Covid-19 update
By Joan Thomason, Amana UK chairwoman
During the last month I have been in contact with Winnie and Jairus trying to find ways we can help them in the covid-19 lockdown. I wanted to update you on the challenges that they are facing in Soroti.
Locusts
A few weeks ago, the eggs the locus laid when the swarm was around Soroti had hatched. There was not as many Locusts as the last swarm but there was no insecticide available because of the lockdown. The locusts have now left the area but are still around in East Africa, India and Pakistan.
Heavy Rains
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Over the last weeks there has been very heavy rain and rivers have broken their banks. This has been worse in the South West of the country where 200,000 people have been displaced. Lake Victoria has many rivers draining into it but only one draining out, The Nile. The level of the Lake is at a record high and has caused flooding of surrounding areas. The modern dams that have been built have also contributed to the flooding. The rains and floods have washed away the crops which were planted after the locust left, and once again the mosquitoes are giving rise to Malaria problems. Though Soroti has not be affected by the Lake Victoria flooding their local lake has also burst its banks and displace many people who live along its banks. Winnie says food prices continue to rise due to destroyed crops.
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Here is a map to show the location of Soroti. It is surrounded by large lakes and is often affected by flooding.
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Our Ugandan Partners
The household at Amen (Winnie and George’s land) has grown over the lockdown for Covid-19. There are currently 12 sponsor children staying with them. They have come to live at Amen for different reasons. We have several children with safeguarding risks at home and they would normally be boarding at school. Winnie has brought these children to live with her at the beginning of the lockdown to keep them safe. The flooding has brought some children because of lack of food or collapsed houses. Winnie has been teaching and feeding the children and generally loving and caring for them.
Winnie and George have been true leaders in their community during lockdown, taking in children out of love and concern for their welfare. Additionally, Jarius has been going out to the surrounding villages to check on those sponsor children whose families returned to their own villages so that they could help their families to grow crops. During these visits, Jairus tries to meet some of the immediate needs of the children.
Some of the elderly population have also gone to Winnie and George for food because they are known as good people. The number has grown as food has become more and more expensive and hard to get hold of. Winnie has been using some of the household food to prepare a meal for those who come for help. Starvation is the biggest killer during this pandemic and there is no help or support from the government for those who are dying. The money we sent to buy food for our sponsor children has also provided help for others in great need whilst also providing enough food for the sponsor children.
Jarius and the Baptist churches have managed to still do church by leading worship and sermons online but this is limited to those who have access to technology.
Winnie and George have been true leaders in their community during lockdown, taking in children out of love and concern for their welfare. Additionally, Jarius has been going out to the surrounding villages to check on those sponsor children whose families returned to their own villages so that they could help their families to grow crops. During these visits, Jairus tries to meet some of the immediate needs of the children.
Some of the elderly population have also gone to Winnie and George for food because they are known as good people. The number has grown as food has become more and more expensive and hard to get hold of. Winnie has been using some of the household food to prepare a meal for those who come for help. Starvation is the biggest killer during this pandemic and there is no help or support from the government for those who are dying. The money we sent to buy food for our sponsor children has also provided help for others in great need whilst also providing enough food for the sponsor children.
Jarius and the Baptist churches have managed to still do church by leading worship and sermons online but this is limited to those who have access to technology.
The social consequences of lockdown
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Uganda has had a significant increase in domestic abuse over this lockdown period. Winnie reports that women and children have been killed due to being locked down with their abusers (a story that resonates for some in the UK as well). One of our young girls who left the project to get married arrived at Amen, running away from her husband who had beaten her. She stayed for a while but has now gone back to him. Domestic abuse looks the same the world over.
The government has put social distancing on transport. This means a bus can carry less than half the people they normally carry, so all transport costs are increased. This will also be a problem for the school buses as they pick up many of the children from outlying villages and as yet they do not have a solution. Seeing lots of people crammed into ridiculously small buses is a quintessential African experience. Africa may never look the same again!! |
picture: The school bus before lockdown. Sometimes there were 2 little bottoms to a seat.
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Schools
Picture on left: Can you imagine a class this tightly packed social distancing? They will have to make some big changes.
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The good news is that the government is opening some schools but only for the seniors who have state examinations. Winnie is awaiting information from the secondary schools regarding sponsor children.
May is a school holiday in Uganda so it is hoped that Goshen School will start back during the next school term and work hard to catch up on the missed education. Social distancing rules will be difficult in their overcrowded classrooms. Like our schools they are trying to come up with safe ways to teach the children before school starts. |
Sponsor money
The trustees have had a meeting to discuss how we use sponsor money to help to continue to support our sponsor children and ensure that the school is in a position to open as soon as guidance allows. Whilst schools are closed, Winnie and George still need to provide food and basic first aid for the children as well as ongoing costs of the infrastructure of the school. Due to the school being closed they have not received school fees from other families attending Goshen. Unlike here where there is leniency and understanding for the current situation, banks demand their regular payments on loans and Utility providers still need to be paid. The trustees have looked to see how we can help in this situation as Goshen is an important part of our project. It was decided that we would continue to send the usual sponsor money, and this would ensure the children are fed, that their welfare needs are met and that the school would have sufficient resources to be ready to open as soon as guidance permits.
I hope this gives you a clear picture of what life is like for our sponsor children. The struggles and the hope. We will continue to monitor the situation and the trustees will meet again in July to assess the ongoing situation. We will keep you informed of any decision we make, and hopefully bring you some good news.
Our Ugandan partners have been touched by your care and generosity during this time. I want to personally thank you for all that you have done to support us in this difficult time.
Keep safe!
Our Ugandan partners have been touched by your care and generosity during this time. I want to personally thank you for all that you have done to support us in this difficult time.
Keep safe!
published: June 2020