Get Water Uganda

Our Partner myclimate represented by their Senior Project Manager Rosmary Millán de Kuhn joined by DACHSER representative Mr Nils Hegel and a team from Terre des Hommes Germany by Charlotte Wiemann and Magaly Ines Beltran Siñani have just concluded their visit to our Eastern Uganda Water kiosk projects in the rural communities of Busia and Namayingo districts. We have had very good times interacting with the local people and authorities and hearing testimonies from beneficiaries on how the existing projects are transforming the lives of people especially the women and children. The visit was included by tree planting activity at Get Water Uganda offices by our guests. #collaboration #Water #Climateprotection #WASH Barbara Oberfichtner Henry Ouma Sandec-Eawag THE RAIN WORKERS, Network for sexual and reproductive health Openversum Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Kennedy Wanyama

Today Get Water Uganda has concluded a community field visit trip by her partner THE RAIN WORKERS, Network for sexual and reproductive health - Austrian based NGO represented by Ines Kohl and @Margaret Bachlechner. Our team received beginner and advanced training from THE RAIN WORKERS, Network for sexual and reproductive health where 15 members of our team were qualified as RAIN WORKERS, let "knowledge rain" and are based in the rural communities to educate and spread knowledge about planned pregnancies = family planning and sexual & reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV/AIDS prevention and the risks of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). For the last 6 months, our team of Rain Workers have been and are committed to spread knowledge to empower girls and women aiming at reduction of poverty and increasing educational opportunities. So far over 882 family heads men, 2455 women and 619 students have been trained and enrolled as beneficiaries of the THE RAIN WORKERS, Network for sexual and reproductive health program and Get Water Uganda is excited for the cooperation that is transforming many lives of girls and women in Eastern Uganda communities.

Get Water Uganda has been privileged to host Mr Israel Katongole working with GIZ Uganda who came for a 3 days visit to our project, "Financial Inclusion of women through digital village savings and loans association in Uganda" being implemented between Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Get Water Uganda in Busia District, Eastern Uganda. He was able to visit and witness different activities of Get Water Uganda such as women Village Savings and loans association VSLAS groups using a digital platform to save and borrow their money, he also visited beneficiaries utilizing small scale irrigation caravans which were distributed through the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, he was able to appreciate the journey that many of our beneficiaries are moving to practice WASH leading to improved health, he also visited schools where Menstrual hygiene rooms for girls were constructed and appreciated the efforts put in by the local partners and GWU, The local communities and schools were so excited to receive Israel Katongole with traditional songs and dances where he easily bonded with them to celebrate the visible successes of the beneficiaries. Paula Boecken Emelly Zandonda Henry Ouma Israel Katongole Barbara Oberfichtner Gregor Riss Laura Stocco Olivier Gröninger

To ensure quality assurance on our water treatment technology of Solar Water disinfection(SODIS) with WADI device 👉 a UV indicator, Get Water Uganda invites Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) in Kampala to rural households using this technology to collect water samples from the water treated by SODIS and deliver to their lab to evaluate majorly two microbial parameters of TC and EC. Early this month we just concluded the sampling activity and yet to receive the results. We will be able to share feedback as soon as the results are out 🙏myclimate Henry Ouma Barbara Oberfichtner Rosmary Millán de Kuhn

Research from the 2020 situational analysis report by the Ministry of Education and Sports, further indicated that more than half of girls that enroll in primary one drop out before sitting their Primary Leaving Examinations mainly because of menstrual challenges such as inability to afford sanitary products, inadequate preparations for young girls not yet experiencing menstrual hygiene, lack of or inadequate water to clean and wash the body, no private space and wash rooms and inappropriate facilities for disposal of used sanitary materials among others. Get Water Uganda in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH reached out and supported 4 schools with over a population of 2600 students in Busia, Eastern Uganda with a menstrual management room, 2 fero cement tanks of 10,000L capacity and incinerator for each school to solve the above challenges Ugandan girls are facing at the moment. We thank the government of Germany for a good relationship they have with Uganda which gave us a good environment through the local leadership and technical teams to reach out to these vulnerable young girls 🙏 #partnership #Menstrualmanagement #Girls

The current biggest challenge women in Uganda are facing is financial inclusion which is very relevant especially for women in rural Uganda who are often the main caretakers within families. This is especially relevant when considering that women in Uganda are responsible for 70-80 % of agriculture production, nutrition and food security at household level. Get Water Uganda with her partners Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Openversum and Relevant Ventures GmbH are implementing a project - Financial Inclusion of Women through Digital Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in Uganda, where women take lead and represent majority numbers. The project is located in Eastern Uganda, Busia district reaching out to a total of 10,069 households with a total of 80 VSLA's formed and have undergone training by our service provider Ensibuuko. The core of the project focuses on: a. Onboarding and migration of the group members details to an application system using a mobile phone. b. How to start up/grow a business c. Business financing mechanisms d. Records and accounting e. Customer relations f. Business risks g. Market analysis and prospect h. Business strategy development i. Investment and business management j. Banking and financial management k. Networking activities (with suppliers etc). l. WASH promotion at households and schools. The VSLA app (mobis) will be integrated into mobile money and bank accounts. The application allows the members to use a basic phone to access a USSD code through which they can access their individual ledgers and general account enabling savings, loan application and statements access in real time. It allows users to effect saving/loans obligations anytime of the day from any location. The risk of keeping the savings into a box at a member's premise is reduced since the funds are directly sent to the account. Also, the travel and extra cost for the group to move and bank the pooled funds is eliminated. The integration requires a user to deposit the money on their phone using mobile money (which is largely available in rural communities provided by Telecom companies - MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda) and through the VSLA mobis app, the amount can be transferred from the Mobile money account to the group VSLA account. The app promotes transparency and accountability to members in the VSLA. Get Water Uganda and software provider will continue to provide financial literacy and awareness training to the group’s members to enhance proper management and sustainability. #womeneconomicempowerment #financialinclusion #partnership Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Openversum Relevant Ventures GmbH Ensibuuko Henry Ouma Gregor Riss Laura Stocco Olivier Gröninger Maike Striffler Emelly Zandonda Barbara Oberfichtner Paula Boecken Lukas Bouman Jana Krajcovicova Marie Loerke