Partnership Overview

For a number of years Touch Africa Now (TAN) has been developing ministry in the Nyakagando area. This is an area of great need, most of the local people are DR Congo and South Sudanese refugees. There are now a number of churches and a school in this area and through these TAN has been able to develop partnerships with the community. However there are still strongholds they want to tackle. The girls and women are still vulnerable to abuse and exploitation and they want to develop small income generating activites for the most vulnerable. 

Many women experience infections due to inadequate feminine supplies like pads. 70% of girls in rural schools miss classes for three days in a month because of menstruation periods which makes them stay at home avoiding their peers. According to TAN's survey in Nyakagando community, the girls lack education regarding menstruation and sex and so there is a high degree of stigma and embarrassment for girls during menstruation. In most cases women also remain at home during menstruation which affects their productive work. In the survey, Nyakagando community women complained of painful sores and a smelly, embarrassing and uncomfortable situation caused as a result of using rags. The life of a woman can therefore be transformed through improving their hygiene.

This project will benefit these rural girls and women aged from 12 to 45 years of age who cannot afford to buy disposable sanitary pads from supermarkets. TAN's partnership with Bright Hope World will transform the lives of girls and women in Nyakagando community through empowering them in different skills such as making reusable sanitary towels, poultry rearing and adult literacy.   

History of Partnership

Touch Africa Now was formed in 2002 when it was known as Gospel Power Ministries and was formed alongside a local church that was located in an urban poor community (the slum area of Namungoona) in the suburbs of Kampala city. It was predominantly established to help children in the areas of education and health, and help in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. As the vision expanded the organization became independent and changed its name to Touch Africa Now. Currently TAN serves the Muslim community in West Nile, Yumbe District and Sudanese refugees in Uganda.

BHW's New Partnership Director has known TAN's key people since 2013 and has visited them on four occasions. In 2016 he travelled to the Nyakagando area and visited the refugee camps with them. In early 2018 BHW commenced partnership with TAN.  

Beneficiaries

The main beneficiaries here are the vulnerable school going girls at Nyakagando Primary School and women who live in the community. 

What We Like About The Partnership

They already have good basic infrastructure in place. There are also good people in place on the ground who understand and have relationships with their community. 

There are strong churches and a good school already in the community so there is a strong spiritual and academic foundation established. They will build on this.  

Relationship To Other Partnerships

TAN is part of the Dove Fellowship group that BHW partners with in Kenya (KEN07).

Key People

Leadership Profile

Ephraim Tumusiime is married to Jova and has four adult children and ten grandchildren. He is a pastor and gives oversight to approximately 100 congregations under Dove Fellowship Uganda. He is a former high school teacher with a Degree in History and Geography plus a Diploma in Education from Makerere University, Kampala. He has also attained MA in Christian Ministries from Wheaton College (USA) and has wide experience as a bible teacher and evangelist. 

Other People Involved

Kyakunzire Jova; Associate Executive Director, BA Development Studies, Certificate in Agriculture, Diploma in Agriculture, 15 years in ministry 

Alezoyo Grace; HR and Projects Coordinator, PGD in Human Resource Management, BA in Ethics & Development Studies, Certificate in Packages of Basic ICT Education, 2 years with TAN

Kiyai Agnes; Social worker, BA in Development Studies, Diploma in Social Work, Certificate in Public Administration & Management, 8 years

Kabasomi Hamidah; Book Keeper, BA in Economics, 3 years

Akatukwasa Irene; Internal auditor, Bsc Accounting and CPA, 6 years

Vision And Annual Strategy

Vision 

The plan is to see the most vulnerable become self-sustaining. As this develops, the women and girls will be making and selling sanitary pads in their own communities and wider. The intention is that by the end of three years this project will be self-sustaining and an effective little business will be operating. 

In addition this project will also improve menstrual hygiene among girls and women in Nyakagando community through training programmes on reusable pads that are cost effective. 

Strategy

This is a three year project. In year one the communities will be trained to understand the issues and to get community leaders together. This is not an easy thing to achieve as there are many negative mindsets to overcome and replace. Years two and three will be to consolidate the impact and develop people so that attitudes are changed and people's lives are desperately improved. 

The program intends to benefit about 150 girls and women of Nyakagando primary school and women in the community. Funds will be used to equip a workshop for the girls and women to make reusable pads ensuring that all materials needed are provided (cotton fabrics, threads, sewing machine and scissors). One of classrooms at the school can be used as a workshop.

Mobilization and sensitization of local leaders and participants will be carried out about the skills empowerment programme.

Facilitators will be hired to train community volunteer leaders, who in turn will be project instructors of women's groups. An initial training of trainers (volunteer instructors) will be carried out for two days. 

The monitoring, supervision and reporting will be done by TAN and an appraisal of participants will be done at the end of every year.

Annual Budget

Year 1 (2018) : US$2,765
1) Mobilization of stakeholders and participants - $260
2) Facilitators and volunteer instructors training, training materials and stationery - $1,780
3) Food for trainees - $200
4) Monitoring and evaluation - $525  

Years 2 and 3 (2019 and 2020) : US$1,665
1) Mobilization of stakeholders and participants - $150
2) Facilitators, volunteer instructors training, training materials & stationery - $780
3) Break snack - $200
4) Monitoring and evaluation - $525

Total for three years = US$6,075 

Personal Testimony

Real "Life Change" Stories

It is expected that there will be improved academic performance at school, reduced discrimination of girls and women, reduced child marriages and teenage pregnancies, possible increased incomes due to increased level of education in the community, improved health practices and generally improved livelihood.

John Vlaming, BHW's Agricultural Director, is going to this area in early 2018 to train the community in Foundations for Farming to help them become self-sustaining and to empower the families of the school, churches and vulnerable children.