Educate and Empower Girls and Women of Acholi

RIVER FUND HIV/AIDS FAMILY SUPPORT WOMEN

ASSOCIATION KITGUM

SUBJECT: ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 4^TH 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:

• The Girls Education Sponsorship.
• Support To Nodding Syndrome Disease Children

These projects are funded by GlobalGiving and The River Fund a charity organization based in the USA.

1. The Girls Sponsorship Projects

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:

• St Bakhita Secondary School 5 girls
• Y.Y Okot Memorial Secondary School- 5 girls
• Kitgum Comprehensive College-2 girls.

1. Activities carried out in the 4^th quarter.

• School Visits: Each of the 12 girls is mentored by volunteer member of the women association. Each of the mentors paid 2 visits to the schools at the beginning and towards close of 3rd term.

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.

• Payments of Schools Fees:

Fees were paid for 12 girls ( 5 at St. Bakhita , 5 Y.Y Okot Memorial Secondary School   and 2 at Comprehensive College.

• Distribution of Sanitary towels:

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.

• Emerging Issue:
• Some of the girls who completed their “O” level would like to be sponsored for courses that can help them earn a living.

Challenges:

• Some parent’s especially female headed households are finding if difficult to meet their obligations toward their daughters.
• Most of the girls are finding science subjects difficult

Recommendations:

• Help parents identify suitable sources of livelihoods.
• Build capacity of parents on financial literacy.
• Work with mentors and teachers to see how girls can be assisted to improve on weak points especially science subjects.

RIVER FUND HIV/AIDS FAMILY SUPPORT WOMEN

ASSOCIATION KITGUM

SUBJECT: ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 4^TH 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.

1. Activities carried:

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.

• Meeting with parents and care givers took place on 25/11/2018 .This was to check on government contribution to NS victims. After a long period of silence government has come out to extend supports to NS victims by contributions items such as Posho, beans, blankets and cattle to a few households.
• Food and nonfood items Distribution

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:

• Rice                   5kgs
• sugar                 3kgs
• Blue Soap          5 bars
• Sanitary Pads    2packets each for 16 girls

Emerging Issues:-

• What should be the role and the contribution of the project in view of government intervention
• Should project identify other needy areas.
• Government to rescreen victims to isolate those suffering from epilepsy rather than nodding syndrome
• Sustainability: How families should be assisted to should to stand their feet.

Challenges: Stigma and isolation of some of the children by parents and care givers exist in some homes.

• Some of the children are difficult and become aggressive if their parents try to restrain them. There is a tendency of wandering off by victims.

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.