Supporting Congolese refugee communities through lockdown

16/7/2020

Severino's family is one of 188 elderly-headed households in Kyaka II, who were supported with supply parcels through lockdown.

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Near the start of Ugandan lockdown, all education services were shut and the World Food Programme cut food rations by 30% for refugees. Since then, our team in Kyaka II refugee settlement have been finding creative ways to get supplies to the most vulnerable households, support teachers and ensure children have access to learning.

Home learning

After unsuccessful attempts to get learning materials to the children by phone, we are working with Ubongo to conduct a month’s trial of delivering lessons, two times a week via radio airtime in Kyaka II. For the teachers, we have started a home-learning training programme, and for the children, the Ugandan Early Childhood Development (ECD) home learning curriculum will be translated into suitable languages and delivered by our teachers and resource officers (wearing protective clothing). These visits will also serve as a means to check on children’s safety and wellbeing while they are unable to attend the centres.

Supplies for elderly-headed households

During lockdown we have facilitated two distributions of food and soap parcels for 188 of the most vulnerable elderly-headed households in Kyaka II. The distributions were highly applauded by the settlement commandant and many of the families expressed how we had responded in a timely manner when they were most in need.

Supporting teachers

28 small business loans were given out to teachers just before lockdown, which have proved to be an invaluable resource throughout a difficult time.

“Most of my colleagues have found it a hard time during the coronavirus pandemic, but for me I have been able to sail through peacefully. I am so grateful for what Children on the Edge Africa did for me. My uncle has been ill so I have also been able to provide for his family.”

John- ECD teacher and shop owner in Kyaka II refugee settlement

One example is 26-year-old John (pictured below), who not only teaches baby class, but also has a small shop. He originally sold drinks, sugar, soap, biscuits and other general items, but struggled to attract enough customers. He realised he wasn’t stocking items that were in much demand and the kinds of goods people wanted were not available on his budget.

He was about to give up when he heard about our loan scheme for teachers in Kyaka II. He attended all the business training sessions and applied for a loan of 200,000 UGX, which he used to stock more highly sought items.

Since this time, John has doubled his profits and has used them to expand the business even further.