Empower AIDS Widows - Save a Community

WOMEN’S REPORT OF 30^TH 01. 2021

This report carries four groups of women.

Tororo       102

Bugiri         65

Rwen        135

Amoni        52

Total number of women 354

our activities:

• Care for the child headed families (ovc)
• HIV/AIDS ( long term survival skills)
• Care for the elderly women
• Drama groups for sensitization
• Health
• Agriculture
• Local poultry
• Local Goats rearing
• Tree planting
• Home visits
• Day care
• Small saloons
• Sex workers
• Developments
• Challenges
• Suggestions

CARE FOR CHILD HEADED FAMILIES

There is a big problem with these children due to COVID 19. Some of them have to stay at home besides those in P.6, P.7; S.5, S.6 and finalists at higher levels. Those who are still at home are big problem.

Food should be taken to school and yet they need to share with those at home, we haven’t yet got food for them.

HIV/AIDS./ LONG TERM SURVIVAL SKILLS

Each group leader is well informed in long term survival skills and always guide and counsel this children born with the virus, they are always lonely since most of them have no parents.

Members of each group more especially leaders take great care over these cases and have have to see to it that their clinic Days are observed, take their drugs in time, help these children overcome stigma and stress but encourage self-awareness. We care for widows together too with great number of children for example Harriet with her four Children; one is with HIV /AIDS. We have saved funds received from our dear donors through the River Fund under the help of Mama Jaya. We have bought her a small plot of land where she will be living in the nearest future. She was staying at lakeside with those children and we picked her, rent a house for her and put the children in school, the youngest is 6 years.

CARE FOR THE ELDERLY WOMEN.

We have lost our dear Blandina; we are very sorry; Blandina has been a great old woman.  She has been a group leader of Bugiri group. We shall miss her forever. May Her Soul Rest in Eternal Peace. We still continue to care for the those still alive.

DRAMA GROUP FOR COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION

This group is capable  of sensitizing the communities on HIV/AIDS through songs, miming and drama,  as people hear , see, watch they admire them and also take interest in self-awareness, they also come to know that having HIV/AIDS, is not the end of life.  Some body remains useful in the community, drama group is our tool in sensitization in our communities.

We make sure our women keep healthy through long term survival skills practiced using balanced diet and wear masks to overcome and avoid COVID19, take early treatment wherever sick.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is a basic activity in our communities. Most members grow crops like cassava, sweet potatoes , maize, ground nuts, green vegetables, sim sim, tomatoes, onions and garlic. The second season’s yield have been very poor, the rains started late after the crops had got spoilt by drying up and detoleriated in growth, and there is need to buy seeds, like maize, beans, groundnuts if funds are realized for them to resume their proper Agriculture in their homes.

LOCAL POULTRY

Each member owns her own small scale poultry at home in every group.

LOCAL GOAT REARING.

Each ,member at least has two or three goats in her home, in all groups.

TREE PLANTING.

Tororo group has the greatest number of trees but all group members  for the four groups practice tree planting for firewood, charcoal and construction purposes.

HOME VISITS.

We always visit people to be visited but stealthily because COVID 19 does not allow theses free visits, we have to keep at home.

SMALL SALOONS.

They were closed for a long time and thus activities for our members of our groups are not doing it well. They have no capital and few people go to the saloons. The laws of COVID 19  man are scaring. There is no freedom in doing activities.

DAY CARE.

Food is now given to take at home and the funds received through the River Fund from donors are mostly spent on food and we have run short of food to feed and run the centers.

SEX WORKERS.

We monitor and take care of them, counsel them and help them to take care of fatherless children so they can take them to school.

We have been able to save some funds, we have bought a plot for Harriet who is HIV/AIDS positive, widow with her for children and one is HIV/AIDS positive. This woman was found living around Lake Victoria where her late husband left her, she was homeless and desperate, we picked her and we have been renting for her and feeding her under day care with her children. It has been a tough exercise, she has a place where she will be staying and there will be no more renting for her in the nearest future.

CHALLENGES

• Our Blandina who has been a group leader of Bugiri has died. We are going to continue missing her. May Her Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
• We have lost the seeds for planting during this second season due to poor weather yet planting will begin in late February to April.

SUGGESTIONS

• There is need to elect the leader for Bugiri on the 6^th Feb 2021 as we go for prayers in the Late Blandina’s home.
• Seeds like maize, beans ground nuts and Sukuma should be bought for the women to plant in case funds are realized.
• There is need to buy food for the children and scholastic materials for those at school right now i.e P.6, .7, S.4, S.5 and finalists at higher levels.

 GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS

Compiled by Teopy (Chairperson Rwen) and Secretary For The Four Groups