In Uganda, girls face unique challenges as they strive to achieve their dreams. Did you know many Ugandan girls miss up to 20% of school because they don't have the necessary sanitary supplies for their monthly cycles? Fields of Dreams Uganda strives to ensure that no girl falls behind in the classroom or on the field by equipping each of the mature girls in our 10 partner schools with a hygiene kit. Fields of Dreams Uganda purchases these hygiene kits from AFRIpads, a local Ugandan social enterprise employed by a workforce made up of 90% women, that creates cloth pads/hygiene kits which are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable (for up to one year).
It is the hope of our organization to distribute 2,500 hygiene kits during the 2016 calendar year. We will distribute these kits at our 10 partner schools, through friendly matches in the communities we operate, and through a Hope Cup Soccer Tournament that is open to any teams throughout Uganda. Do to our generous and passionate donors, 1,200 kits have already been accounted for over the 2015 calendar year. This is in large part to a substantial grant received from the Raymond B. Preston Family Foundation specifically for our hygiene kits. This leaves our goal for our Holiday Hygiene Drive of raising enough support to purchase the remaining 1,300 kits at a cost of $22,120.
During the distribution of our hygiene kits our Ugandan staff have seen multiple changes on our partner campuses. The attendance rates have improved on our partner campuses (at Bungatira Primary School alone, 100 girls returned to school because of these life-changing kits), the cleanliness of the dormitories and school grounds has increased, the school drop-out rates have decreased, the hygiene kits have opened up conversations about other health topics on the campuses and have helped to build trust between our Ugandan staff and the girls that we are serving.
It is the hope of our organization to distribute 2,500 hygiene kits during the 2016 calendar year. We will distribute these kits at our 10 partner schools, through friendly matches in the communities we operate, and through a Hope Cup Soccer Tournament that is open to any teams throughout Uganda. Do to our generous and passionate donors, 1,200 kits have already been accounted for over the 2015 calendar year. This is in large part to a substantial grant received from the Raymond B. Preston Family Foundation specifically for our hygiene kits. This leaves our goal for our Holiday Hygiene Drive of raising enough support to purchase the remaining 1,300 kits at a cost of $22,120.
During the distribution of our hygiene kits our Ugandan staff have seen multiple changes on our partner campuses. The attendance rates have improved on our partner campuses (at Bungatira Primary School alone, 100 girls returned to school because of these life-changing kits), the cleanliness of the dormitories and school grounds has increased, the school drop-out rates have decreased, the hygiene kits have opened up conversations about other health topics on the campuses and have helped to build trust between our Ugandan staff and the girls that we are serving.
While distributing these life-changing hygiene kits, the girls receiving these items are also empowered through girl empowerment workshops on character, self-defense training, sexual assault prevention, and anti-trafficking education. The courage of these young girls has also helped spearhead a character and integrity training for the young men at our partner schools to stop any future perpetrators, and create a more comfortable and safe learning environment for these future leaders of Uganda.
*Fields of Dreams Uganda was awarded the 2014 International Sport for Health Award by Beyond Sport for its Girl Empowerment Program.
What's In The Kit:At just $17 the purchase of a hygiene kit ensures that each girl can attend classes and train on the soccer field by equipping them with the following:
5 washable, durable pads
2 Pad Storage Bags
2 Large Bars of Soap
1 Wash Basin
1 Drying Rack
3 Pair of Underwear
1 Kit Storage Bag
And most importantly a new sense of dignity and self-respect!
Kit Distribution:
Laroo Primary School (Northern Region) = 267 kits needed
Pageya Primary School (Northern Region) = 201 kits needed
Koro Primary School (Northern Region) = 159 kits needed
Gulu PTC Demonstration Primary School (Northern Region) = 178 kits needed Bungatira Primary School (Northern Region) = 279 kits needed
Wakiso Children’s School of Hope (Central Region) = 156 kits needed New Kabaale Busega (Central Region) = 133 kits needed
Vision For Africa (Central Region) = 104 kits needed
Humble United Methodist School (Central Region) = 123 kits needed
St. Kazito Primary School (Central Region) = 125 kits needed
If our goal of $22,120 is exceeded, all additional proceeds will be used towards our Girl Empowerment Program including our soccer and educational programming at our partner schools. With the focus of the majority of these funds being used to build new and clean changing rooms at our partner schools in Northern Uganda.
