Partnership Overview

For a number of years Touch Africa Now (TAN) has been developing ministry in the Nyakagando area (as well as being very active in other areas, particularly around western Kampala and in the northern, mainly Muslim, parts of Uganda). This is an area of great need, with most of the local people being DR Congo and South Sudanese refugees. There are now a number of churches and a school in this area and through these TAN has been able to develop partnerships with the community. This partnership addresses one of the strongholds they want to tackle. The girls and women are still vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and they are developing small income generating activities for the most vulnerable. 

Many women experience infections due to inadequate feminine supplies. 70% of girls in rural schools miss classes for three days in a month because of menstruation periods which make them stay at home avoiding their peers and missing out on their education. According to TAN's first survey in Nyakagando community in around 2016/17, the girls lacked education regarding menstruation and sex and so there was a high degree of stigma and embarrassment for girls during menstruation. In most cases women also remain at home during menstruation which affects their productive work. In the survey, Nyakagando community women complained of painful sores and a smelly, embarrassing and uncomfortable situation caused as a result of using rags. The life of a woman can therefore be transformed through improving their hygiene.

This project benefits these rural girls and women aged approximately from 12 to 45 years of age who cannot afford to buy disposable sanitary pads from supermarkets. TAN's partnership with Bright Hope World is transforming the lives of girls and women in Nyakagando community through empowering them in different skills such as making reusable sanitary towels, poultry rearing and adult literacy.   

History of Partnership

Touch Africa Now was formed in 2002 when it was known as Gospel Power Ministries and was formed alongside a local church that was located in an urban poor community (the slum area of Namungoona) in the suburbs of Kampala city. It was predominantly established to help children in the areas of education and health, and help in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. As the vision expanded, the organization became independent and changed its name to Touch Africa Now. Currently TAN serves the Muslim community in West Nile, Yumbe District and Sudanese refugees in Uganda.

BHW's New Partnership Director has known TAN's key people since 2013 and has visited them on four occasions. In 2016 he travelled to the Nyakagando area and visited the refugee camps with them. In early 2018 BHW commenced partnership with TAN. This partnership has started small, but the reports show good fruit from it, and great potential for expansion into other schools. 

Beneficiaries

The main beneficiaries here are the vulnerable school going girls, along with women who live in the community. 

What We Like About The Partnership

They already have good basic infrastructure in place. There are also good people in place on the ground who understand and have relationships with their community. 

There are strong churches and a good school already in the community so there is a strong spiritual and academic foundation established. They will build on this.  

Our partners are part of a strong network of churches with an extensive reach into various areas of Uganda and we look forward to exciting new possibilities for growth in the years ahead. 

Relationship To Other Partnerships

TAN is part of the Dove Fellowship group that BHW partners with in Kenya (KEN07).

Key People

Leadership Profile

Ephraim Tumusiime was married to Jova and has four adult children and ten grandchildren. Sadly, Jova died as a result of the Covid epidemic in Uganda and he recently remarried Joyce. Ephraim is a pastor and gives oversight to approximately 100 congregations under Dove Fellowship Uganda. He is a former high school teacher with a Degree in History and Geography plus a Diploma in Education from Makerere University, Kampala. He has also attained MA in Christian Ministries from Wheaton College (USA) and has wide experience as a bible teacher and evangelist. 

Other People Involved

Ephraim has a number of people assisting him in the administration of the programmes and we have been impressed with those we have met during our visits. Ephraim is good at working with a team and maintains good accountability. 

Vision And Annual Strategy

Vision 

The plan is to see the most vulnerable become self-sustaining. As this develops, the women and girls are making and selling sanitary pads in their own communities and wider. 

In addition, this project will also improve menstrual hygiene among girls and women in Nyakagando community through training programmes on reusable pads that are cost effective. 

The intention was that by the end of three years this project would be self-sustaining and an effective little business would be operating. This objective has been largely achieved but it has become clear that the project itself is relevant far beyond one primary school in Nyakagondo. We are therefore, as of 2023, continuing to be involved with Ephraim in a proposed expansion of the project to three other schools, and excited that this partnership also opens doors into more challenging areas further north in Uganda.

Strategy

Initially this was a three year project. In year one the communities were trained to understand the issues and to get community leaders together. This was not an easy thing to achieve as there are many negative mindsets to overcome and replace. Years two and three were to consolidate the impact and develop people so that attitudes are changed and people's lives improved. As you will see from the reports, these objectives hae been achieved, thus opening the door for further involvement by Bright Hope World. 

The program initially benefitted about 150 girls and women of Nyakagando primary school and women in the community. Funds were used to equip a workshop for the girls and women to make reusable pads ensuring that all materials needed are provided (cotton fabrics, threads, sewing machine and scissors). One of classrooms at the school was used as a workshop. This is a model for further development of this project. 

Mobilization and sensitization of local leaders and participants was carried out about the skills empowerment programme. The leadership is now replicating this plan in other areas. 

Facilitators were hired to train community volunteer leaders, who in turn will be project instructors of women's groups. An initial training of trainers (volunteer instructors) was carried out for two days. 

The monitoring, supervision and reporting will be done by TAN and an appraisal of participants will continue to be done by TAN into the future.