PATH TO EMPOWERMENT MINISTRIES

SECOND QUARTER PROGRESS REPORT

Email:[email protected]
[email protected]
Contact: +256773-346969

Reporting Period: 01/April – 30/June 2025
Funding: Global Ministry Partners (GMP)

1. Introduction – Description of Activities

From April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, Path to Empowerment Ministries (PEM) with funding from Global Ministry Partners, has been able to implement the following key activities to serve the people in the Coo-Pill Village, Unyama Sub-County, Gulu District, Northern Uganda.

1. Exploring and identifying needs in the community

PEM explored the villages in Unyama Sub- County to identify needs of the under-served community members so that they can be supported to transform their lives and address some of the needs that are vital to for their health and spiritual growth. Exploration and identification of needs were done with the help of Unyama Sub-County leaders, community members, local and religious leaders. Some of the needs identified include: community members have limited access to information on health and hygiene, limited access to the word of God, unhealthy water sources, gender-based violence mostly affecting women, collapsing classrooms, and lack of a health facility which affects women, especially those who are pregnant that cannot walk long distances for antenatal services, among others.

2. Establishment of Bible study sites (More Jesus)

To help under-served community members develop in Christ, support and love one another, and live in Christian values, three Bible study sites were established. These studies provide community members with access to the word of God and Bibles which supports spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of the word of God, and promotes Christian values in the community. The first Bible study site is in Coo-Pill community, conducted every Saturday from 2:00- 5:00pm. The second is conducted every Thursday in Agung Community from 2:00-5:00pm. The last Bible study site is in Pece, which is within town and it is being led by a lady every Friday from 2:00-4:30pm.

3. Menstrual education and distribution of reusable sanitary pads (More WASH)

Menstrual education has been conducted in three schools, namely Coo-Primary School, Ogul Primary School, and Open Hands Primary and Nursery School. Girls aged 11-16 years gained skills on how to promote their health and hygiene when menstruating. In the second quarter, a total of 137 girls in schools were supported with reusable sanitary pads. Additionally, 96 community women who participate in Bible studies were supported with reusable sanitary pads and received menstrual education. A total of 233 participants (women and girls) received pads to support them and build their confidence hence, promoting good health and hygiene.

4. Construction of Boreholes (More WASH)

In the second quarter, with funding from GMP, PEM drilled two boreholes. One borehole is in the community of Coo-Pill.  The second borehole is in Rock View Primary School and will be collectively used by the school and the community members, providing clean water for their health and hygiene.

5. More WASH

Health and sanitation activities were conducted with the learners in Open Hands Primary and Nursery School, Coo-Primary School, Ogul Primary School, and Rock View Nursery and Primary School. The purpose of the activities was to enable students to learn and understand best practices for promoting good health and hygiene, in and outside of school so that they stay healthy while studying and at home. In some schools like Ogul Primary School, murals carrying messages about WASH were painted on the school. The murals provide a consistent and sustainable message about best practices to promote and maintain health and hygiene, and are also accessible to community members and other stakeholders.

2. Key Results

• Women who are faced with emotional challenges now have space to share their challenges, and find hope and encouragement through Bible studies. There is also support for women after the Bible studies.
• Bible studies has enabled a deeper understanding of the word of God and promoted Christian values in the community, creating a community that values and respect one another.
• Children have learned to be obedient to their parents, teachers, friends and the communities and also to develop a relationship with Jesus as their personal savior at a young age, laying the groundwork for lifelong faith.
• Bible studies brought healing in women and men while understanding their identity in Christ.
• Improved personal health and hygiene through the construction of a laundry washing slab, so women do not need to carry water several times to wash clothes from home.
• Improved hygiene of the water area while protecting the water from contamination.
• Increased access to clean water and consumption of clean water for domestic use, leading to good health and hygiene of the community members.

3. Challenges & Recommendations

Challenge: Too much rain sometimes affected some of the Bible studies.
Action Points:
1. Some Christians have offered their huts for Bible studies when it rains.
2. Christians planning to put up some structure for Bible studies and fellowships.

Challenge: Limited access to psychosocial support to women.
Action Points:
1. Provision of safe space to share spiritual, emotional and psycho-social support.
2. Provision of referral pathways like to District Gender officer, the police and other stakeholders for victims of Gender-based Violence to be assisted.

Challenge: Lack of hygiene manuals in schools.
Action Points:
1. Copies of WASH Manual will be printed and given to the schools.

4. Lessons Learnt

• Once empowered to support one another through the word of God, community members build and grow together.
• Women and girls in the community are more vulnerable than men and boys, but by engaging in Bible studies and fellowship, they are being supported through spiritual counselling, growth and knowing God is helping them heal from the challenges they are facing.

Pictures

The laundry washing pad constructed in Agung community provides a clean space for women to wash clothes, blankets and mattresses while protecting the water source from contamination. The Sub-county leader on the right talking to the community about how to keep the washing slab clean.

Bible studies are being conducted on a weekly basis to support spiritual growth and to promote Christian values to the community members that have not had access to Bibles and the word of God easily.

School girls are being supported with menstrual education and reusable sanitary pads to build their confidence during menstrual cycles, keep them in school and promote good health and hygiene to protect them from infections as they menstruate.

Women and girls who participate in Bible studies are supported with reusable sanitary pads and provided with menstrual education to help maintain their hygiene and practice healthy habits during menstrual periods.

Painting of WASH ON THE WALL at Ogul Primary School to teach learners, school management and the community members about the best practices to stay healthy, clean and safe from infections.

Two boreholes were drilled to provide community members and learners with access to clean water. Community members used to drink water from open and unprotected wells that were also shared with animals. They now have access to clean and safe water.