Addressing the Fallout of Tragedy with Hope and Action

Participants at the public awareness training held by Hope for Rural Women with support from Rockflower.

In the wake of the harrowing terrorist attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the community of Mpondwe, Uganda, has been enveloped in mourning and distress. Rockflower's partner in the region, Hope for Rural Women (HORUWO), has not only faced the immediate tragedy with the loss of innocent lives but also confronted the complex aftermath within the community.

Understanding the intricate social repercussions that followed the attack, particularly the strain on familial bonds and rise in domestic violence stemming from secret DNA testing, HORUWO, with the backing of Rockflower, swiftly initiated a critical intervention - A Public Awareness Training Workshop aimed at curbing domestic violence and the chain of mistrust unleashed by secret paternity tests.

The Response Project - A Workshop on Awareness and Change

HORUWO's workshop brought together 50 members of the community, including women from the organization, local leaders, and political figures to address the issue head-on. The discussions, though challenging and charged with emotion, provided a necessary platform for both men and women to voice their pain and concerns.

Amidst the tension, the workshop revealed deep-seated issues within the community: men's anguish over parental uncertainty and women's distressing need to secure basic needs for their families, sometimes at the cost of marital fidelity. These complex dynamics were thrown into stark relief against the backdrop of the tragic school attack and the subsequent DNA identification efforts that, for some, compounded the sense of betrayal and loss.

Moving Forward - Recommendations and Actions

• The session concluded with several forward-thinking resolutions aimed at healing and prevention:

• Increased awareness about the implications of secret DNA testing and domestic violence.

• A call for men to fulfill their familial responsibilities and engage in open dialogue with their spouses.

• A plea for both men and women to maintain fidelity and uphold the vows of their union.

• Advocacy for establishing economic opportunities for women, empowering them to meet their basic needs independently.

• Creation and distribution of educational materials, including posters and murals, to spread awareness about the issues at hand.

• Utilizing local radio to extend the conversation, with Messiah FM hosting discussions that reflected a community divided yet seeking solutions.

As a direct outcome, 50 individuals were trained and commissioned as ‘anti-secret DNA testing ambassadors’, charged with carrying the workshop's messages to wider audiences. The radio broadcasts expanded the reach of the dialogue, engaging callers from across the district and beyond.

HORUWO's director, Biira Juliet, noted the shift in understanding among both men and women regarding the dire consequences of dishonesty in relationships and the importance of mutual support within the family unit. Acknowledgment of the project's benefits was also given to Rockflower, whose financial assistance made these essential community conversations possible.

In the face of adversity, the joint efforts of HORUWO and Rockflower have sown seeds of hope and begun the painstaking work of rebuilding trust within the fabric of the Kasese community.

Update on Uganda Terrorist Attack: A Chain of Unforeseen Consequences

In the wake of the devastating attack on July 16th, believed to be the work of ADF rebels, Uganda's community continues to grapple with profound trauma. The initial tragedy claimed the lives of 41 innocent students, predominantly young girls aged 12 to 25. However, a cascade of unexpected and deeply distressing events has since unfolded, bringing more anguish to the affected families.

Three members of HORUWO, Kabugho Josphine, Masika Dolisi, and Janet Muhindo, are among those who lost a child in the attack. Beyond the immediate pain of loss, numerous women from the community who were bereaved by the attack have now found themselves victims of domestic violence. The reason for this alarming escalation lies in the aftermath of the DNA testing conducted due to the severity of the burns on some of the bodies. Shockingly, these tests have revealed that some of the children's fathers were not biologically related to them.

This revelation has torn families apart, creating a rift that transcends the original tragedy. The fallout has extended far beyond the bereaved families, affecting households that were never directly touched by the attack. Accusations of dishonesty in relationships have become widespread, as men confront the unexpected outcome of DNA tests. In an alarming trend, many fathers are secretly subjecting their children to further DNA tests, adding to the trauma these families are experiencing.

Compounding this crisis, the feeding of mourners became a significant challenge. With DNA testing taking an extended period, mourners stayed with affected families for weeks. Limited resources and abject poverty made feeding these mourners a burden, particularly as the government struggled to complete the DNA identification process. While the government provided financial support, it arrived late and was inadequate.

Amid this distress, the funds provided by Rockflower played a pivotal role. These funds were utilized to purchase essential supplies like beans, rice, cassava flour, and more, aiding the affected families in feeding the mourning guests who had gathered to console them during the difficult waiting period. Yet, the crisis has revealed a pressing need for comprehensive intervention.

An awareness training workshop involving local leaders, religious figures, teachers, and the community at large is imperative to address the escalating domestic violence against women. Such violence arises from the shock of failed DNA tests and the emotional upheaval it brings. Additionally, community meetings and radio broadcasts aimed at providing psycho-social support to parents, teachers, and learners are vital in mitigating the fear sparked by the recent attack and the subsequent turmoil from secret DNA testing.

Uganda stands at a crossroads, navigating not only the aftermath of a tragic attack but also the unintended consequences that have shaken families and communities to their core. Urgent steps are required to heal wounds that run deeper than anticipated, ensuring that the fallout from this event does not further fracture the bonds of Ugandan society.

HORUWO’s Emergency Relief Work for Landslide Victims

Women affected by the Kasese Landslides with their emergency relief items received from HORUWO.

As climate change related catastrophes have increased in frequency and severity, we have received outreach from many of our partners asking us to provide essential aid to their communities. Rockflower is not set up to provide emergency humanitarian relief, our mandate is to provide early stage investment for social enterprises and community based organizations improving the lives of women and girls on the global margins. However, as was the case during COVID, partnership is an ongoing responsibility and one that requires a listening and attentive ear during times of crisis. For that reason, we have been working to put together an emergency fund, supported by our Monthly Gardener donations to address these crises.

In September, we sent $800 to HORUWO in the Kasese District of Western Uganda to provide emergency assistance to those displaced by catastrophic landslides. Climate change in sub-Saharan Africa has led to intensified temperature extremes, precipitation anomalies, and natural disasters that have left millions of people injured, homeless, or food insecure, and has caused serious economic damage. HORUWO’s Director, Biira Juliet, recently sent us an update on the use of the relief funds they received. 

She told us, “People have lost their lives, homes and farms/gardens destroyed and have less to eat, especially poor women with children or pregnant women who are vulnerable to these changes…All people who were affected and are currently living in the camp needed help. We were overwhelmed by the situation of women, especially those who are pregnant and those with kids.”

HORUWO used the money that was largely funded by our Gardeners, to help 40 teenage and elderly women and girls in the Kasika Village who are living in disaster camps. They purchased corn flour, soap, wash basins and sanitary pads to distribute. 10 elderly women received 10kg of corn flour each, and 30 teenage girls each received 2 packs of sanitary pads, one basin and one bar of soap each. These acts of intervention may seem small, but to those women at that moment, receiving hygiene items and corn flour meant that they were one step closer to having their basic needs met and could focus more of their energy on recovering and moving forward from this disaster.

Rockflower is committed to continuing our mission of providing early stage investment to social enterprises and community based organizations improving the lives of women and girls, and we are also committed to providing much needed support during times of dire need. In September we launched our campaign, 100 Gardeners in 100 Days, in which we hope to sign up 100 new Monthly Gardeners so that we can be sure that there is a stream of income available when disasters strike. If 100 people sign up for just $25 a month, that will be an extra $2,500 a month and $30,000 a year, which will add significantly to our emergency fund. These climate related disasters are only going to increase and the needs will be even greater. Whilst we continue to support and fund those whose innovations are providing much needed climate adaptation, we must also find a way to offer support in intervening moments of critical need. 

100 Gardeners in 100 Days: Will you be one of them?

Climate change related catastrophes are increasing in their frequency and severity. Here in the United States, Puerto Rico is recovering from the devastation left by Hurricane Fiona and as I write this email Hurricane Ian has left a trail of enormous destruction in Florida.

For us, the last eight weeks has seen a steady increase of emails from our partners around the world, asking for emergency help in the face of their own intense climate change induced disasters.

Rockflower is not set up to provide emergency humanitarian relief, our mandate is to provide early stage investment for social enterprises and community based organizations improving the lives of women and girls on the global margins. However, as was the case during COVID, partnership is an ongoing responsibility and one that requires a listening and attentive ear during times of crisis.

These are real people, with real names, in real moments of need. Siddique in Pakistan has been working around the clock for weeks to ensure that the 45,000 people under the care of CSP are given the assistance they need as a result of the devastating flooding which has covered a third of Pakistan in water.

Moreen in Mbale, Uganda has been assisting those whose lives have been upended by recent flooding there, and Juliet and Mary in Kasese, Uganda, have been helping those affected by the recent mudslides who have lost homes and family members. Michael in South Sudan was left speechless by the devastating flooding in his home town in South Sudan.

All of this can feel overwhelming, but one thing I have learned from all the years of doing this work is that small acts of intervention really do matter.  We have sent funding assistance to these partners, which has provided some much needed respite, but we need to do so much more. I started to think about what that “more” would look like.  

Many of you are already monthly gardeners to Rockflower and for your generosity we are eternally grateful. But often I hear people say "I don't have much to give - what difference would $25 a month really make?" My reply is always - I can promise you it would mean a great deal. 

Starting today, October 1st for 100 days through to January 7th 2023, we plan to sign up 100 new monthly Gardeners. 

If 100 people sign up for just $25 a month, that will be an extra $2,500 a month and $30,000 a year, which will add significantly to our emergency fund. These climate related disasters are only going to increase and the needs will be even greater. Whilst we continue to support and fund those whose innovations are providing much needed climate adaptation, like our most recent partner Flicker of Hope in Kenya, we must also find a way to offer support at times of dire need. 

Please consider becoming a monthly Rockflower Gardener - I can promise you that it will be one of the best investments in hope and possibility you will make.

-Tine Ward, CEO, Rockflower

Reflections on HORUWO's Community Beekeeping Project

Hope for Rural Women (HORUWO), a community-based organization in the Kasese District of Uganda working to implement community health education and livelihood improvement projects, has just wrapped up their beekeeping project. This project was created in response to climate change, which has caused  both extreme flooding and droughts and nearly wiped out the region’s farming industry. HORUWO sought to create a sustainable source of income for men and women facing poverty, HIV/AIDS and illiteracy. The Kasese district has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 11.2%, creating major health problems for men and women who are already facing poverty. 

The organization found that beekeeping could be a sustainable replacement for traditional farming. The raw materials to create beehives are readily available and honey has a number of medicinal properties, in addition to being highly valued in local and international markets. Beehives are much less sensitive to extreme changes in weather which makes it a smart long term source of income. Beginning in February of 2022, the organization selected 35 members of the community who lacked a source of income, many due to HIV/AIDS and illiteracy, to train in beekeeping. They purchased 15 beehives and trained the cohort on how to manage an apiary, collect honey and sell it at market. 

They have just completed their first cohort of the program and it was a success. The beehives are thriving, and the community members are now able to provide for themselves and are beginning to earn income through this new skillset. HORUWO has received additional funding from Rockflower and is now looking to the future and hopes to expand the project and create livelihoods for even more people in poverty.

Uganda: Spotlight on Stories of Hope and Resilience

Rockflower is a global venture philanthropy fund maintaining partnerships across the world, in particular across the African continent. As the pandemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on those countries without access to vaccines and medications, we have chosen to spotlight the situation in Uganda where we currently have nine partnerships -  Farm Life, Foundation for Women’s Dignity, Hope for the Future Organization, Hope for Rural Women (HORUWO), Kinyamaseke Youth in Development (KYID),  Rwenzori United Group for Life Improvement (RUGLI), Women Advocacy and Development Services (UWADS) Youth and Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (YWISD) and Dare Now Uganda (DNU). 

In recent months, our partners in Uganda have faced immense challenges caused by the spread of the recent Delta variant of COVID-19, which has brought a halt to all planned activities during the most recent 42 days of lockdown. Many Ugandans are now without income or community support and are struggling to fulfill basic needs such as access to food. Our partner organizations work hard to support their communities and create stability, and throughout this time have found themselves overwhelmed with requests for food, and other basic necessities. 

Through the generosity of our supporters, Rockflower has been able to ensure that funds have been made available to support our Ugandan partners throughout this time. Funds that would normally be allocated to community based projects for women and girls, are now being used for the purchase of food to keep them alive. 

The situation in Uganda has worsened in recent months despite evidence that in the early stages of the pandemic, the country was extremely successful at protecting its citizens. In 2016, Uganda founded a global health security program at the Infectious Disease Institute at Makerere University in Kampala in order to combat and plan for pandemics. Early in 2020, the government quickly developed border screenings, laboratory testing capacity, community surveillance and infection control in health clinics and hospitals. As a result of this expeditious rollout of safety measures, Uganda was reporting fewer cases and deaths than other countries of similar population size.

It wasn’t until the Delta variant began spreading rapidly that the condition worsened. This variant of COVID-19 transmits more easily and has led to a higher percentage of severe illness, including those requiring oxygen support. Uganda has a population of 44 million and so far has recorded a total of 91,355 cases of COVID-19 and 2,483 deaths, according to the latest data from the health ministry. The virus has spread to 108 districts, out of which 20, including Kampala and Wakiso, have been significantly affected. 

On June 19th, Uganda re-imposed a 42 day complete lockdown, which only allowed citizens to leave their homes for essential purchases and included a ban on the use of any private vehicles other than those operated by essential workers. The response from the broader population was not welcoming of the lockdown. Many believed that it would do more harm than good, and those who may be in dire need of resources and support are afraid to approach local law enforcement, and would prefer to stay silent.

Unfortunately, the only measure that can truly stop the spread of COVID-19 and pull Uganda out of this desperate situation is the ready availability of vaccinations. COVID-19 is now considered a preventable disease thanks to the numerous vaccines that have been proven effective, but without access to these vaccines, the pandemic will continue to spread in unvaccinated populations. 

In March of 2021, Uganda received their first donation of vaccines, and felt confident that they would soon be able to vaccinate 50% of their population. In March they received 864,000 vaccines donated through CoVax and another 100,000 donated from India. Although still beneficial, this number is a drop in the bucket against Uganda’s population of 44 million. First responders and high risk patients were prioritized, but once these vaccines were used, vaccination efforts were shut down until late June when France donated another 175,000 doses. Since then, Uganda has not received any additional doses.

The Ugandan government has so far failed to purchase any vaccines, with officials saying the country had been priced out of the market by richer nations in the West, and therefore has been relying on surplus donations from other countries. Like many nations, Uganda was hoping to purchase vaccines produced in India, however due to India's recent devastating outbreak, they are no longer exporting doses. 

The phrase ‘vaccine diplomacy’ has long been the topic of conversation regarding how vaccines will be distributed across the world. The issue is that this phrase represents a political rather than science-based effort to vaccinate populations. It has become a matter of politics and money. Developing countries that have the capacity to produce vaccines are unable to negotiate for the licenses from drug companies and countries without strong bilateral relationships may get passed over. This vaccination distribution method does not eliminate hotspots of the virus, which will lead to even more dangerous variants emerging. The world is quickly losing time, and will require a global resolve to end the pandemic equitably.

Rockflower has received updates from a number of Ugandan partners informing us of their current situation, and in many cases asking for help. Our partner organizations are pillars of support for their communities, and have therefore been inundated with requests for help throughout the lockdown. Nankindu Angella, Chairperson & Co-founder of Youth and Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (YWISD) explained the challenges faced by her community throughout the current lockdown.

“It's a hard and challenging time for us community leaders, we were working on improving the market then boom the lock down came in and everything is now so hard. Now we have put the training on hold to observe and follow Standard Operating Procedures for COVID-19. Since we supported our beneficiaries during the previous lockdown even now they keep coming to us for help and we have done what we can, we are supporting very many women in the community who cannot feed their children. I myself am a single mother, I clearly understand what many of these women pass through now since many work for day-to-day food.”

Our partner organizations have been forced to suspend activities, which in many cases has caused the loss of the sole source of income for women and girls who support themselves and their families. Rockflower partner, Biira Mary, the Executive Director of Rwenzori United Group for Life Improvement (RUGLI), sent us an update explaining the economic impact and long-term devastation caused by the pandemic.

“COVID-19 has created a lot of devastating social, economic, and political crises that are going to leave deep scars for years to come. The impact caused may  reverse   the progress made in tackling global challenges  for many years  putting at risk the lives and livelihoods of people living in underdeveloped countries  but pressing many vulnerable people, the youth and persons with disabilities. The dreadful virus has caused a lot of gaps in the development process increasing the vulnerability of youths due to lack of essential resources such as clean water, food, medical supplies and even basic information. The disease has proved to be a tragic longer-term impact, with the potential for mass unemployment, and the risk of increasing inequality, marginalization, and poverty.”

Upon receiving these and many other messages from our partners in Uganda, Rockflower was able to put together a small but impactful emergency relief fund to help with food and other basic necessities for these communities. We are looking at all opportunities to raise additional funds including an additional surge of cryptocurrency donations to sustain this fund and provide life-saving necessities to women and girls who have been greatly affected by the pandemic. Sarah Namunyagwa, a single mother who has participated in YWISD projects in the past, is one beneficiary of the emergency relief fund. Her gratitude for such a small gift of food, is extremely humbling.

"I don't know how much I can thank you for this food, may God continue blessing you abundantly. I had nothing, totally nothing, to feed my 4 children in this COVID lockdown. I am a single mother and having gone through weaving training and you gave me hope to change my life but COVID is making it very difficult for me. Last month I was learning online marketing and I hoped to increase my sales and better the livelihood of my family but COVID lockdown came and all is at pause now yet basic needs are needed…you have not given up on me again you have provided food to help us survive, just extend my gratitude to your partners.”

As of July 30th, the full lockdown in Uganda has been lifted and the country is now looking toward rebuilding all that was lost during this time, providing basic necessities to those who are still without and continuing to fight COVID-19. The challenges faced by these communities are far from over, especially because the country is still severely lacking vaccines for its citizens. 

As our partners begin to resume their activities, the opportunity to gain income via e-commerce is one that could greatly improve their situations. Currently the gender gap that exists on online platforms is excluding billions of dollars from the wallets of female entrepreneurs and the opportunity for economic improvement via their training and participation is immense. The Council for Foreign Relationships noted, “Watershed moments to transform women’s economic status globally are few and far between, but COVID-19 and the post-pandemic recovery offer one of these rare and critical junctures. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity for development and an equitable future for all.”

A few of the outstanding goods being made by some of our partners are shown here by one of our partners, Hope for the Future. We continue to believe in the possibility of new and emerging lines of commerce to benefit their beautiful and innovative work and look forward to exploring these and other opportunities for growth.

Rockflower remains committed to providing support for all of our Ugandan partners so that they may resume activities to support the women and girls of their communities.  Please consider donating to Rockflower’s Emergency Fund, either through traditional channels such as our website’s donation page, or through cryptocurrency via our partnership with The Giving Block. Please be assured that even a small donation can be extremely helpful for women and girls struggling to fulfill their basic needs and those of their families. 

Go Fish! To Improve Maternal Nutrition

Hope for Rural Women recently began construction on their aquaponic fish farm. Built on the success of their Micro Gardens and Mushroom cultivation, the Aquaponics Fish Farming Pilot Project was created. The project is expected to provide knowledge and training to 50 women beneficiaries on fish and vegetable production, reduce malnutrition of expectant mothers by utilizing the fish protein, and economically empower women and their families through the sale of vegetables and fish.

Implementation of the project has reached construction of the fish tanks and grow gardens. Construction to this point can be found in the photos below. Next, the water pump will be installed to provide clean water in the fish tanks and reuse the highly fertilized water for the garden beds. Lastly, the fish tanks will be stocked with 200 African Catfish juveniles. The vegetable seeds have been purchased and are waiting to be planted.