Welcome to the eighteenth edition of the POSHU Newsletter
The aim of this newsletter is to raise greater awareness of the work POSHU is doing, to keep regular supporters informed and to outline how supporters (new and old) can help.
In 2009, Australian woman, Susan Howe founded POSHU. The organisation is a registered fundraiser based in Victoria, Australia, and is recognised as a Community Based Organisation in Uganda. Encompassing rural, urban, and remote areas of Uganda, POSHU works with groups of women impacted by violence and poverty, affected by HIV/AIDS, and internally displaced persons (IDP).
As well as the generosity of POSHU’s many supporters, the project is grounded in Susan’s personal funds. Currently POSHU operates women’s education classes in 16 villages. Funds raised go towards health care, school fees for children, vegetable seed, sports and more.
In addition, funded projects involve teaching women literacy in English and local language, mathematics, sewing, crafts, and agriculture. Over time, many groups have transitioned from training programs to independent Friends of POSHU Sewing Co-operatives.
These transitions bring liberating and autonomous skills to individuals who can earn an income from sewing. Despite the challenges of covid, POSHU continues to successfully provide support to many projects.
POSHU Njeru – By the Nile
Njeru is on the banks of the river Nile, many of the women were relocated there as IDP after unrest in their home villages in east Uganda made it unsafe for them to stay.
In the words Esther, the Njeru group’s coordinator, below is a brief of account of the group’s evolution over the last 12 years, and why it makes a difference to the community in Njeru.
“POSHU started adult English Class for women at Njeru 12 years ago. These women could not read and write because of illiteracy since they had no chance to go to school because of early marriage. They were seen as a source of income by their parents and had no right to education though they needed it.
The POSHU English Class is aimed at improving the women’s literacy, so they learn to write their name. They also learn to help their children with schoolwork. Most women get excited when they learn how to write their name. POSHU buys us textbooks.
Njeru class received sewing machines and a tailoring teacher who is paid every month. During this class women get skills in operating the sewing, including making masks for sale. Women during this class share different ideas and help each other. They get solutions to their problems since we are many and we talk together.
POSHU has taught us a job creating activity, reducing the high rates of unemployment among women in Njeru. This promotes gender equality as women contribute to the household income. POSHU Class is a safe place for us especially during covid pandemic.
We also learn Agriculture and recieve vegetable seeds twice a year which gives us a balance diet. We practice sports, both netball and football for the boys. We do music and dance and learn to hold meetings.
We have a womens savings group that helps us start small businesses. We learn First Aid tips and personal hygiene among women. We learn how to cope with menstruation and use medicine for pain.
We learn how to prevent diseases through keeping our homes clean and how to take care of our children.
POSHU also teaches us basic calculations that has helped women carry out their business well. POSHU has helped teen mothers through tailoring class and sports such as netball which we enjoy. POSHU has helped us a lot.”
Other
POSHU introduced the program of goat rearing for children living disabilities in 2020. So far 60 families are succesfully rearing goats. This project was aimed at improving the standard of living for people living with disabilities. They are also given comfortable bedding, and funding for hospital bills. All these bring joy to their families and hope for the future.
What your donations mean for Disability Support
$30 buys one month of nutritional food for a child having surgery
$40 buys a female goat to help support a disabled child
$50 buys support shoes or walking frame for a child
$100 hires a minibus to take 6 children and mothers to Mbale Cure Hospital
POSHU in April sent sacks of sweet potato cuttings and casava cuttings to remote Karamajong communities in Moroto. Their POSHU Agriculture coordinator is training the young men and women in our project to grow these crops as well as vegetables to help them with food insecurity.
POSHU supports school fees for needy children who would not otherwise be able to afford to access an education.
Our POSHU gardeners teach women to grow vegetable seeds in nursery beds before transplanting to their gardens. This increases consumptions of vegetables so children have a balanced diet and are healthier.