【Educational Environment】Impact Assessment Report

This is the second phase of the project on ‘Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges to Stop Adolescent Girls’ School Dropouts in Uganda’ supported by funds from the Lush Charity Bank of Lush Japan, Co., Ltd.

At this time, we will report about Impact Assessment report of this project made in December, 2018.

This study targeted and assessed all categories of beneficiaries and reached 48 pupils (12 boys and 36 girls. Pupils interviewed from each of the 3 respective schools included; Lwawuna P/S 21 pupils, Kibalinga P/S 15 pupils and PCLC 12 pupils.

Lwawuna MHM club representative facilitating the training

This exercise further assessed 8 community members who had earlier participated in the parish based awareness raising on SORAK made reusable sanitary pads, out of 8 who were assessed 6 were female and 2 were male. The assessment further interviewed 2 school managers (1 from Lwawuna and another one from PCLC) and 3 senior woman and 3 senior male teachers.

The process of data collection among learners commenced on 20th November 2018 and ended on 27th November in Lwawuna Primary School, Nabingoola Sub County, St. Joseph Kibalinga Primary School and Precious Child Learning Centre (PCLC), Kibalinga Sub County respectively.

PCLC learners making reusable sanitary pad

Every stakeholder has changed their attitude towards menstruation.
We will show you the parts of report as follows.

・Boys have become supportive. As a result, there is reduced stigma and many boys have even joined clubs.

・Teachers have improved their attitude toward girl’s menstruation. They had never provided information on menstruation in the past, but after SORAK project, they openly teach about menstruation issues.

・Parents are no longer shy to talk about menstruation with their own daughters because they feel they have some information about menstruation acquired from SORAK. Some parents are asking for more trainings.

Learners displaying reusable sanitary pads they made.

Based on the MHM Project performance and availability of funds, SORAK could improve menstrual hygiene management among in-school adolescent girls plus achieving better grades. 

SORAK had also created incredible impact in the community, among the targeted schools of implementation, boys, girls, teachers and parents.

Click on the following link to view the report on

'Impact Assessment Report'

*This project is supported by Lush Japan Co., Ltd.

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【Educational Environment】Special Project: Ashinaga Uganda collaboration with SORAK

At this time, we will report about the special project which was implemented with Ashinaga Uganda in Nov 2018.

Ashinaga arranging the materials used in making reusable pads 

Ashinaga Uganda is an International organization based in Japan with offices in Uganda provides higher (university) education to orphans who have excelled academically but lack funds to complete their university level of education.

SORAK in partnership with Ashinaga conducted school based awareness raising among 32 schools (28 primary schools and 4 secondary schools) on the value of education and MHM with emphasis in making reusable sanitary pads. This collaboration from Ashinaga brought young leaders from 33 different African countries to provide motivational speeches for the rural vulnerable pupils of Mubende district under the Ashinaga’s program of “Community betterment”.

Practical session of reusable sanitary pad making 

Ashinaga requesting pupils to study hard to have a better future

Ashinaga team taking a group photo with pupils

PLEASE!! Click on the following link to view the report on

Ashinaga& SORAK activity report

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【Educational Environment】Interactive radio talk shows& air spot messages

This is the second phase of the project on ‘Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges to Stop Adolescent Girls’ School Dropouts in Uganda’ supported by funds from the Lush Charity Bank of Lush Japan, Co., Ltd.

At this time, we will report about Activity3-3&3-4’Conduct interactive radio talk shows& air spot messages to promote MHM via the use of reusable sanitary pads made by SORAK’ conducted in Oct -Dec 2018.

The objective of the participatory and interactive radio talk show& spot messages is to raise awareness on reusable sanitary pads ‘Happy Pad’ made by SORAK and sensitize the community on proper MHM management and also parents’ roles and responsibilities in promoting MHM among their in-school adolescent girls.

 The radio program moderator 

and SORAK programmes manager and Director

The many telephone calls received from the listener

Spot messages production at Heart FM room

Contents of Radio talk show

●      Brief introduction about the project

●      Challenges adolescent girls in-school face during their menstruation

●      What SORAK with its partners had done so far to address the issue.

●      SORAK made reusable sanitary pads and where to find them

Radio Spot message (CM) was for advertising SORAK’s produced reusable sanitary pad ‘Happy Pad’ with ‘Happy Pad’ song made by SORAK

Outcome

· The radio talk shows reached the project targeted population plus reaching far wider geographical areas.

· The 5 Spot messages per day playing on Heart FM informed the communities of the SORAK made reusable sanitary pads and SORAK received many orders for ‘Happy Pad’

·    Listeners were informed of their roles and responsibilities in promoting MHM among their adolescent in-school girls.

·  Received questions from callers and a feedback was given to the listeners included; opening branches in different district, becoming sales agents (Sales agents are representatives who sale commodities or products on behalf of a company or an organization) of SORAK made sanitary pads, and where to find them.

Click on the following link to view the report on

‘Activity3-3&3-4 Conduct interactive radiotalk shows& air spot messages ‘

*This project is supported by Lush Japan Co., Ltd.

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【Educational Environment】Facilitating Sex Education session by MHM peer club

This is the second phase of the project on ‘Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges to Stop Adolescent Girls’ School Dropouts in Uganda’ supported by funds from the Lush Charity Bank of Lush Japan, Co., Ltd.

A club member explaining on sex education to fellow pupils

At this time, we will report about Activity 2-2-3 ‘Facilitating Sex Education session by MHM peer club’ conducted in November 2018.

Three MHM clubs (8girls&4boys) were formed from 3 target schools. The purpose of these clubs was to spearhead Menstruation Hygiene Management (MHM), gender awareness and sex education by reaching out to fellow students through the child-child approach. Last time, The MHM clubs conducted MHM session (one session in each of the three schools) toward their school pupils. This time, they conducted Sex Education session, and the club members informed their peers on physical changes between boys and girls, as well as helped to built their capacities, especially for girls, to defend themselves from issues of sexual exploitation and harassment

Sex education session going on by the club

Sex education training by the club

Pupils responding questions raised above

Pupils participating the session  conducted by the club

TOPICs

●      Understanding reproductive health and sexuality issues

●      Understanding puberty

●      Early sexual intercourse and dangers associated with it

●      Examples of cunning words that boys and sugar daddies use

●      Forms of sexual violence

●      Where to report sex abuse and harassment

●      Value of education

OUTCOMEs

Ø  Pupils understood the body changes such as physical growth that occur in both boys and girls.

Ø  Pupils knew some of danger for a person being exposed in early sexual intercourse including death, unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, and STIs (sexually transmitted infections), dropping out of school etc.

Ø  Pupils were informed on some of major forms of sexual harassments that mostly occur include; molestation, rape, defilement, early and forced marriages etc.

Ø  Pupils are able to report some sexual violence to relevant responsible authorities. They can now mention places where they repot sexual abuse and to whom they report including police, leaders including political, religious, technical and other opinion leaders, schools, elders, relatives among others.

Ø  Pupils understood the value of education and the purpose of staying in school. 

Lastly, through this activity, we believe the long-term impact will be the decrease in school dropout. 

Click on the following link to view the report on

‘Activity 2-2-3 Facilitating Sex Educationsession by MHM peer club ‘

*This project is supported by Lush Japan Co., Ltd.

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【Educational Environment】Facilitating Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) session by MHM peer club

This is the second phase of the project on ‘Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges to Stop Adolescent Girls’ School Dropouts in Uganda’ supported by funds from the Lush Charity Bank of Lush Japan, Co., Ltd.

Students having a group photo after the session

At this time, we will report about Activity 2-2-2 ‘Facilitating Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) session by MHM peer club’ conducted in Nov 2018.

Three MHM clubs (8girls&4boys) were formed from 3 target schools. The purpose of these clubs was to spearhead MHM, gender awareness and sex education by reaching out to fellow students through the child-child approach. Last time, The MHM clubs conducted gender awareness raising sessions (one session in each of the three schools) toward their school pupils. This time, they conducted MHM session, and club members trained their peers on issues related to MHM including making of reusable sanitary pads

MHM club facilitating MHM training

Demonstrating how to use a reusable sanitary pad

The club members demonstrating how the material is used

MHM club taught their peers about proper personal hygiene management

Topics

●      General overview of menstruation.

●      Menstrual cycle.

●      Signs and symptoms/ characteristics of menstruation.

●      Menstrual Hygiene Management.

●      Making of reusable sanitary pad.

Outcome

●      Pupils understood what menstruation is and who are the people starting their menstruation periods.

●      624 pupils (215 boys and 409 girls) were trained in MHM and the boys will fight against the habit of bullying girls whenever their clothes are stained with blood.

●      School managers pledged to continue supporting the clubs and appreciated their roles.

●      All the 3 project schools accepted to allocate time in every week for the MHM club activities especially in reusable sanitary pad making.

Click on the following link to view the report on

‘Activity 2-2-2 Facilitating MenstruationHygiene Management (MHM) session by MHM peer club‘

*This project is supported by Lush Japan Co., Ltd.

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【Educational Environment】Child-child gender awareness by Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Peer clubs

This is the second phase of the project on ‘Improvement of school environment to combat Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) challenges to Stop Adolescent Girls’ School Dropouts in Uganda’ supported by funds from the Lush Charity Bank of Lush Japan, Co., Ltd..

Students attending gender awareness training

At this time, we will report about Activity 2-2-1 ‘Child-child gender awareness by MHM Peer clubs’ conducted in May 2018.

Three MHM clubs (8girls&4boys) were formed from 3 target schools. The purpose of these clubs was to spearhead MHM, gender awareness and sex education by reaching out to fellow students through the child-child approach. 

Last time, they were trained in MHM, gender awareness and sex education, including sexual and reproductive health rights awareness. 

This time, the clubs conducted gender awareness raising sessions (one session in each of the three schools) toward their school pupils.

Preparing for the gender training by MHM club

Facilitating the training by MHM club

Noting down what learners have learnt from the training

Topics

●      Differentiating gender and sex

●      Examples of gender-based characteristics

●      Different gender roles and responsibilities

●      Roles of students/pupils as change agents

●       Roles of teachers/educators as change agents

* Change agents’ means a model or to be used as leaders of change to spread knowledge and information to other community members

  

Outcome

●      Pupils were able to differentiate gender and sex

●      MHM club facilitators clearly indicated that sex and gender

●      At the end of the training, pupils were able to freely mention most of the gender roles and responsibilities segregated according to gender.

●      The MHM club members informed pupils about their roles and responsibilities as change agents. Female pupils (girls) were tasked to act as promoters and advocates against Sexual Gender Based Violence.

●      Teachers were also reminded of their roles and responsibilities in promoting an environment that is gender sensitive.

Click on the following link to view the report on

‘Activity2-2-1 Facilitating gender awareness session by MHM peer club ‘

*This project is supported by Lush Japan Co., Ltd.

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【Environmental Protection】School based environmental education and awareness campaigns

Hello, this is Global Bridge Network (GBN)!

Regarding ‘Environmental Protection through Expanding Lemon grass growing and Education in Uganda’, this is the second report of 2nd year of this project.

Environmental Education at school

This time, ‘Activity 1.6: School based environmental education and awareness campaigns’ were carried out on June 2018.

A total of 8,020 children were participated in 16 schools of at least 500 child enrolment.

The purpose of this campaigns

1.     To instill the value of protecting and taking good care of the environment in children’s minds through various environmental conservation measures.

2.     To increase schools’ awareness on environmental protection methods and the reasons why they are needed for example, tree planting, lemon grass growing, and environmental conservation laws among others.

Environmental Education at school

Environmental Education at school

The outcomes of this training were as following.

• Children noted how it would be punishable to break school rules related to environment protection.
• School children promised to inform their parents about lessons learnt in order for them to know the importance of conserving the environment.
• Teachers thanked for the support to providing tree seedlings to schools which will help foster environment conservation with in schools and in the community.

These campaigns created mass awareness among school children and teachers, and strength school rules and regulations as well as raise opportunities to take actions for environmental protection.

You can find the details in the reports below,

Activity 1.6 School based environmental education and awareness campaigns

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