The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the communities that we work with and we were kept busy offering aid and assistance wherever we could.
A Helping Hand
With lockdown restrictions and curfews, many Ugandans struggled on reduced incomes or job loss. Due to very minimal Government assistance Edirisa UK stepped in to help those across all of our projects.
Though our nurseries and craft shops closed we continued to pay full salaries for three months, followed by making monthly contributions to all of our staff. Our Head Tailor made hundreds of face masks, many of which were given away to the Bwama Health Centre and the women in our craft groups, to name a few. And while our nursery schools had been forced to close, we took the opportunity to redecorate! Sadly our Special Needs Education Centre also had to close and all the children and young people were sent back to their homes, but we made sure we supported them through food packages. Supplies were also given to women in our craft groups, comprising posho, beans, salt, soap and more.
Health Care
During COVID-19 we supported Bwama Health Centre through the supply of PPE equipment and much needed, life-saving medicine.
We were delighted that Dr Robert Mugarura scheduled another Surgical Camp for early 2021, and though we were worried that COVID-19 restrictions would force him to cancel, it fortunately went ahead and he was able to help more children and adults suffering from orthopaedic conditions.
Free Seedlings
Spreading a little love during the COVID-19 lockdown, we were delighted to deliver 25,000 coffee plant seedlings to the women in our craft groups. This was all thanks to Gorilla Highlands Coffee and the Government's Uganda Coffee Development Authority scheme.
The government's scheme is there to expand coffee farming throughout the country, aiming to "promote and oversee the coffee industry by supporting research, promoting production, controlling the quality and improving the marketing of coffee". Gorilla Highlands Coffee is one of our close partners and thanks to them our women's groups were chosen as beneficiaries of these coffee plants. As these plants start producing beans, the women earn money selling their beans to Gorilla Highlands Coffee. We are delighted to help set them on a path to building a sustainable income for themselves and their families.
And it doesn't stop there! We have also been able to donate vegetable seedlings to the staff at Bwama Health Centre to be used by staff, in nutrition outreach workshops and for patients, and to other local community groups.
