Rainbow House of Hope

Uganda

Ugandan President Museveni has extended the lockdown on multiple occasions but begins to ease measures. Uganda has had one of the strictest lockdowns in Africa with only essential businesses functioning, dusk-to-dawn curfews, and bans on transportation. While the lockdown was extended yesterday, it will begin to ease as businesses including hardware shops, restaurants, wholesale stores, and others will be allowed to reopen.

Concerns and Challenges

Rainbow House of Hope works in one of the most challenging environments possible when it comes to the spread of COVID-19, the slums of Kampala. They have multiple concerns ranging from lack of resources to physical challenges. As with so many of our partners their focus is on the women, who depend on daily income and are now struggling to survive. The lockdown and curfews in Uganda have had severe impacts on their entrepreneurial businesses.

Emergency Fund

Rainbow House of Hope used the funds from Rockflower to reach out to the women they work with, their families, and their communities. They have purchased sanitary pads, water tanks, and face masks. The water tanks were placed in slum communities for handwashing.

Women Advocacy and Development Services

Uganda

Ugandan President Museveni has extended the lockdown on multiple occasions but begins to ease measures. Uganda has had one of the strictest lockdowns in Africa with only essential businesses functioning, dusk-to-dawn curfews, and bans on transportation. While the lockdown was extended yesterday, it will begin to ease as businesses including hardware shops, restaurants, wholesale stores, and others will be allowed to reopen.

Challenges and Adaptation Measures

As with many of our partners, Women Advocacy and Development Services (UWADS) has seen the women entrepreneurs lose their daily incomes and turn to their savings for survival.

UWADS has sent basket-making materials to the women for an additional activity to do while in lockdown.

Emergency Fund

With the Emergency Fund from Rockflower, UWADS was able to purchase 500 kgs of maize flour, 2 cartons of soap and a box of hand sanitizer. In addition to distributing the previous items, materials were given to the women entrepreneurs to make their own reusable masks.

Update from June 2020

UWADS Coordinator and two volunteers have spent two weeks visiting each member of the organization to provide them with food items, soap and materials to make face masks.

Update from July 2020

Around the world, over 243 million women and girls have been subjected to sexual or physical violence in the last 12 months. UWADS has been providing trainings against domestic violence throughout the pandemic. In their discussions with the women they work with, they have found that none of their members has been abused during the lockdown due to the education they have provided in how to respond accordingly to a situation and their economic empowerment in being able to support themselves.

Solidarité des Femmes pour le Développement Intégral

Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 1,000 coronavirus cases yesterday. The state of health emergency was extended for a second time last week.

Challenges and Concerns

The current state of health emergency has increased food prices in the retail market leading to starvation.

Adaptation Measures and Emergency Fund

Through the financial support of our Emergency Fund, Solidarité des Femmes pour le Développement Intégral (SOFEDI) was able to arrange a group meeting with 30 vulnerable women, girls and boys. The goal was to provide information on preventative measures against COVID-19 and domestic violence. In addition to the education session, food parcels of millie, rice and washing powder were distributed.

SOFEDI has expanded their existing Food Security Program due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus. The program was created to address the growing challenge of food insecurity in emergency situations. Vulnerable families are identified, including elderly grandmothers with grandchildren, the sick, and sudden deaths. A total of 40 families are chosen every three months and are provided with food parcels. This lessens a worrisome burden while employment and new ways of sustaining livelihoods are sought. After three months has elapsed, families are reassessed.

“Rockflower’s belief in us has contributed to SOFEDI being the “heroines of hope” to whoever knocks on our doors for assistance.”

— Dr. Alice Lukumbu Rose, Executive Director of SOFEDI

Update from July 2020

SOFEDI has been witnessing the increasing challenges occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of a civil war in the Fizi and Uvira districts. These districts are already high risk for rural women and girls because of current living conditions.

While the government has called for a State of Health Emergency, SOFEDI has continued to support the women and girls in the South Kivu Province through advocacy and programming, such as their “Peace First” program.

WomenChoice Industries

Tanzania

Schools and borders are closed. However, Tanzanian President John Magufali has been criticized for encouraging the public to attend places of worship. President Magufali has stated that Dar es Salaam will never be in lockdown.

Concerns and Challenges

Business has slowed as travel restrictions have been put in place that limit the transit of goods to one driver.

Adaptation Measures

In addition to manufacturing reusable sanitary towels, WomenChoice Industries has begun producing and distributing reusable masks to their staff and the local community.

Rockflower’s Emergency Fund donated the money for WomenChoice Industries to make face masks for our other partner in Tanzania, Mategemeo Women Association. They were finished last week and sent by bus from Tanga to Arusha.

Mukuru Clean Stoves

Kenya

A dusk to dawn curfew has been installed nationwide by President Uhuru Kenyatta. In addition, travel restrictions increased to ban movement in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, and two counties. Other restrictions include: closed borders; schools, pubs, entertainments venues, churches and mosques shut; everyone is required to wear face masks (arrest possible if not worn).

Concerns, Challenges and Adaptation Measures

Due to social distancing, Mukuru Clean Stoves has had to create new strategies to limit contact in their factory. Production and the number of workers were reduced to allow access to only two people at a time. Members of the production team are still working as they are unable to work from home. This will also ensure products are available when markets are open again. Due to the closure of markets, sales agents have closed their shops and Mukuru Clean Stoves has seen a drop in sales by almost 60%.

Emergency Fund

Rockflower supported Mukuru Clean Stoves through our Emergency Fund. Vulnerable families were identified with either young mothers or grandmothers living with 3 or more young children. They were able to distribute food parcels, including 2 kg of maize flour, 2 kg of rice, 1 liter of cooking oil, 2 kg of sugar, half a kg of salt, a bar of soap and face masks, and some cooking stoves to 25 families in Siaya County. The food will last a family for approximately one month.

Jiwo Paro

Kenya

A dusk to dawn curfew has been installed nationwide by President Uhuru Kenyatta. In addition, travel restrictions increased to ban movement in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, and two counties. Other restrictions include: closed borders; schools, pubs, entertainments venues, churches and mosques shut; everyone is required to wear face masks (arrest possible if not worn).

Concerns, Challenges, and Adaptation Measures

Understanding the risks and preventative measures of COVID-19 are of utmost importance. Jiwo Paro recognized this and quickly arranged for a public health official to train their staff and beneficiaries on correct protocols.

Additionally, beneficiaries were urged to work from home whenever possible.

More training sessions are planned for the future, including a face mask sewing workshop.

Emergency Fund

The support from our Emergency Fund has helped purchase food packages, of flour, cooking oil and soap for handwashing, for 40 women entrepreneurs.

Rwenzori United Group for Life Improvement

Uganda

President Yoweri Museveni continues to extend the lockdown initially set for 14 days beginning on March 30, increased for 21 more days until yesterday, May 5, when it was extended again for 2 additional weeks. Uganda has had one of the strictest lockdowns in Africa with only essential businesses functioning, dusk-to-dawn curfews, and bans on transportation. While the lockdown was extended yesterday, it will begin to ease as businesses including hardware shops, restaurants, wholesale stores, and others will be allowed to reopen.

Concerns and Challenges

As we have seen with many of our partners during the pandemic, Rwenzori United Group for Life Improvement (RUGLI) has reported that families who rely upon their daily business lack basic needs, such as food and medicine.

Adaptation Measures and Emergency Fund

RUGLI provided sanitation equipment and face masks to local women in Kasese. Rockflower provided support through our Emergency Fund. RUGLI quickly utilized the funds and identified vulnerable families to receive food parcels.

AVAZ Derneği

Turkey

Turkey has the largest number of coronavirus infections in the Middle East, over 124,000 cases have been confirmed.

In comparison to countries in Europe and the Middle East, Turkey’s lockdown measures have diverged. Curfews were imposed for those under 20 and over 65, exempting the majority of the workforce. Now, lockdowns of a few days mostly on weekends are implemented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Adaptation Measures

AVAZ Derneği have temporarily stopped all in person activities since March 16, 2020. They have begun testing distance education programs for some of their Livelihood courses. Additionally, AVAZ Derneği is informing the public about COVID-19 by raising awareness through technology. Those that do not have access to smartphones and the Internet have been given hard copies of credible information on the coronavirus, including best practices for protective measures.

Emergency Fund

AVAZ Derneği received money from our Emergency Fund and quickly put it to use before the most recent 3 day lockdown in Turkey. In coordination with government departments, they distributed food parcels to people in disadvantaged areas.

Update from June 2020

Within the scope of cross-border activities, AVAZ distributed food basket and toys in the Rasulayn region of Syria.

Association Burkinabé des Femmes Battantes

Burkina Faso

In March, the government introduced restrictive measures to attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, including closing borders and schools, and banning gatherings of more than 50 people.

The markets in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, have been closed since March 25. The government opened one on April 20 as a test to see if the rest of them could be safely reopened. “Sellers and customers who entered the market this week had to wear a mask, wash their hands and have their temperature taken, said Armand Beouinde, Ouagadougou’s mayor. He said that only two people are allowed inside shops at one time, and that all shops had to carry hand sanitizer.”

Concerns and Challenges

Association Burkinabé des Femmes Battantes (ABFB), similarly to many of our partners, has seen families suffer due to the lack of a daily income as a result of the markets being closed. The risk of starvation and COVID-19 infection are higher for them as food, sanitizers and face masks are hard to come by.

Currently, ABFB’s Weaving and Dyeing Project has not been affected as it is in Godin, Burkina Faso. However, ABFB is challenged with the travel restrictions and was unable to make it out of the capital for a time.

Adaptation Measures

ABFB organized early outreach awareness programs by educating women and children beneficiaries of their projects on preventive measures against the coronavirus. Demonstration sessions on washing techniques hands were incorporated.

Emergency Fund

ABFB used the money from our Emergency Fund to purchase essential food items, soap and face masks. All of these were distributed to 30 women on April 22 to comply with restrictions put in place by the government and to an additional 40 women over 2 days, April 23 and 24, who visited ABFB’s headquarters to receive the items.

Gambia Goat Dairy

The Gambia

The Gambia closed its borders for 21 days beginning on March 23, 2020. The Gambian Ministry of Health releases daily situation reports here.

Concerns, Challenges and Adaptation Measures

This week we had a Zoom call with Brianna Parsons and Corey Spires, Project Managers for Gambia Goat Dairy, to discuss the Gambia, the goat farm, and visions of the future.

Prior to the pandemic, Gambia Goat Dairy was conducting small-scale research on the West African Dwarf goat milk production, comparing the milk production of goats fed a veterinary-formulated diet to goats fed traditional feeds. Their objective is to create a West African Dwarf goat lactation curve—a graph showing how milk production changes over time since giving birth to offspring. This is a powerful tool for Gambian dairy farmers to manage their herds and does not currently exist for the West African Dwarf goat.

The following is a summary report by Brianna Parsons, Project Manager for Gambia Goat Dairy.

Gambia Goat Dairy, still in the early stages of implementation, employs only two Gambians at this time and has a limited outreach scope. The country itself has only a few confirmed cases, though preventative social distancing measures means the majority of businesses are closed, public transportation is limited, and citizens are having difficulty acquiring their basic needs. The difficulties faced by Gambians are in some ways similar to those we are facing in the US but in many ways, much more extreme, as lost incomes and disruptions to food supply chains exacerbate already existing food insecurity.

We wanted to share stories of how the coronavirus is impacting our employees. Even in a crisis, our goats need daily feeding and care. Our on-site goat caretaker and watchman, Sainey Badjie, has stepped up to fill this role on his own. In doing so, Sainey is ensuring our goat herd is cared for and that he and Sulay decrease potential coronavirus exposure.

Harness created by Sulay to monitor the goats’ weights

Our herdsman, Sulay Camara, significantly limited his trips to the farm and when necessary to do so, takes all precautions, including face mask and gloves. Despite being physically distant from the farm, Sulay is still thinking about farm operations. During this period of social-distancing, Sulay crafted a harness for the goats to allow for comfortable and safe weight measurements. This is a weekly process, done to monitor the goat kids’ growth to make sure each kid is gaining a healthy amount of weight. Like so many others around the world taking up new crafts and hobbies while sitting at home, Sulay got creative with his time and made a new tool to help improve our future operations.

We’ve had 10 goat kids born in the last month on the farm. Sainey is doing an incredible job making sure all the newborn goats are healthy while Sulay is missing spending time there. We are thankful for the health of our employees, their families, and our friends as we do our best to maintain farm operations during this highly uncertain time.

Update from July 2020

In response to the pandemic and prioritizing the health of their employees, Gambia Goat Dairy had to halt data collection in March 2020. 

Gambians have been dramatically affected by the coronavirus. Market closures in early weeks resulted in limited food availability, higher prices, and a loss or disruption of jobs. Public transportation fares doubled as drivers limited maximum passengers in cars and vans to half of their normal capacity. Recently, the country has begun relaxing some of those protective measures as case numbers remain low. Markets have re-opened but public transportation continues to operate at limited capacity. 

Emergency Fund

The Emergency Fund from Rockflower has supported investment in masks and protective equipment for their farm employees. Additionally, the funds allowed Gambia Goat Dairy to contract with local farmers to grow feed for next season. Many Gambians grow peanuts (groundnuts), a staple food in the region, as cash crops. After harvest, the remaining plant can be dried and produced into hay for livestock feed, an environmentally conscious way to repurpose crop byproducts. The economic impact of COVID-19 has affected Gambians through losses in employment resulting from lockdowns, declined remittances, and higher priced goods in the markets. This combination makes it difficult for Gambian farmers to purchase agricultural inputs, like peanut seeds, at the beginning of the growing season. Gambia Goat Dairy is using Rockflower’s Emergency Fund to finance the purchasing of seeds for farmers, who will grow, harvest, and sell the peanuts, and in return for the up-front financing, provide Gambia Goat Dairy with the hay-crop. Using the Emergency Relief funds in this way helps Gambia Goat Dairy to not only reduce farm feed costs for the upcoming year, but spreads the benefit of the relief fund to the agricultural families hit hard by the economic effects of the global pandemic.

Cherehani Africa

Kenya

Kenya has had a partial lockdown with travel restrictions to ban movement in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, and two counties. Additionally, it has an overnight nationwide curfew, that has resulted in more than 400 arrests for violations.

Concerns and Challenges

COVID-19 affected the economy with an immediate effect in Kenya, especially small businesses. The imposed curfew has limited business hours affecting those that rely on their daily incomes.

As the pandemic has continued, the restrictions have put several women micro-entrepreneurs out of business and threatens countless others.

Adaptation Measures

The following is an excerpt from Cherehani Africa’s Newsletter sent on April 8, 2020.

Customers
We are leveraging our knowledge platform to support the government's effort to disseminate information on best practices during this period to all onboarded customers via SMS. The information shared is from the Ministry of Health and WHO. 
We have introduced check-in phone calls to active customers in a bid to reassure them of our commitment during this difficult time and to assess other ways we could be of help.
We are restructuring loans for customers who are facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus.
We are financing customers in essential businesses like FMCG retail to enable them to deliver essential products and services to their communities.
We have suspended physical group meetings by our customers and are encouraging them to use face masks at all times when operating their businesses. 

Employees
We have implemented a work from home policy for staff in our Nairobi office.
We are promoting regular hand washing and use of hand sanitizers. We have availed personal protective gear (face masks) for our field team.
We have reduced requirements to our relief fund to enable employees to promptly access emergency funds during this period.

We are supporting the prevention measures recommended by the government by ensuring our staff at the HQ work from home and that field staff are well trained on how to go about their duties (social distancing, washing hands and sanitizing).

Emergency Fund

Cherehani Africa received money from our Emergency Fund that will be used to buy face masks that will be distributed to women vegetable vendors in rural communities. The vegetable vendors are an important part of the rural communities as they each serve tens of community members daily. It is crucial that they acquire and use protective gear when serving customers to instill health, safety, and confidence.

Mamas for Burundi

Burundi

Burundi has yet to take drastic measures of lockdown, prohibiting social, official or public gatherings, but the government has suspended flights to and from Melchior Ndadaye International Airport, encouraged citizens to wash their hands, and provided a hotline for reporting those who could have been infected.

Concerns and Challenges

Access to face masks and sanitation products is difficult, especially for women and girls, epidemiological surveillance and investigation of cases, taking into account risk communication and community engagement, and prevention and management of false information are all challenges in which Mamas for Burundi (MAFOBA) is facing.

Adaptation Measures and Emergency Fund

MAFOBA is utilizing its experience with informative campaigns, such as the Promotion of Maternal and Reproductive Health in the Six Provinces of Burundi program, to inform their communities about COVID-19 and preventative measures on spreading and contracting the virus.

The members of MAFOBA and its volunteers have been hard at work raising awareness of the pandemic in the field.

They have been especially grateful for the infusion of funds from our Emergency Fund to allow them to work in an unrestricted fashion to determine, and meet, needs on a day by day basis within their communities.

Update from June 2020

MAFOBA is combining their information campaigns on reproductive health and prevention of COVID-19. This allows for more aspects of women and girls’ health to be cared for simultaneously.

Chitani Community Sustainable Development Organization

Malawi

Malawi reported its first coronavirus cases on April 2, 2020. The country declared a "state of disaster", closed schools, and cancelled all visas issued before 20 March.

The government attempted to implement a 21-day lockdown. However, it was temporarily barred by a Malawi high court following a petition by the Malawi Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) based on the grounds that it would harm the poorest and most vulnerable of society. Prior to the court backing the appeal made by HRDC, protestors took to the street with placards that stated it would be better to contract the virus than die of hunger.

Concerns and Challenges

Due to the coronavirus, schools have been closed in Malawi and ultimately Chitani Community Sustainable Development Organization’s (CHICOSUDO) operations have been affected. Schools are key in the fight to end child marriage.

An increase in misinformation and a lack of accessible correct information for populations in rural areas has been noted by CHICOSUDO as many do not have radios and advanced cellphones.

As seen around the globe, those that depend on daily incomes are struggling to survive without access to markets.

Emergency Fund

With access to Rockflower’s Emergency Fund, CHICOSUDO is providing multiple services to their communities as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. They have been promoting the importance of good sanitation and providing hand-washing stations. Due to the closure of schools, CHICOSUDO is introducing indoor education activities for children of primary school age. Disseminating correct information about the coronavirus is of the utmost importance. This is being done through door to door campaigns and via technology, such as SMS and social media campaigns.

Update from June 2020

CHICOSUDO has continued to respond to the pandemic through education and hygiene initiatives.

Schools remained closed in Malawi so community based volunteers provide home-based education. Additionally, community members are encouraged to turn their radios on to the education program conducted by the Government of Malawi.

WASHing (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is one of the most important preventative measures against the coronavirus. CHICOSUDO has reached over 6,500 people with their WASH-related messaging.

Traditional leaders have been oriented in their roles to inform and mobilize communities about COVID-19.

While the COVID-19 crisis is occurring, CHICOSUDO continues to advocate against child marriage and for gender-based violence protections by working within community structures, including traditional and faith leaders and clan heads. 15 clubs have been organized composing of 8 to 12 members throughout the Blantyre and Mulanje districts.

Currently underway are programs to create Chichewa videos about COVID-19.

Community Services Program

Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan originally had Pakistan in lockdown until April 14. A two-week extension was added but some industries would begin to reopen in phases. The first will be construction.

Unlike around the world, mosques in Pakistan will be open during Ramadan, “as long as they followed 20 rules, including forcing congregants to maintain a six-foot distance, bring their own prayer mats and do their ablutions at home.”

Concerns and Challenges

Community Services Program (CSP) is one of Rockflower’s longest partners and maintains close communication throughout the year. Every day they face extremely challenging conditions to reach the most vulnerable in their communities, and the threat of COVID-19 poses yet another layer of concern for those hardest to reach. The key is in following the correct protocol in communication and awareness building to ensure that prevention and treatments are swift and efficient.

Adaptation Measures

For the last three weeks, CSP has been working with the National Institute of Health to train volunteers in 14 districts. They have held trainings with 26 female and 4 male volunteers on how to fan out and distribute information effectively. Each trainer is responsible for visiting 53 families within their immediate surroundings, and if they suspect any symptoms or potential infections, they will assist them in their travels to the hospital.

Emergency Fund

With funds from the Emergency Fund, CSP has been able to conduct these trainings, produce banners and posters, and also offer physical assistance to the most at-risk girls and women, with the provision of wheelchairs for two girls with Cerebral Palsy.

Update from May 2020

Youth and Women Initiative for Sustainable Development

Uganda

Uganda’s President Museveni originally placed the country on a 14-day lockdown beginning March 30. On April 14, the border closures and lockdown controls were extended for an additional 21 days.

Concerns, Challenges, and Adaptation Measures

Nankindu Angella, Chairperson and Co-founder of Youth and Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (YWISD), has been working from home with her family due to the lockdown. Everyone is confined to their homes, and as a result many people are struggling to survive as they rely on their daily incomes to feed their families. YWISD is very concerned for the vulnerable populations in their community that are at high risk of starvation.

Emergency Fund

YWISD received money from the Emergency Fund and was able to act quickly and put it to good use. They purchased essential food items to distribute to community members and are in constant contact with those who will be most at risk of hunger in the coming weeks.

Kinyamaseke Youth in Development

Uganda

Uganda’s President Museveni originally placed the country on a 14-day lockdown beginning March 30. On April 14, the border closures and lockdown controls were extended for an additional 21 days.

Concerns and Challenges

Information about prevention measures air on National TV. However, most people in rural areas don't own TVs and are unaware of the virus, how it spreads and how to prevent. This has led to some people believing the disease is linked to witchcraft.

Adaptation Measures

Biira Miriam, Chairperson of Kinyamaseke Youth in Development (KYID), has been working with two other team members to maintain the office. They developed simple, easily remembered concepts for preventing COVID-19 to pass information to members of the community.

Emergency Fund

With the money we secured for KYID through our Emergency Fund, they were able to:

• Purchase washing buckets with taps

• Purchase washing soap and distributed it to the members

• Purchase reusable facemasks

• Purchase boxes of gloves

• Compiled WHO health guidelines and translated them into the local language to provide to organization and community members

• Used airtime on the phone to mobilize members for distribution of the aforementioned items

• Hire a van (as public and private vehicles have been banned due to the lockdown) to transport the aformentioned materials from Kasese to Kinyamaseke for distribution

Update from June 2020

The continuation of our Emergency Fund gave KYID the opportunity to distribute essential food items, including cassava flour, maize flour, and beans, and sanitary pads to vulnerable women acting as single heads of their families.

Society for the Improvement of Rural People

Nigeria

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari originally announced a 14-day lockdown for the Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states on March 30. A 14-day extension was added.

Specifically in the Enugu State, borders, schools, inter-state transportation, markets, and airports have been closed, and gatherings have been banned.

Concerns and Challenges

Many people have experienced increased difficulty in accessing food supplies and medicines, especially women and children.

Adaptation Measures

Due to the ban on gatherings, the Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP) has adapted in how to inform and educate their community. They stay in contact with beneficiaries via phone. Previously, SIRP held a Skills and Entrepreneurship training on soap making that has provided many girls with the knowledge that is in high demand right now. Additionally, they have produced posters and leaflets in lieu of trainings to inform the public on precautionary measures to be taken to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Emergency Fund

With the emergency funds from Rockflower, SIRP was able to hold an educational program for 30 women and girls from the Ikirike and Idaw-River community. This included a knowledge sharing session about COVID-19 highlighting precautionary measures to take to avoid contracting the virus, the demonstration and distribution of facemasks and the distribution of essential food items. They were also able to provide posters to be shared more widely with the community.

Update from May 2020

The continuation of the Emergency Fund is focusing on adolescent girls. The majority of the project will be implemented on May 28, 2020, the International Day of Menstrual Hygiene.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, women and girls have had to sacrifice their maternal and reproductive health. Before the pandemic, gender inequality, discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, poverty, and lack of basic hygiene often left menstrual hygiene needs to go unmet. Now these deprivations have become exacerbated. Resulting in far-reaching negative impacts on the lives of our adolescent girls and young mothers, including but not limited to restricted mobility, freedom and choices, reduced participation in school, work and community life, compromised safety, and additional stress and anxiety.

Under the continuation of the Emergency Fund, the following activities will be implemented:

• Education on how to prevent COVID-19 using the WHO and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols.

• Discussions around the 2020 International Day of Menstrual Hygiene.

• Training on how to make reusable menstrual pads as skills training for economic empowerment for adolescent girls of Idaw River community.

• Distribution of IEC materials, Personal Protective, Equipment (PPEs), sanitary pads and food items to mitigate the challenge of hunger for these adolescent young girls during this lockdown period as a result of COVID-19.

Read about SIRP’s International Day of Menstrual Hygiene.

Women in Sustainable Development

Kenya

A dusk to dawn curfew has been installed nationwide by President Uhuru Kenyatta. In addition, travel restrictions increased to ban movement in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, and two counties for three weeks.

Concerns, Challenges and Adaptation Measures

Most of Women in Sustainable Enterprises’ (WISE) activities involve trainings. Due to the ban on gatherings, these have been canceled. WISE continues to operate though as Caroline Odera, Founder and Director, and her team of volunteers works from home.

One of their main challenges at the moment is assisting their women entrepreneurs. Due to a lack of daily income for many households, those who are renting solar lamps are unable to pay. WISE is exploring how to combat this issue. Additionally, WISE was expanding to Mageta Island. However, the inter-county travel restrictions have put this on hold.

Emergency Fund

WISE received Emergency Funds from Rockflower. They quickly utilized the money and put many local interventions into action.

WISE issued 60 facemasks, bars of soap and cereals to the local women entrepreneurs that they engage within their programs.

They also involved the use of drama in the local language to better educate the women and the rest of the Dunga community on the importance of handwashing, wearing face masks and social distancing as part of the WHO preventative measures for contracting the coronavirus. 

Hope for the Future Organization

Uganda

Uganda’s President Museveni originally placed the country on a 14-day lockdown beginning March 30. On April 14, the border closures and lockdown controls were extended for an additional 21 days.

Concerns and Challenges

Hope for the Future has a number of concerns and challenges, including but not limited to lack of daily income for women, access to medical supplies and food, and the surge in reports of domestic violence.

The lockdown controls have closed businesses, markets and roadside stalls. Many of the beneficiaries Hope for the Future works with who are dependent on daily trade are unable to make an income. This results in a lack of basic necessities needed during this pandemic. Women who now have to ask their husbands for help are being met with violence in return.

“Accessing medical care and food is a far fetched dream to many. Domestic violence against women and children is on the rise as they demand basics from their husbands.”

Emergency Fund

Rockflower has sent money from the Emergency Fund. Hope for the Future has been able to provide powdered milk, maize flour, sugar, soap and cooking oil to elderly women with grandchildren, refugee families and those families headed by both women and children respectively.

Update from May 2020

Hope for the Future continued their food distribution program. Through their community outreach, they have seen an increase in domestic violence, families falling apart, and many young women unemployed due to the closing of the hospitality industry.

Women Advocacy Project

Women Advocacy Project (WAP) has been a partner of Rockflower since 2016. In 2018 they secured a Peace Fellow from The Advocacy Project (AP) in Washington DC. Rockflower and AP have continued to work together to ensure that WAP is able to progress in their vision to reduce the prevalence of child marriage in their communities. AP has sent two peace fellows since the beginning of their partnership with WAP. Iain Guest, Founder and Director of AP, visited WAP last November and produced the video of Evelyn found at the end of this news item. WAP was making great progress with their soapmaking business and was set to scale before the threat of COVID-19 shut everything down.

Zimbabwe

Beginning on March 30, Zimbabwe was put into a 21-day lockdown.

Concerns and Challenges

Women Advocacy Project’s main concern is the state of the Zimbabwean health system. There is a “dire shortage of ventilators, oxygen tanks, biohazard suits and N95 face masks for healthcare professionals fighting the coronavirus pandemic.” Additionally, there are inadequate screenings across the country and a lack of quarantine and isolation facilities.

Adaptation Measures

Constance Mugari, Executive Director of WAP, is already making soap in her home to distribute to beneficiaries. Once the lockdown is lifted, Women Advocacy Project is planning to train the women and girls to make hand sanitizer and masks.

Emergency Fund

Rockflower has sent funds to the Women Advocacy Project, to combine with those from AP and others supporting their work. This will help cover the cost of printing information pages on the virus, delivering small food parcels and making masks.

Update from June 2020

In addition to the continuous support from our Emergency Fund, WAP also received funds from Action for World Solidarity, The Advocacy Project, and the Pollination Project. This combined aid resulted in distribution of essential item parcels, including 10 kgs of maize meal, 2 liters of cooking oil, 2 bottles of hand washing soap, 5 face masks, and 1 informative poster, to 100 families in Epworth and Chitungwiza. Additionally donations were made, 200 masks, 150 bottles of soap, and 100 copies of information posters, to St Mary Primary Clinic in Chitungwiza and, 350 masks, 250 bottles of soap, 100 information pages, to Epworth Mission Clinic in Epworth respectively.