Summary of project status and achievements:
This month The Women’s Centre started the 8 week outreach program in Road 12, Block A. The staff and Project Manager met with the Road Chairman and together decided that in order to spread the classes and workshops to a broader area; we would invite 6 women from Roads 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. The staff decided to allow two additional women into the group making 32 women in total participating.
On orientation day, Jaqueline, Florinda and the PM met with all 32 women and discussed the days and times for the knitting and tailoring classes. The classes will take place Monday – Thursday from 12 - 15. The women were split up into 2 classes, 16 women for knitting and 16 women for tailoring. The women decided themselves which classes they would like to be in, the only criteria was that everyone needed to be a beginner and not have knowledge of the skill they would be learning. Over the 8 weeks, the women in the tailoring class will learn how to cut patterns and hand sew a dress, shirt and pants for children. The knitting class will learn how to knit a jumper, booties, hat and pants for babies. At the end of the class they will be able to sell what they have made or keep it for their children. The curriculum of these classes is set up for discussion on general health for women, maternal health and nutrition but often the conversation encompass many topics that are of interest to the women. All discussions are facilitated by the staff.
All 32 women will also participate in 3 workshops on the subjects of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Childcare & Nutrition, and Reproductive Health.
In addition to the women’s group at Road 12, the savings circle began for Road 11 women. This savings circle takes place Tuesday and Thursday from 10 -12. There are 25 women participating in the savings circle. Over the month of April they learned the Oxfam curriculum, decided on how much they would like to save over the year and assigned the positions of secretary, treasurer and president. After four weeks, they will begin saving.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 – 12, the basic school aged children attend an informal group discussion on HIV/AIDS facilitated by Jacqueline and Florinda. Over the month of April, 13 youth attended regularly and brought up many questions about the prevention of HIV as well as the stigma of the disease in the camp.
English classes for women continued and the 8 women participants attended regularly.
English classes for basic school aged girls also continued. Attendance was lower than usual due to school break and the fact that the girls had to help their families with harvesting.
Both savings circles continued at Road 26, and all the participants except one have been attending regularly. In total there are 28 participants in the savings circles (16 and 12).
Additionally, The Women’s Centre has conducted 5 informal counseling sessions having to do with sexual and gender based violence, specifically sexual assaults in young girls in Block H. Annita, the Asst. Manager is back from maternity leave and is preparing for workshops in Block H to address these recent attacks. She will work together with Refugee Advocacy Initiative advocate Crispin Muzala.
Indicators and statistics:
