Global Bridge Network’s blog

2020年9月23日水曜日

【Staff Report】Situation about corona in Uganda

Bike taxi driver wearing mask

As the COVID-19 pandemic snowballs, the day-to-day reality has created a nightmarish situation in developed and developing economies. Although to date Uganda has got around 6,468 confirmed cases which also includes 2,731 recoveries with 63 deaths (as of Sep 22, 2020). The latest number is see this link

https://www.health.go.ug/covid/?fbclid=IwAR0F4Mungnedub9g9kCGCnJsa6I-9ZMdWLiIIB9gDdv8zxYzEqqg8PlnNw4

Which is not quite bad. The numbers of those acquiring the virus and associated death globally is alarming. The impact of the pandemic is already taking a toll on communities already vulnerable or marginalized – the poor, the rural, the illiterate, women and girls.

Right now Uganda’s situation about corona could be of a high risk. Not because cases are so many compared to the other countries, but If you get sick in Uganda and need medical care, resources may be limited. A lockdown was imposed in Uganda by the end of March. The president extended its period for another 21 days on top of the 14 days. This lock down period continued from April 15 to May 5, 2020. Masks became mandatory in public in May while restrictions started to ease in July.

Town: empty in Kampala (capital city)

Town: Light traffic

Town: Very quiet

As a precautionary measure, on 18 March, the President banned all public gatherings, incoming and outgoing travel to specified highly affected counties and up-to-date, the airport hasn’t yet been reopened. But rumor has it, it’ll be soon reopening. Schools have been closed and now students are trying out to access their education via e-learning. A situation so tough for many Ugandans amidst the challenges in accessing the internet.

Up until May 5, 2020, most businesses had to remain closed. Food markets remained open, but many vendors were unable to return home and had to sleep in markets due to the suspension of public transport. A small number of businesses such as factories, garages, hardware shops, metalworks and restaurants for takeaway were allowed to reopen on May 5, while others such as hair salons and business arcades remained closed until July 27. But as per now they are all starting to open up slowly by slowly.

Food distribution

Washing hands

People wearing masks

Due to the high level of informality in Uganda's economy, it is not yet possible to assess the full magnitude of the economic impact of the lockdown, but the consequences for incomes and poverty are likely severe. Research results from July 2020 show that many informal entrepreneurs in Kampala (Capital city in Uganda) had no income at all during the lockdown, and hence had to dip into their own savings, rely on government food support, or ask for help from family or friends to survive.

Due to corona, a lot is really happening and nobody knows when this corona saga will be ending but every day that comes by.

We just keep praying that everything gets better soon.

Sekitto Arafat

Executive Mobilizer

Sep 23, 2020

＊GBN's Facebook＊

2020年7月5日日曜日

☆The 4th anniversary of GBN’s foundation!☆

Hello, everyone!

I am glad to inform you that Global Bridge Network has reached its 4^th year.

Pls review the annual report → H31R1_Annual_Report_en.pdf

We have managed to successfully complete the third term of our two main projects, regarding international support in Uganda.

“Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) “ “Improvementof Educational Environment for Girls”

"Environmental Protection through Expanding Lemon Grass Growing and Education in Uganda"　“EnvironmentalProtectionand Education”

Unfortunately, the environmental protection through lemon grass growing has come to an end this year.

However, as our final achievement, ‘the mosquito repellant jelly’ made from lemon grass essential oil which will be used as prevention from malaria, has been successfully initiated. This production has been greatly popular among local communities and our local partner SORAK will promote this business.

Promoting the product of ‘the mosquito repellant jelly’

‘the mosquito repellant jelly’ made from leomon grass essential oil

Also, allow me to share the reports of Ms. Hadijah from SORAK, who participated in the 9-month training course (from March 2019) for rural leaders training program at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Japan.

Hadijah's Training Reports at ARI, Japan

Well, let me share our current situation over COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, we are facing a halt within our activities

We had planned to initiate a social business of lemon grass essential oil in collaboration with a Japanese company, as well as expand our project of girls’ MHM project through our original product, sanitary pads called ‘Happy Pad’

In this case, we take this situation as an opportunity to consider what we can do and prepare for the next step.

However, we are going to start a small project to support kids’ education in the slum community using a self-fund. This project is meant to be as a trial starting with a small scale but we expecting to develop a bigger project in future depending on the needs.

We really hope everyone stays safe and happy in this trying period as we continue to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you so much for your continuous love and support and looking forward to seeing you soon.

Global Bridge Network

Maiko Ohnishi

＊GBN's Facebook＊

2020年5月20日水曜日

Hadijah's Training Reports at ARI, Japan

Ms. Hadijah, project manager of GBN’s partner NGO, SORAK Development Agency (SORAK）, participated in the 9-month training course (from March 2019) for rural leaders training program at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Japan.

The Asian RuralInstitute (ARI) is a training center for rural leaders　located in the North area of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.　The training held at 6 hectares of campus, focuses on sustainable agriculture through integrated organic farming techniques, community building, and servant leadership. It is community based and hands-on learning is emphasized in all areas.

Ms. Hadijah has a degree in Adult and Community Education. She is directly involved in various projects related to youth empowerment, HIV/AIDS care prevention and treatment, Women empowerment including single mothers, promotion of sexual and reproductive health rights in Uganda.

Since April to December 2019, she participated in ARI’s training program and learned about skills and knowledge related to sustainable agriculture, livestock as well as servant leadership and community building.

She experienced and learned about various aspects of Japan based on communication and cultural exchange with Japanese farmers through homestay program and study tours visiting in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and other various locations in Japan etc.

The results of her 9 months learning experience are written in her reports following. Her reports are about what she learned in Japan as well as considering how to use the skills in Uganda and how to tackle gender issues/ challenges which exists in Uganda.

We highly recommend to read her reports as her reports are very impressive.

1. 1stQuarterly report of Hadijah at ARI

2. 2ndQuarterly report of Hadijah at ARI

3. 3rdQuarterly report of Hadijah at ARI

4. Researchpaper <RURAL COMMUNITY STUDY TOUR>

Hadijah's congratulatory party with Ugandan friends

Ms. Hadijah went back to Uganda with strong eagerness to utilize her experiences and skills on community development in Uganda as soon as possible.

GBN is planning to prepare a project for her using organic agricultural techniques as an environmental conservation agriculture project in Uganda.

We believe that it is important for her to actually use the skills and knowledge learned in Japan to make some outcomes in Uganda. Therefore, GBN will continue supporting her activities to realize her skills for projects on the ground.

We sincerely appreciate ARI and all the people who supported her fruitful study in Japan.

＊GBN's Facebook＊

2020年5月1日金曜日

【Environmental Protection Project】 Quarterly Report ～January to March 2020～

Please see the 4th Quarterly Report(Jan-Mar 2020) on

'Environmental Protection through Expanding Lemon Grass Growing and Education in Uganda'

This is the final report on this project!

You can find the details in the reports below,

　↓↓↓

JFGE 4th Quartely Report 2020-1-3

Thank you!!!

*This project is supported by Japan Fund for Global Environment of the Environmental Restoration (JFGE) and by Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)