OPM commends Vision Group for embracing localisation of donor support to refugees
This, according to the Office of the Prime Minister, will help promote a sustainable approach to supporting and donating non-food items to refugees in the various settlements in West Nile.
Arua One radio, a station under Vision Group took the initiative of mobilising support for the refugees locally. (File photo)
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TEREGO — The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has praised Vision Group for embracing localisation of donor support to refugees in the West Nile settlements.
This, according to the Office of the Prime Minister, will help promote a sustainable approach to supporting and donating non-food items to refugees in the various settlements in West Nile.
The commendation came during the distribution of assorted items mobilised by Vision Group to refugees in Ngurua village in Odupu sub-county in Terego district under Rhino Camp refugee settlement on Tuesday. The items included clothes, shoes, pads, scholastic materials and soap.
Jean Pierre, the Community Service officer at the OPM in Rhino Camp Settlement, praised Arua One radio, a station under Vision Group, for the initiative of mobilising support for the refugees locally.
He said the support from Vision Group through Arua One radio to the refugees; "is a good example of localisation of donor support to refugees." Pierre challenged the community, private sector, business community and people of good will to embrace the initiative of collecting non-food items and donating to needy persons in refugee settlements.
The support is part of Vision Group's means of identifying with the refugees and host communities. Pierre said that over the years, support from European countries has reduced drastically, a reason for embracing localisation of donor support.
Some of the pupils, especially girls at Siripi Primary School, who benefited from the support, especially of sanitary pads, expressed joy that the support will help them stay in school.
Tete Mborikino, a primary seven pupil, said the support of pads will help her remain in school during her menstruation periods.
“It is going to help me during my menstruation period. When it comes, I will wear the pads and attend class comfortably,” Mborikino said.
Esther Yamal, a primary six pupil at the same school, said sanitary pads will help the girls to manage menstruation.
Elisabeth Nyakone expressed joy that her family has received a number of items, including pads, shoes and clothes. "We are faced with many challenges. We walk without shoes and put on torn clothes. But with this support, some of our problems have been solved," Nyakone said.
“We have also seen that this has had an impact. The NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) have seen us as partners who are pushing the same cause they are trying to address,” Lekuru noted.
She commended partners that joined Arua One on the donation initiative, citing Eco-Pads for supporting girls with reusable sanitary pads to keep girls in school.
“We know the plight of the refugee girl and the refugee woman when it comes to sanitary support and, therefore, we want to thank Eco-Pads very much for the contribution they have made towards this initiative," Lekuru said.
Aninga Robinah Dada, a representative of Eco-Pads, said they value the partnership with Vision Group and encouraged young girls to stay in school and learn since they now have sanitary pads.
“Our pads are reusable. After using it, you wash and use it again. The pads can last for a year if well managed,” Dada explained.
Rhino Camp refugee settlement is currently home to over 204,000 refugees, who have been settled on land offered by locals as part of the localisation agenda to support refugees to do farming as a way of sustaining their lives.