COVID-19 Response
In order to keep their population and communities safe, Uganda went on two separate lockdowns during March - May 2020 and May - July 2021. This resulted in the limiting of public transportation, closed markets, and no available schooling unless you are the oldest grade.
During this time, it made it difficult for rural communities to be able to sell products with no markets open, students were not able to attend school, and little to no hygiene products were available for remote populations.
Your Donations At Work
Two separate responses were completed during each lockdown that was organized and completed by our Ugandan team. Even though traveling was limited during the lockdown, our team was given approval by the Ministry of Health to complete hygiene and economic support for the communities we work with. Led by our project manager, Andrew Auruku, he wanted to complete a hygiene, education, and economic response.
Hygiene
We provided COVID-19 health seminars for the 4 communities we are working with and distributed 20 handwashing stations in high population-dense areas. With the assistance of the WHO, every community member was able to receive masks, soap, and protective gloves.
Largely impart to their accessibility to clean water and hygiene help, no COVID-19 cases were reported in the communities we work with.
Economic
Since markets were closed, community members did not have an ability to sell their livestock and crops. Also, since markets were closed, they could not buy staple food supplies like rice, oil, clothes, soap, and feed for livestock. Within the communities we work with, our team highlighted 500 families that are in the greatest need of economic relief. Food, household supplies, and general care was provided.
This took a community effort and everyone helped each other out including selling to each other, ensuring everyone was healthy, and working together to ensure the right people were helped.
Education
During the lockdowns, school was only available for students in the highest grade of each school to help them transition next year. Other students were sent home and given worksheets to complete until they could return.
We helped teachers in each community travel and assist students with subjects they are having trouble with and to help keep their grades up.