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| 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 28th/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;
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
Two radio talk shows were held at Voice of Butende
on 23rd and 26th 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.
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.
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