Uganda

Project Goal:

Assist the refugee settlement with treating the most prevalent conditions in the refugee population with special attention to Malaria and Malnutrition at the Panyadoli Health Center.

Support the education of refugee school children.

Develop the economic and livelihood component of our humanitarian work through vocational training. 

Photo below: Students learn foot massage technique as part of hairdressing and beautician training at Vocational Institute

Photo above: Tailoring students at work and the graduate ceremony at end of course.

Project Objectives:

• Provide funding for continuous running of the vocational school.
• Provide funding for the annual registration of candidates in senior four and six sponsored by RMF.
• Provide money to facilitate candidates taking their national exams in Masindi.  This facilitation includes transport to and from, accommodation, feeding, and the allowance for the teachers who take care of the students in Masindi.
• Provide school fees and scholastic materials for all Kenyan and Sudanese refugee school children, at the beginning of the term.
• Continuous maintenance of RMF office compound at the camp and equipping it for use by RMF staff in Kiryandongo refugee camp.
• Provide other support as needed/budgeted to the Kiryandango schools, and community as a whole.
• Maintenance and repair of the water taps at the health centre, and repair of some boreholes at the camp

Maintain adequate medicine and medical supplies to the Panyadoli Health Center. Research the upgrade of Panyadoli Health Centre III to Hospital level.

Summary of RMF/WCF-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under each project objective (note any changes from original plans):

School Support

RMF provided funding for the facilitation of candidates who sat for the Uganda National Examination Board in senior four and six.  This facilitation included transport to and from, accommodation, feeding, and the allowance for the teachers who took care of the students at Masindi. 

• 636 children, pupils, and students in total are supported by RMF/WCF funding in Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools:
• At the Arnold Primary School, we support 174 Kenyan students;
• 184 Kenyan children at Can Rom Primary School;
• 93 children at Beth Cole Nursery School, and
• 61 children at Daystar Nursery;
• 124 children are at the Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School.

In summary:

Beth Cole and DaystarNursery Schools                  154

Can Rom and Arnold Primary Schools                    358

Panyandoli Self Help Secondary School                 124

Total Children Supported                                      636

Medicine delivery

RMF/WCF, local government, and UNHCR equipped the health centre with pharmaceuticals this reporting period.

An increasing dollar exchange rate has caused prices of drugs being increased, thanks to RMF for increasing also this time funds for the drugs from 8 million shillings to 9 million shillings.  The last resupply was on December 13^th, 2011.

Vocational Training Institute

Continued financial support and guidance for the new Tailoring and Hairdressing Vocational Training Institute; a total of 40 students are now enrolled in these programs and the reception continues to be positive.  The vocational institute had its first graduation ceremony on December 1^st, 2011 with 30 students graduating; 13 in tailoring and 17 in hair dressing, all with good grades.

End of Course Report for Panyadoli Vocational Training Institute 2011

Tailoring and Garment Course:

The Tailoring and Garment Cutting Course started the semester with 16 students and had 3 drop out due to personal reasons, continuing with the remaining 13 students to the end of the course.

There was great improvement seen this semester compared to the first semester, both in the lessons conducted in the classroom as well as the hands on practicals.

Photos below: Students during a testing practical and supplies purchased for garment tailoring program

The 2^nd semester’s exams began on the 15^th of November and ended on the 25^th of November.  Unfortunately during exams, the Institute was very affected by continuing power outages. For instance, the students were unable to use the over locking machine during exams due to the lack of power. Also every student needs to iron his/her fabrics at the end of every exam but the power outages didn’t allow this either.  The lack of fuel supplied by UNHCR for the generators didn’t allow for continuous operation, but this shortage is being addresses for the next semester.

Achievements

• Lessons were completed smoothly and all requirements met.
• Students are able to draft a pattern, cut and make clothes on their own.
• Students are now able to make school uniforms and “Kitenge” designs.
• Students have also learnt the skills and techniques of interacting with customers/clients.
• Students are now better able to read, write and speak English which was a problem for most of them at the beginning of the course.
• Students acquired enough skills to enable them to find work and make significant changes in their lives.
• The course started well and finished successfully as the students sat for their exams with all performing highly.
• We managed to graduate all of the students with a joyous and colorful graduation day with the 3 best performers of every class rewarded with gifts and certificates.

Challenges

• Lack of reliable power/electricity was the biggest problem faced during the course.
• We were unable to consistently use the over lock machine due to lack of reliable power.
• Students dropping out due to pregnancy or sickness.
• Lack of text books.
• Students that are mothers and have additional responsibilities towards their children were not able to attend lessons regularly, mostly because of their children’s hunger and sickness.
• Dusty dirt floors cause coughing.

Suggested Changes

• Additional fuel is needed to solve the problem of power.
• Enough text books should be provided.
• More materials to be provided for 2012 new student intakes.
• Parents and spouses should be sensitized to help and take care of their young ones.
• Students who dropped out due to unavoidable circumstances should be allowed to repeat.
• Plaster floor to lessen dust.

Hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy Course

The Hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy Course started the semester with 17 students, with only one student leaving at the end of the course because of a sick child. The child has been sick all along and was being attended to in Mulago Hospital. When we started the exams, the child’s condition again worsened and the child needed to be taken for review so the mother had to leave.

In all, there was a great improvement this semester compared to the first semester. This is because we received sufficient products and supplies to last the entire semester.

Lessons were conducted smoothly during the course of the semester with students attending all classes as planned for in the curriculum. The lessons generally lasted from 8am until 5pm.

They also had a lot of the same problems during exams that the Tailoring Classed experienced due to power shortages.

Achievements

Students learned to perform various services such as:

• Twisting
• Manicure and Pedicure
• Facials
• Pencil plaiting
• Weaving
• Styling
• Body massage
• All practicals in hair dressing and beauty therapy.

Challenges

• Inadequate power supply hindered the services.
• Lack of text books was also another big problem encountered during the course.
• Insufficient training materials.

Suggested Changes

• Fuel should be provided to solve the problem of power shortage.
• Those who dropped out due to unavoidable circumstances should be allowed to come back and continue when they are ready to study again.
• Text books should be provided.

Graduation Ceremony for both courses

The Panyadoli Vocational Institute completed its courses on the 1^st of December 2011 and conducted its first graduation ceremony which was so wonderful and was attended by the following people among others:

The Assistant Settlement Commandant, Office of the Prime Minister

• The Community Service Officer, UNHCR, Hoima
• The Panyadoli Health Center Officer in Charge
• The Project Officer, AAH-I
• Refugee Welfare Council Chairperson
• Panyadoli Vocational Training Institute Steering Committee Members
• Refugee Community Leaders
• The parents of the students

The main activities of the day were:

• Displaying the Institute’s achievements of the course
• Presentation of end of course reports (indicating achievements, challenges, recommendations and identification of the existing gaps) to major stakeholders, OPM, and UNHCR
• Speeches from distinguished guests
• Presentations from the students
• Awarding of certificates to the students
• Rewarding of the top students (some gifts)
• Lunch break and Entertainment