We have received very sad news this week that one of our most active team leaders in Kitgum has passed away.
Its on a sad note that i write to you about the passing on of Mystica Canrac Grace who was a member of the River Fund women's group in Kitgum.
She had a young family, was a school teacher as well as a River Fund Team Leader. The members at this time are in pain and shock of her passing on.
The project is implemented by River Fund HIV/AIDS Family Support Women Association a registered Community Based Organization located in Kitgum district, Northern Uganda. The association founded in 2007 by a group of motivated and committed women, aims at improving the quality of life of persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and life threatening diseases, sponsorship and mentorship of vulnerable girls in schools.
Feed Educate Empower Women of Acholi has 3 target beneficiaries/components:
ANNUAL WORK PLAN 2019/2020: FEED EDUCATE EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS OF ACHOLI PROJECT
TIMELINE 2018/2019
TARGET GROUP/BENEFICIARIES
RESPONSIBLE PERSON
34 Vulnerable girls and 55 CNS/households in the target area
Coordinator
20 Vulnerable girls
Treasurer and Chairperson Programs Committee
12 vulnerable girls
Treasurer and Chairperson Programs Committee
12 vulnerable girls(school)
Chairperson Programs Committee
7 girls O’ level leavers
Coordinator
34 CNS/households
Treasurer/Coordinator
55 CNS/households
Coordinator/Group Team leader
20 vulnerable girls/households and 55 CNS/householdsSecretary and coordinator
Board /members and donor
ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 1ST QUARTER 2019
INTRODUCTION
This is the first quarter report of 2019 for the project titled: Feed, Educate and Empower Women of Acholi Region sponsored by GlobalGiving.
The project is implemented by River Fund HIV/AIDS Family Support Women Association a registered Community Based Organization located in Kitgum district, Northern Uganda. The association founded in 2007 by a group of motivated and committed women, aims at improving the quality of life of persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and life threatening diseases, sponsorship and mentorship of vulnerable girls in schools.
Feed Educate Empower Women of Acholi has 3 target beneficiaries/components:
The River Fund USA through its executive Director provide Leadership to the project.
Support to families of children with nodding syndrome
The nodding syndrome is a condition which first came to the notice of the authorities in 2009 as people of northern Uganda returned homes after years of living in squalid internally displaced people’s camps (IDPs) due to more than 20 years of the LRA war. The condition derives its name from its characteristic symptoms of head nodding often triggered by presence of food or exposure to cold. NS affects mainly children and is condition which leads to stunted growth, seizures, body weakness and emaciations.
Apart from the health consequences, families of victims suffer trauma with some turning to alcohol as coping mechanism. A lot of productive time is spent on minding the children from wandering, off getting drowned in rivers/ponds or falling in fires.
Women bear the heaviest burden of the disease as they struggle to provide food, and care for the children and the entire households.
The Feed Educate and Empower Women and Girls of Acholi project provide much needed food and non food items and psychosocial support to victims their families in Okidi Parish, Labongo Amida sub county, Kitgum district. A total of 34 households are benefiting from the project with 51 children. On an average there are 7 persons per household. This translates to 238 people receiving support under the project. It should be noted that this is only a small portion of victims since it is estimated by authorities that there are about 535 victims in the area of Okidi and neighboring parish of Tumangur.
Activities carried out this quarter;
A total of 34 households received the following items each
Posho 25kgs
Beans 6kg
Cooking oil 3litres
Sugar 5kg
Salt 5packets
Silverfish 2 basins
Washing soap 5bars
3 packets of sanitary pads were provided each to 16 girls
One session of group counseling was conducted for 43 parents and caregivers, discussing challenges and how to overcome them and generally showing them that out there, are people who care.
Challenges
Observations and recommendations
Conclusion
The general physical appearance of the children have improved and we thank the donors of GlobalGiving and The River Fund USA for their continued support
Girls’ Education - Activities carried out
A mentorship program where each girl under sponsorship has a mentor has been initiated. The mentors are drawn from members of the association. Mentors act as role model, guide and counsel. The girls on their studies and personal issues, two visits to the school took place this quarter
The performances of the girls are good except at Kitgum Comprehensive College who is doing poorly
Currently there are 12 girls under sponsorship in the following schools;
St. Bakhita Secondary School-5 girls all in S.3
Y.Y.Okot Girls’ Memorial; School-5 girls all in S.4
Kitgum Comprehensive College-2 girls in S.4
School fees have been paid for all the 12 girls
Sanitary pads were distributed to all the 12 girls each receiving 3 packets. This supports is to enable girls keep hygiene and reduced on absence from classes.
Challenges identified:
1) Failure by some parents to meet their contributions
2) Increase amount of school fees.
3) Inadequate skills in computer and documentation.
Future Plans and Recommendation
Conclusion
Performances of the girls are encouraging and we hope they keep it up. For the one ot to lagging behind special efforts will be made to help them pull up. We thank GlobalGiving and The River Fund for their support.
RIVER FUND HIV/AIDS FAMILY SUPPORT WOMEN
ASSOCIATION KITGUM
SUBJECT: ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 4TH QUARTER OCTOBER- DECEMBER 2018
PROJECT NAME: GIRL EDUCATION SPONSORSHIP
SUBMITTED TO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE RIVER FUND USA
SUBMITTED: MARGARET ACAYO
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Introduction
River Fund HIV/AIDS Family Support Women’s Association is an organization working to provide psychosocial and other support and care to women and girls and their families infected and affected by HIVAIDS, victims of nodding syndrome disease and promote the education of girls.
The association was established in 2007 by a group of thirty women and is registered as a community based organization ( CBO) with Kitgum District Local Government. The association is administered through an executive committee of 9 women assisted by a program coordinator.
Current Project implemented by the women are:
These projects are funded by GlobalGiving and The River Fund a charity organization based in the USA.
Beneficiaries of these project are needy but bright girls from poor households, these infected and effected by HIV/AIDs, females heated households and orphans .
There are 12 secondary schools girls under sponsorship located in 3 schools in Kitgum district as follows:
the purpose of these visits are to check that the students had reported back , check their performance for the last term and discuss with them the challenges they may be facing and offer counseling on personal problems.
Opportunities are also taken to meet class teachers of these girls to get their feed backs.
Fees were paid for 12 girls ( 5 at St. Bakhita , 5 Y.Y Okot Memorial Secondary School and 2 at Comprehensive College.
Sanitary Pads were distributed to all the 12 girls each receiving 3 packets. This supports is to enable girls keep hygiene and reduced on absence from classes.
Challenges:
Recommendations:
RIVER FUND HIV/AIDS FAMILY SUPPORT WOMEN
ASSOCIATION KITGUM
SUBJECT: ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 4TH QUARTER OCTOBER- DECEMBER 2018
PROJECT NAME: SUPPORT TO OKIDI NODDING SYNDROME CHILDREN
SUBMITTED TO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE RIVER FUND USA
SUBMITTED: MARGARET ACAYO
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Introduction:
River Fund HIV/AIDS Family Support Women Association with financial aid from GlobalGiving and The River Fund USA provide food and nonfood items to children and households suffering from the nodding disease syndrome. They also carryout home visits and counselling for parent and care givers.
The children and their families come from the 3 villages of Awere, Kampala Anyuka and Okidi Central. In total there were 35 households being supported but now there are 34. One of the severely disabled girl has been transferred to children’s a home by her parents.
Support Visits:
In order to encourage the families to take heart, keep hope alive and take good care of the children, members on rotational basis visited Okidi project site to offer counselling and interact with the children and parents. Three such visits were carried out by members.
Christmas gifts to supplement what government had given, the project made on 24/12/2018 provided the following items and quantities distributed to each of the 35 households were as follows:
Emerging Issues:-
Challenges: Stigma and isolation of some of the children by parents and care givers exist in some homes.
Conclusion: and Recommendations:
Throughout the year there has been no reported death. This can be attributed to regular supplies of food. The parents/ caregivers should also be commended for adhere to medical advice.
As we move into the new year the executive committee should hold a project review meeting to look at challenges and how best to overcome them.
The Executive Directorthe Rivers Fund, USA should also pay a visit to Kitgum and share with members on best practices.
More regular home visit and counselling for severely affected households e.g. Families with 2-3 child victims and children disabled by the disease.
INTRODUCTION
The girl child education project in Kitgum District is funded by The River fund. The project is implemented by River fund HIV IDS support women association, a CBO based in Kitgum district Northern Uganda. The women association envisions and just and caring society where people yearn to help one another. The association has been working hand in hand with the RIVER Fund USA, the body that has the values of compassion sharing and love
Payment of school fees:
Previously the project was sponsoring 11girls one additional an orphan was enrolled after an appeal by her school bring to 12.
All school dues for these girls have been completed. Currently the girls are located as follows
Distribution of sanitary pads:
Sanitary pads are essential items needed to aid girls not to miss class during menstruation. Each of the 12girls was thus provided with 4packets each.
Mentoring Girls:
The 10girls at St. Bakhita and YY Okot Memorial College each has mentors who are members of the women association at Kitgum comprehensive college, the 2girls share one mentor
Only one mentorship visit was made to each of the school instead of the usual three.
This was due to congested calendars. Schools were busy with the sport, drama and essay writing competitions.
Mentors counsel and guide girls both on personal and academic matters as well as encouraging them to work hard and aim higher.
Activities carried out.
Life skills training for the girls due to shortage of funds, was not conducted
Challenges
Recommendation
Should funding be available in future, girls could be helped to undertake post-secondary education which leads to acquisition of employable skills.
Conclusion
On my own behalf and that of the executive committee and the women association I wish to call for blessings on all the hands that give Global Giving and The River Fund.
RIVER FUND HIV/AIDS FAMILY SUPPORT WOMEN ASSOCIATION.KITGUM
SUBJECT: ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 2ND QUARTER APRIL- JUNE 2018.
SUBMITTED TO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE RIVER FUND USA
SUBMITTED BY: MARGARET ACAYO, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Date: 14/7/2018
Project Name: Feed Educate and Empower Women and Girls of Northern Uganda
River Fund HIV/AIDS Family Support Women’s Association is an organization working to provide psychosocial and other support and care to women and girls and their families infected and affected by HIVAIDS and other needy people.
Under the Feed Educate and Empower Acholi Women and Girls Project. Funded by Global Giving and The River fund, a USA based Charity organization, the association implement two projects, namely the Girls child Education project and support to Nodding Syndrome children.
In order to effectively carry out its roles the association has instituted 2 task forces or teams one responsible for mentoring school girls. There are11 members on the first team. Another second teams is responsible for outreach activities in Okidi. There are 9 members who work on rotational basis
Girls with there mentors
Parents meeting at Christ The King
The women Association with financial aid from The RiverFund and Global Giving also provide food and nonfood items to children and households suffering from the nodding disease syndrome. The children and their families are spread over 3 villages,
The distribution were carry out twice this quarter early April and Mid-June as follows
.Food Distribution at Okidi
ItemQuantity/Month
April June
Posho25kgs25kgs
Sliver Fish 1basin-
Beans5kgs 8kgs
Sugar5kgs-
Salt4packets-
Cooking Oil 3litres 1 liters
Soap 5 bars2bars
Sanitary Pad 4packets each 23Gils-
Construction of learning Centre: - construction of the wall is done, remaining thatching of the roof.
4. Emerging Issues:
Conclusion
Much appreciation to Executive Director of The River Fund USA and Global Giving for their state fast support to the women and girls of Kitgum and Northern Uganda. Appreciation also extended to the Executive and membersof River Fund Association Kitgum for their commitment which has made easy the work of program co-coordinator.
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