【MHM Start-up Project】Visiting Naguru primary school

 

On the day of 13th August, we started our activity by purchasing sewing machines, tools, clothes, and other materials for pad making.

 

While at the market during the time of purchase, the interns tried using the pedal sewing machine for the first time, but it was more difficult than they had thought since they had to focus on using both feet and at the same time, what they were sewing. We realized that it should take a while to get used to the machines if the users do not have any experience.  

On 16th August, we implemented an outreach at Naguru Creative infant nursery and primary school in Kampala municipality, Naguru parish together with Daisy our counterpart from Visionary Lady Foundation who has been actively working on the MHM issues in one of the slum areas of Naguru by establishing MHM clubs and conducting workshops regarding MHM.

The interns were quite surprised to see the slum situation in Kampala for the first time.

 

On our arrival at school, we had an opportunity to talk with the head master and learned that the school receives many students but most of them cannot afford the necessary materials such as textbooks, pens, and uniforms etc. and also have many other concerns and difficulties at school.

After that the school provided us with a slum tour led by the director and the head teacher who was well acquainted with the area. While moving around, the team met local families who were mostly led by single mothers. One of the mothers we talked to supports five children living on an income of 2000UGX a day which is about 0.5 USD which explained why some children resort to sometime missing classes so as to help their parents/family or even end up just working instead of going to school.  

 

When we came back to school from the slum tour, the students welcomed us with a traditional dance performance and a short play regarding MHM.

Some of the parts within the play, boys were teasing a girl with a blood-stained cloth in class and the girl rushed out of the classroom feeling embarrassed. But after boys receiving an MHM lecture and attaining proper knowledge, they no longer teased girls. Which also showed the importance of involving both boys and girls in MHM issues.

After the performances, we conducted an online exchange program by connecting Ugandan school students with high school students in Japan via ZOOM online. 

 Then interns finally hand-delivered the pads they brought all the way from Japan to the Ugandan girl- students. It was such a happy moment for both the interns for handing over the pads in person and also to the receiving students with plenty of smiles. 

 

After having lunch, the sewing machines we purchased were finally delivered to the school facility. We were happy to see one of the students excited and trying to use the machine for the first time. We had a concern that students may not be able to make pads if they did not have enough experience, but Daisy explained assuring us that they are already having plans of hiring tailors to train the students which somehow made us relieved.  

After installing the sewing machines, interns took a moment to talk and interact with MHM club members who were almost within the same generation.

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