Sister Lucy Mahurire, Head teacher, St Teresa Girls Vocational School Rushoroza
“……………On behalf of St Teresa Girls Vocational School Rushoroza, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to KTCT and GWEFODE for having enabled us to have clean water at St Teresa Girls. It has been a big problem but as of now, girls are very happy, water is ever here and flowing. We are remaining with one big problem. We have only 1 Pit Latrine which is not enough for more than 400 girls. If possible, as you have helped us with water, u would also help us by constructing for a Pit Latrine of at least 8 stances. Otherwise, we are very grateful, the board is very happy, the Parents are very happy, the teachers who have been escorting students are very happy and the students are so happy. Thank you very much. May God bless you”.
Says Sister Lucy Mahurire, Head teacher, St Teresa Girls Vocational School Rushoroza
Mr Aheisibwe Silver, Head Teacher, St Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary School Muko
“This water tank has now reduced the burden of walking long distances fetching dirty water contaminated by wild animals as far as Lake Bunyonyi. Access to safe and clean drinking water has increased and kitchen staff can now prepare meals for students and teachers in time ………………..Thanks to GWEFODE and ECA for the support……………..”
Says Mr Aheisibwe Silver, Head Teacher, St Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary School Muko
“At least our students now have access to increased clean and safe water………..We applaud GWEFODE for thinking about challenges faced by our girls in their education to bring the program of improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene in schools…………….
“Says Honorable Turyarangwa Budesiyana, Board Member, St Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary school Muko.
School children especially girls have also reported increased attendance and performance in class “…………At least, our hygiene and sanitation has improved as the burden of fetching water from long distances has reduced. No more delays and even absence from school. Now, we are ready to compete with boys………….” Said the Head Girl, St Charles Lwanga Secondary School Muko.
Kimpaye Rosemary, Member GWEFODE Rurembo Women Group
GWEFODE has empowered women to think of innovative ways to bring water closer to themselves and their households through initiating rain water harvesting tank schemes.
“This training by GWEFODE has equipped me with skills to construct water tank myself……..The money that I would otherwise have used to pay to a skilled mason will be used to pay school fees for my children…I will use these skills to construct tanks for other people at a low cost ……” Says Kimpaye Rosemary, one of the beneficiaries of the training in Water Tank Construction, Operation and maintenance
Tushabomwe Resta, Member GWEFODE Kashongati Women Group
Women have reported reduced vulnerability to Gender Based Violence resulting from increased access to water and sanitation in their households and communities.
“……We are very happy to receive this water tank which has now reduced the time spent fetching water from long distances. It has also saved us fetching dirty water in swamps which is contaminated by human and animal feces, and the risks associated with this……. I am now using this time to perform other productive and economic activities to earn money to educate my children. Now, I can wash clothes and prepare meals for my husband and Children very fast. ……….No more quarrels from my husband because of delayed meals……The tank has reduced queues on the well which we have been using as women have quick access to the water. However, we still need more water tanks as this tank is overwhelmed by the number of people and some women still walk long distances to access water from the tank. Thanks to GWEFODE and Partners for helping us” Says Tushabomwe Resta, Member GWEFODE Kashongati Women Group, one of the beneficiaries of the project
Chance Edina
Chance Edina, a breast feeding mother who was abandoned by the husband and is raising children alone says that kitchen gardening is a good venture as it requires utilization of little piece of land behind the house. She now grows cabbages, tomatoes, carrots, and onions and depends on the traditional vegetables as sauce to accompany potatoes, bananas and millet. “Since I started practicing kitchen gardening, I have noted improvement on the health situation of my malnourished child” says Chance Edina,
Tumuranye Florence, Widow, 54 Years, 6 Children
GWEFODE’s Kitchen Gardening has also impacted on the health and life of Tumusime Florence, a widow and resident of Kashongati village in Hamurwa Sub County, Rubanda district. “In the past she was spending more than 5,000 shillings everyday to buy food and sauce for her family. Since i started kitchen gardening on m small land, I am spending less because I am sure of sauce. I am now saving money to buy scholastic materials and pay school fees for my children” says TumuranyeFlorence
Ms Nzabonimpa Shariot, Refugee 30 Years
Her problems are worsened not only by the fact that she is a refugee but also by the fact that she is living with disabilities. She has 1 child who was born out of rape used as a weapon of war in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and takes care of 3 children of her mother who was killed during the war. She also faces challenges in raising these children given that she is a refugee living with disabilities and is socially discriminated in the community in which she lives. Her disability is a result of long time sickness without medical care. Because of these problems, Ms Nzabonimpa Shariot went through a therapy session by GWEFODE Counselor before enrolling into the Vocational tailoring training course. She appreciates GWEFODE’s efforts in empowering refugee’s women victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
After a therapy session, Ms Nzabonimpa had this to say “I thought of poisoning myself and my child whose father is not known but I am now relieved. Now I can understand that I and my children have a bright future. I did not have anybody to tell my distressing problems.I am now able to deal with my experiences, Thanks to GWEFODE for the Counseling session”.
Before the project, Ms Nzabonimpa suffered discrimination and abuse because of her disability for example when GWEFODE introduced the project, one of the local women commented,
“You Disabled Refugee, you don’t have the capacity to participate in the project as you don’t have the legs to use the sewing machine, go back to Congo and let the able bodied Ugandans benefit from tailoring training………….”. However, these and other similar comments could not impact on Shariot’s courage and determination to participate in the tailoring training course because of the counseling she had received.
Considering that vocational tailoring training course is a decisive prerequisite for her full recovery, GWEFODE approached local artisans and purchased a tool locally made by black smiths which was added on the sewing machine to enable Ms Shariot to run the sewing machine using hands and now she is happy to be one of the trainees. She appreciates GWEFODE’s work for involving her in the entire project irrespective of her physical disability and bringing the tailoring training closer to socially marginalized groups especially women, refugees and People with Disabilities.
“I have acquired tailoring skills…Now I am economically independent and able to make a difference in improving the economic status of my family, educate my children and provide basic necessities”.
Sabato Angelique, Refugee 19 Years
Sabato Angelique arrived in Uganda with her family from Democratic Republic of Congo. Her family consists of her mother and three other siblings. Angelique was approved for the vocational training course. She has successfully finished training to become a tailor.
After improving her skills and knowledge, Angelique was given a sewing Machine together with other 14 trainees and has started her own business in tailoring. The vocational training made it possiblefor her to enhance her chances of employment, consequently contributing to the family income.
“The training that I got from GWEFODE provided me economic independence and helped me to gain self-confidence and prosperity for my family………………..”.
Angelique now has her own Sewing Machine, and trains all her siblings. Her sister will also improve her knowledge and skills to become a qualified tailor. As a result of GWEFODE support, her family has become economically self-sufficient.
Nyiramurwera Sinate, 47 years
“I am really happy with this laudable initiative that has allowed me to follow courses in tailoring, Adult Literacy as well as follow topics on Gender Based Violence prevention, mediation of conflicts, HIV/AIDS and Women Rights. I encourage all those who work to help the women from the discrimination and suffering. At least, I am now aware of women’s rights and obligations. Thanks to GWEFODE and its staff for being always available to listen to us”
Ubuhoro Christine, 32 years
“This project is an eye opener and has come to change my life and that of my children, I’m happy that I received treatment and care for a disease which had disturbed my life for a long time. I am happy that my child has received immunisation against killer diseases; I hope she will live a health life. Secondly, I was illiterate and did not know many important things. Now I can read and write. This definitely will help in my future tailoring business and after returning to my country................................”.