation delays, one should talk to an adult or see a doctor.

 

On 28th November 2022, 50 guardians (40 Female, 10 Male) were engaged and reminded of their responsibility in supporting adolescent girls during menstruation by endeavoring to provide sanitary material and emotional support for those at menarche. They were urged to create an environment where children can freely open up discussions with them. This was after discovering that children were not open during the counseling sessions held the previous days.

 

7.     Happy pad promotion Centre in Wakiso

A total of 28 pads were produced this month and 262 packaging bags. No students were trained due to early closure of schools as it was instructed by the government as one of the means to fight against Ebola. 9 outsiders from the community are being trained at the promotion centre. 3 pairs of the re-usable sanitary pads were sold so far but hoping to sell more as people get used to them. This will be achieved through shop-to-shop visits in addition to engaging persons in community gatherings, visiting female saloons among others.

8.     Production of face masks at the Happy-pad Promotion Centre in Wakiso

There 500 face masks that were produced at the promotion Centre due to Ebola pandemic and Covid-19. People were encouraged to put on face masks to prevent and help fight the diseases. A total of 155 masks were distributed to children in Wakiso. All made masks are not for sale and we are to distribute them free of charge. More production will continue in between the months of December 2022 and January 2023. More distribution will be made to project schools in Mubende during when schools open for next year 2023.

Following the Presidential address on 2^nd December 2022 on health issues in the country, it was reported that 50 cases of COVID-19 omicron type is recorded daily. The president called up all the public to continue observing standard operating procedures (SOPs)

 

 

Positive influence

·       Members of the community in Nansana municipality are now familiar with the spot message especially in the areas near Voice of Kiryagonja community radio stations.These areas include;Kiryagonja, Kasalirwe, Kirinnyabigo, Lwadda-Kyondo, Najjemba and Nasse (Wakiso)

·       Learners from the 3 project schools responded better than other children from the community during the SRH session that was conducted. This indicated improvement in MHM, and SRH knowledge. (Butambala)

·       Collaboration with another community- based group helped us measure MHM information gaps for children in non-targeted schools. Guardians were encouraged to open up and invite their children to share health and puberty related issues (Butambala)

·       Listeners appreciated SORAK for delivering sewing machines in the respective project schools and the wonderful information about proper menstrual management and Ebola provided during the radio talk show (Mubende)

·       Participants including learners and teachers were excited to receive the sewing machine which shall be used for making reusable sanitary pads and showed interest to welcome the pad making training that will be conducted when schools resume (Mubende)

·       Community members appreciated the quality of reusable sanitary pads produced at the promotion Centre. This was evidenced during marketing and selling of the 3 pairs of sanitary pads. (Wakiso)

 

Challenges

·       School programs were adjusted such that schools can break off much earlier than before as ordered by the ministry of education. This was due to the outbreak of Ebola hence this affected some activities that were planned like monitoring of school facilities which was supposed to be conducted this month in all the 3 respective districts, also affected training of students in sanitary pad making in Mubende   

·       Learners had no reading material after the previous version of MHM booklets was withdrawn (Butambala)

·       Ebola outbreak in Mubende and associated lockdown from 16^th October to 17^th December disorganized school study program, so was project activities. Schools were closed on 25^th November, this was earlier than planned.

 

Recommendations

·       School monitoring of facilities in all the 3 respective districts should be done as soon as schools resume next year in February 2023.

·       Engagement of learners from other schools outside our target schools can create more awareness.

·       Engaging other community groups to participate in the project for bigger impact.

 

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*This project is implemented under JICA's Kusanone Partnership Program.

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【Educational Environment】 Monthly Report Oct 2022 "Delivery of Sewing machines and pad making training"

 

Machine handover at Nkokoma P/S

<Activities conducted>                                                        

1.     Delivery of Sewing machines and pad making training in 20 target schools in Wakiso and Butambala

2.     Radio talk shows in Wakiso and Mubende

3.     Air Spot Messages to raise awareness on support for girls’ education and increase on reusable sanitary pad users in all target districts

4.     Happy pad promotion centre in Wakiso

5.     Updates on renovation of schools (Christ the King and Kiyita Primary Schools) in Mubende

 

1. Delivery of Sewing machines and pad making- training in 20 target schools in Wakiso and Butambala

In Wakiso, sewing machines were delivered from 25 to 28/10/2022 in the ten target schools and trainings were conducted to teach members of the school including teachers, students, parents and a few members of the school management committee on how to make reusable pads. The students were mainly MHM club members of each school and other students from upper primary who were interested in the training.

In Butambala, trainings were conducted to teach members of the school communities including teachers, parents and members of the school management committee on how to make reusable pads from 8 to 12/10/2022. Trainings were conducted in all the 10 target schools in attendance of the MHM club members of each school and other enthusiastic learners.

Wakiso

Butambala

 

2.     Radio Talk Show in Wakiso and Mubende

One hour radio talk shows conducted at Voice of Kiryagonja on 27/10/2022 in Wakiso and at Luna Fm in Mubende on 28/10/2022. The community was reminded about the need to support adolescent girls especially those that cannot afford sanitary material so that they can comfortably stay at school.

In Wakiso, the major talking point was about the happy-pad promotion Centre located at Katalemwa Senior Secondary School, the training timetable and reusable pads that the team had introduced in the target schools, how to make them, how to use the pads and how to keep them clean.

In Mubende, the major talking point was about proper menstrual management, educating the girl child, the sewing machines that will be delivered in the 10 target schools to enable training of those schools on reusable pad making, their usage and how to keep them clean. Also promised listeners that these will be supplied after removal of lockdown.

 

3.     Air Spot Messages to raise awareness on support for girls’ education and increase on reusable sanitary pad users

Spot messages about Menstrual Hygiene Management, girls’ education and reusable sanitary pad are aired as follows;

·      Mubende via Luna FM 6 times a day.

·      Wakiso via Voice of Kiryagonja and Tiger FM 10 times a day.

·      Butambala aired 11 times at Voice of Butende and 10 times at Voice of Kikambwe.

 

4.     Happy pad promotion centre in Wakiso

A total of 128 pads were produced this month. 23 students were trained and 8 outsiders from the community visited the promotion centre. No sales have been made yet but we are hopeful that we shall make sales as we keep marketing during talk shows, and community sensitizations

 

5.     Updates on renovation of schools (Christ the King and Kiyita Primary Schools) in Mubende

Christ the King and Kiyita primary schools have made some progress to provide fair spaces for girls wash and changing rooms. All this has happened amidst challenges of limited financial resources. This being third term of the year all efforts are geared towards ensuring that children do examinations in order to move to the next class. The ebola outbreak and associated lockdown has also stopped parents ability to make contribution for fast completion of the wash/changing rooms at the two schools.The current situation which will remain the same until next year 2023 is presented in the photographs below;

 

 

Positive influence

·       Participants (learners, teachers and parents) were excited to learn how to make reusable pads (Wakiso and Butambala)

·       Boys participated attentively and were eager to learn more especially at Kitungwa C/U Primary School (Wakiso and Butambala)

·       Some of the parents and teachers had basic tailoring skills which made training easier (Wakiso and Butambala)

·       After the training, participants appreciated the support thanking SORAK, VOTU and GBN for the initiative. (Wakiso and Butambala)

·       At Ssayi Bright Primary School the members of the PTA (Parents Teachers’ Association) and School Management Committee were present during the exercise and they appreciated the support given to the school and promised to work hand in hand with the project team towards the success of the project activity implementation. (Wakiso)

·       At Ssanga C/U primary school, the team met a bigger audience as it was a speech day where many parents, religious leaders, local leaders, students, members of the PTA and the School management committee were present. The Municipal Education Officer was present and he commended SORAK for the good job. (Wakiso)

·       While at Voice of Kiryagonja, the presenter requested the team to drop some pads at the radio station for the community members to have access in case of need. (Wakiso)

·       Community members appreciated spot messages that are aired daily reminding them of proper Menstrual Hygiene Management (Mubende and Wakiso)

·       Listeners appreciated the idea of providing sewing machines and training on reusable pad making in the 10 target schools. This was evidenced by the number of calls they made during the talk show which showed their eagerness to receive them. (Mubende)

 

Challenges

·       Schools were preparing for the Primary Living Exams and the Primary Seven students did not effectively participate but they were advised to utilize the vacation and attend trainings in making reusable sanitary pads at their respective schools (Wakiso)

·       Among the ten schools only one student at Kitanda C/U primary school could operate the sewing machine and the rest needed serious training. (Wakiso)

·       3 schools had no power and had no plans of installing soon. Machines will be replaced with manual machines (Butambala)

·       Teachers worried about how to acquire user material to start production. The team advised the participants to be creative and mobilize resources. (Wakiso and Butambala)

·       The 2 hours training per school was insufficient time considering the number of trainees. Head teachers requested the team to schedule other training sessions during the project life cycle. The head teacher at Bule Umea primary school suggested that we should consider a community training center to reach more people (Butambala)

·       Due to Ebola pandemic, a lockdown was imposed on the 16/10/2022 first for 21 days and later extended for another 21 days stopped some activities like training in pad making till the situation improves hence affecting the programs that were met to take place during that period. (Mubende).

·       Slow response from community members willing to take on training in pad making. Potential trainees want to take on a whole package of tailoring but not pad making only.

 

Recommendations

·       After-training, assessment should be done soon (Wakiso and Butambala)

·       Each practical training session should be attended by at least 15 members so that the training is effective. (Butambala)

·       Theory lessons for measurements, cuttings, how to use pads and how to clean them should be conducted prior to the practical sewing. (Butambala)

·       Records of the trainings should be kept at school (Wakiso and Butambala)

·       Schools should identify possible ways of accessing pad making materials (Wakiso and Butambala)

 

Lessons learnt

·       It was learnt that most of the schools had an idea concerning the use of the sewing machines and some lacked knowledge about it. This was evidenced during the pad making training when some schools could try to operate the sewing machines though a few schools didn’t know.

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*This project is implemented under JICA's Kusanone Partnership Program.

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