【Environmental Protection】Activity Report2022 Mar-Apr Promoting clean environment through environmental education and garbage collection

The sub county technical team discussing about the by-laws presented by the community members for improvements and additions by the council on 5th/05/2022 then to be passed

<Progress of each activity>

Activity 1.1 A community-based radio communication system established with ability to relay information and messages via megaphones/loudspeakers to the entire training Centre

For every community system, an individual or organization is supposed to get permission from the government of Uganda which SORAK applied for and successfully got permission to run a radio. A radio station was preferred in this case because it covers a wide range of areas yet it’s sound tends to be clearer compared to that of megaphones. A radio tower was installed at the site on 25th/March/2022. By end of May 2022, materials and other necessary equipment will be procured for the radio to start operating. At the moment, SORAK is therefore using the existing megaphone community radio called the voice of Lusalira to create awareness about proper garbage management.

 

Radio Tower installed at the site where the radio will be set up

 

Activity 1.1.2 Rehabilitation of a house where the radio will be set up

A well proofed house where to set up a radio is being rehabilitated and it’s based in Kibalinga sub-county which was seen as the best location for the establishment of the radio system. This activity is still ongoing, it will be completed and the radio will be starting to operate by end of May 2022.

 

Inside part of the radio house   left: during maintenance right: After painting 

Outside part of the radio house  left: during maintenance right: After painting

Activity 1.2 Thirty (30) minutes’ environmental education talks conducted for 10 months

In respect to the above activity SORAK has conducted three talk shows on existing megaphone in Lusalira trading Centre attended by the Director, Project Manager, Project Officer and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. One talk show was conducted on the 9th Mar. 2022 and the other two talk shows were conducted on 2nd/April and 12th/April/2022. These were intended to create awareness about proper garbage collection in the Community. The team sensitized the community about the different types of garbage that is; Organic garbage the one that decomposes like food peelings, liquid waste that is basically dirty water, harmful waste like broken bottles, solid waste that does not decompose like pampers. Also talked about garbage sorting and recycling of garbage during the talk shows.

Project Staff creating awareness about proper garbage management at the talk show using Voice of Lusalira Megaphone

Activity 1.3 An environmental education and awareness raising jingle/spot message aired 5 times a day

Megaphone spot messages were aired to mobilize people to attend the garbage meeting. Spot messages were played 5 times a day using Voice of Lusalira Megaphone from 25^th/April-28^th/April/2022. This was aimed at mobilizing community members to attend the community voluntary cleaning and community meeting on 28^th/April/2022. The Monitoring team also gave a hand in this activity by engaging in one-on-one mobilization of people to attend the meeting for the date above.

 

<Spot Messages>   Fellow Ugandans, did you know that poor garbage disposal negatively affects both an  individual and the entire community both in households and in the community. Poor garbage disposal can cause dangerous diseases like Cholera and Diarrhea that are harmful to our lives. Burning of garbage anyhow can lead to environmental degradation.  SORAK has come out to provide support by engaging in voluntary community cleaning and calling upon all the community members of Lusalira to participate in this activity and will conduct a meeting to discuss and formulate by laws for proper garbage management  Therefore, it is advised that everyone participates in this activity that is due on 28th/April/2022 in Lusalira Trading Center to keep the environment clean  This message is brought to you by SORAK together with Global Bridge Network-Japan

 

Activity 2.1 Ten (10) garbage containers/skips procured and stationed at 5 different places to encourage and support garbage sorting and safe disposal.

The containers were ordered and soon will be placed in the different selected places

 

Activity 3.1 A community based environmental protection monitoring group established and it is active in monitoring and reporting safe garbage disposal and sorting in Lusalira trading Centre.

SORAK team together with the Kibalinga sub county chief and the local leaders engaged in community monitoring to evaluate the progress of the talk shows to sensitize community members on proper garbage disposal and management. It was found out that the talk shows created a big impact in the community in that even before the arrival of garbage collecting containers, the community members are disposing garbage in sacks with the help of the monitoring committee that work hand in hand with SORAK and the vehicle picks it to the collection points.

Community members nolonger dispose garbage anyhow but rather collect garbage and dispose it in sacks where the vehicle picks it and takes it to the collection point

Activity 3.2 Safe garbage disposal by-laws are made and enforced.

On 25^th/April/ 2022, the Director together with the Project Officer conducted a planning meeting at the sub county Headquarters with the sub county Chief to agree on the dates of the meeting to discuss the by-laws with the community members and other local leaders in the community. The sub county Chief suggested the meeting to be scheduled on 28^th/April/2022.

The sub county Chief, Director SORAK and the LC3 Chairperson during the planning meeting at the sub county

On 28^th/April/2022, SORAK team conducted a meeting with the Community members and the sub county chief together with the sub county technical team to discuss and formulate by-laws for proper garbage management. SORAK staff, the sub county and the technical team first conducted a meeting with community members from within the community to get their ideas and later sat to discuss the suggestions from the members.  By-laws for garbage were discussed and formulated which would be presented to the council on 5^th/May/2022 to be passed as shown in the minutes of the meeting in the progress of the activities below.

 

Sub county chief with SORAK staff in a meeting with some of the community members discussing and formulating by-laws for proper garbage management

 

<NEXT PLAN>

·         Garbage containers/skips procured and stationed at different places to encourage and support garbage sorting and safe disposal.

·         An environmental education and awareness raising jingle/spot message aired 5 times a day during the project period

·         Final passing of the by-laws for proper garbage management on 5^th/05/2022

 

<Positive influences/ Changes>

·         The listeners during the talk shows were impressed because many didn’t know the different types of garbage and were ignorant about garbage sorting and recycling. This was evidenced by the calls they made thanking the project team for such wonderful information about garbage

·         Community members of Kibalinga sub county were happy for choosing their sub county as the location where the community radio system will be set up

·         Community members were so glad to be involved in the discussion and formulation of by laws for proper garbage management

·         The sub county Chief together with the technical committee, local leaders, community members thanked GBN and SORAK for such important project in their area

·         Some Local leaders from Kibalinga sub county requested GBN and SORAK to extend such a wonderful project to their areas

·         Community members no longer dispose garbage any how like before, they collect it from sacks which the vehicle picks to the collection point

 

<Challenges faced during the conduct of March and April activities >

·        Too much expectations from the community members who think that SORAK will provide garbage containers to each house holds

·        Delays in getting feedback on the necessary requirements for operating a community radio

·        Delays in the council seating which hinders implementation of project work but the project team is hopeful that soon the seating will help to consider the project activities especially concerning making of by-laws or at least regulations

·        Some local leaders expected SORAK to provide money for containers to them to procure the containers and do the accountability for the project

·        Some members were against some by-laws proposed by their colleagues which led to wastage of time explaining to them the impact of the laws

·        Some local leaders and the community members were not cooperative hence some didn’t turn up for the meeting

 

<Lessons Learnt>

1-     It was learnt that community members expect a lot from SORAK as an Organization instead of appreciating the available support being provided by SORAK and make proper use of it

2-     It was learnt that such projects are so crucial in the community in that other community’s yarn to get them

↓↓↓Click on the following link to view related reports

The List of Reports 

*This project is is supported by the fund form TAISEI CORPORATION

＊GBN's Facebook＊

【Educational Environment】 Monthly Report Mar 2022 "Rennovation of WASH facilities"

Lwamasaka P/S Boys involved in the renovation of girl’s washroom/changing room in Butambala district

<Activities conducted>

1.     Renovate selected schools WASH facilities

2.     Conduct radio talk shows about girls’ education and use of a reusable sanitary pad (happy pad).

3.     Finalize a brochure and edit booklet about MHM, sex education and gender issues

4.     Work towards finalizing the happy pad promotion center’s renovation.

 

1.     Renovate selected schools WASH facilities

As a follow up action point from the inception meetings that were conducted in the respective project districts, all targeted schools have also embarked on renovating WASH facilities in line with their most pressing needs regarding MHM in their schools. This begun after the inception meetings that was conducted on 28^th/02/2022 in Mubende, 4/03/2022 in Wakiso and 3/03/2022 in Butambala as follows,

 

Mubende

In Mubende district, several schools took on the idea of renovating facilities including, water systems, toilets and wash rooms where as other schools built up new structures with the contribution of the communities. The renovation at each of the respective project supported schools is illustrated in the photographs here below;

 

 

Wakiso district

In Wakiso district, all schools except Kigooggwa and Jinja Kaloli conducted renovation as illustrated in the photographs below;

*Kigoogwa Muslim Primary School did not attend the inception meeting and the municipal education officer is going to follow up. SORAK would make a final decision by end of April 2022 whether to continue with this school or get an alternative one. Jinja Karoli was still under discussion whether to work on the water tank which is too costly.

  

Butambala district

In Butambala district, the progress on the renovation of targeted schools was conducted as presented in the photographs here below;

 

2.     Conducted radio talk shows about girls’ education and use of happy pad

The talk shows were conducted during prime hours of the selected days in order to ensure that a good number of listeners can have chance to benefit. Listeners had time to interact with the project team as they called in to appreciate the project work and some would wish for the project activities to be extended to their respective sub- counties.

 

In Mubende

The shows were conducted on the 21and 22/03/2022 at Heart FM starting at 7:00-8:00pm. Where the project manager, project officer and project volunteer attended. The topics of discussion included; why a girl child should be kept in school, benefits of keeping girls in school, risks arising from not keeping girls in school and the role of wash room and changing rooms at school. The talking points for the second talk show included the prevailing situation of MHM and male involvement, the benefits of involving males in MHM issues and the risks arising from not involving the males in MHM issues.

 

In Wakiso

The talk shows were conducted at Voice of Kiryagonja and they lasted for 45 minutes each on the 25 and 27/03/2022.Where the project manager and project officer attended. The topics of discussion included; why a girl child should be kept in school, benefits of keeping girls in school, risks arising from not keeping girls in school and the role of wash room and changing rooms at school. The talking points for the second talk show included the prevailing situation of MHM and male involvement, the benefits of involving males in MHM issues and the risks arising from not involving the males in MHM issues in addition to advertising the Happy Pad Promotion centre in Wakiso district located at Katalemwa Secondary School

In Butambala

Two radio talk shows were held at Voice of Butende on 23^rd and 26^th March 2022. The topics included the Importance of keeping girls in school, dangers and outcomes of not keeping girls in school in addition to the updates regarding the project work.  The talk shows were managed by the programs manager and the team leader.

On 23^rd March 2022, the Project officer, gave a recap of the project and its progress as at that time. He reported about the inception meeting. He further talked about the importance of an MHM friendly environment in regard to keeping girls in school. The talk show on 26^th March 2022 was more about the reasons why girls should be kept in school, the risks faced by girls who are not in school. How does the family, community and country benefit when girls stay in school. In attendance was the senior woman teacher of Butende primary school.

 

3.     Draft booklet and brochure about MHM, sex education and gender issues

The brochure was finalized and pending is printing the first hard copy for a final review whereas the booklet is still being reviewed and it was suggested during the project meeting that there is need for an expert to guide the process of coming up with the right content to suit the intended audience. It will be complete as soon as possible. Currently the project team is in touch with an expert from the Ministry of Health to assist in proof reading for an improved and final version.

  4.Finalize with working on a happy pad promotion center in Wakiso

Happy pad promotion Centre located at Katalemwa secondary School and is now ready for use as the door and windows have been inserted. Equipment namely sawing machines have been installed. The centre will be opened to the public by the end of April 2022.

 

<Positive influences/ Changes>

The activities had the following positive influences;

Ø  School head teachers are willing to work hand in hand with the project team to finalize the renovation process and have been sharing pictures of updates regarding the processes in the respective schools. In addition, schools including Butalunga P/S, Ntolomwe P/S and Nkokoma P/S made community contribution both in cash and in-kind to ensure that renovation is completed. For example, each of the above schools made a contribution of 20,000 ugx, 133,500 ugx and 527,000 ugx respectively.

 

Ø  Involvement of the boys was evident at Lwamasaka P/S. The boys provided labour during construction. They were seen carrying bricks to the site.

 

Ø  Community involvement and contribution towards the renovation of facilities in all the three project districts. This was through respective school management committees and Parents Teachers Associations.

Ø  Some schools head teachers embraced the urgent need for the wash room and changing rooms at school and have prioritized building or renovating them in their respective schools.

Ø  All the project schools are appreciative support given to them to conduct the process of improving their respective schools’ facilities

Ø  The process has created a positive relationship between the project team and the respective schools

Ø  In Wakiso district, the talk shows were an eye opener to the male parents that they are also supposed to support their daughters during menstruation as they approached the presenter and thanking him for hosting the project team

Ø  Some schools like Bule Primary School have included guidance and counseling on MHM on the timetable as a result of the project interventions in the schools.

 

 

<Challenges faced during the conduct of March activities in all the 3 districts >

Ø  Most of the schools have noted that the budget for improving the respective schools’ facilities is small yet the necessary requirements for completing the entire process are many but they are trying their level best to make use of the available resources

Ø  Some of the schools Head teachers do not have smart phones and this would make it difficult for them to capture and share the pictures regarding the progress of the renovation processes.

Ø  Jinja Karoli has not yet utilized the funds. The reason being that they needed to renovate a rain water harvesting tank, which needs much more funds than provided. They are still mobilizing funds from parents/community to have this done.

<Lessons Learnt>

Ø  Every shilling matter however small it may be. This is demonstrated by the wonderful work and improvement done in all the supported schools with the funds provided. Head teachers of the supported schools and the project team have been supportive and innovative to make use of the limited funds. They have both mobilized and motivated school foundation bodies (School management committees and parents and teachers’ associations) to the extent of encouraging them to make own contribution both in cash and in-kind. 

Ø  The motivation is nevertheless hinged on anticipated further support with other activities. This was clearly stated during inception meetings that failure to renovate the WASH facilities will mean no more support with tailoring machines, trainings among others. 

↓↓↓Click on the following link to view related reports

The List of Reports 

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

＊GBN's Facebook＊