| 1.0 INTRODUCTION This period has been mainly devoted to following up activities of DYP as the team resumes from the end-of-year recess. Children are also returning to school, and mobilisation work is underway to ensure that deaf children are not left behind. The update highlights a few areas of progress, especially due to engagement with DYP and service providers, but also the impediments arising from the changes in the operational environment. 2.0 KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES 2.1 WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND DYP: INCREASING SKILLS AND SELF-RELIANCE OF DEAF YOUNG PEOPLE (DYP)   Follow-up of DYP groups and Activities In line with the end-of-year peer group cycles, the team followed up with different DYP groups with regard to their savings and income generation activities. The groups shared out their savings rounds with the DYP group in Arua, managing to up to 1000 GBP with an additional bonus of about 200 GBP, which was shared out to members according to each member’s savings. Other groups, such as Nebbi and Moyo DYP groups, were also able to share out over 500 GBP in savings among each group. As a way of ensuring continuity and skills sharing, members were able to review their operational guidelines with additional technical support from the community development officers. Some DYPs, such as the Arua group, decided to elect new office bearers to improve efficiency and sharing of roles. Separately, a group of DYPs in Yumbe who are involved in car washes are increasingly getting involved in washing buses and are being supported with protective gear, including overalls and boots. 2.2 WORKING WITH FAMILIES: INCREASED PARENTAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT AND ASPIRATIONS FOR DEAF PEOPLE In tandem with the DYP groups, the team continued to follow up on activities of parents’ support groups, including savings, IGA projects and psychosocial support issues at the family level. The groups have continued with unique joint projects of emphasis for each location, with the group in Nebbi and Pachwach districts more involved in crop farming, Moyo in animal husbandry and Koboko in joint savings for individual businesses. Ayipe group in Koboko was able to share out over 1200 GBP in their savings cycle, and proud to be able to continue sharing their ideas and increased capacity to support their deaf children. Nonetheless, there remain many families that are still unable to effectively support their deaf children and others coping with psychosocial issues arising from poverty and domestic violence. The team continues to work with PSG leaders, focal teachers and community development officers to help with follow-up support in their areas. 2.3 WORKING WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS: IMPROVING COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEAF PEOPLE   Mentoring volunteers in supporting DYP and Data capture, some of the trained volunteers at Arua Hospital The main engagement with service providers in this period was based at Arua regional referral hospital, where a team of 13 volunteers were trained in communication, supporting DYP and capturing disability sensitive data in the health system. This has yielded instant results as over 20 DYP can utilise the hospital services every month, including OPD, Mother and Child Health, Counselling and Anti-Retroviral Therapy. Other volunteers have extended support to spiritual services around town. The team has also engaged with community leaders under the disability council and sector meetings on the inclusion of issues of DYP in the operational areas. They also managed to conduct joint field monitoring sessions to engage in the provision of friendly services. In one of the cases in Nebbi, the team has pinpointed government offices such as the Revenue Authority on the lack of physical accessibility to their services by the Deaf and others with mobility impairments due to a lack of ramps and interpretation support. National Level While the team has continued to participate in national-level engagements, one of the key financial issues of focus is on financial inclusion, as DYP and other groups of PWDs still find it hard to access government grants and funding from other development partners. This is largely attributed to limited skills, attitudes and low support from duty bearers. As a learning intervention, the team supported a financial literacy training of over 30 DYP who were able to raise their project ideas, undertake group savings and make efforts to link them to other partners for support. On the health front, there has been a scare of Ebola cases around Kampala and operational areas, and the team has embarked on reproducing and disseminating awareness materials to keep our groups and partners informed on the safety measures required. This is in addition to the Monkeypox challenge already becoming endemic. On the whole, the team is also monitoring the effect of global changes such as the new influx of refugees due to the wars in Congo and Sudan. Also, the freeze on USAID projects affects access to services for DYP and other support systems that have been available for vulnerable groups. 3.0 SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES Achievements: Increased goodwill and cooperation of service providers, including joint monitoring visits and friendly health services at Arua and Nebbi Hospitals.Increased access to services such as police and hospitals by DYP. Improved parents’ cooperation and capacity to support their children through savings groups and IGAs. Improved business skills and self-reliance of DYP Key challenge.s Low capacity to support hard-to-reach families and others requiring material support. Coping with high demand for SL training and tools. Limited capacity to provide psychosocial support to DYP and families. Effect of global developments as a shrinking donor base, e.g. USAID programmes. Risks and competition from other issues, such as war in Congo, Ebola and Mpox. High cost of goods and services Lessons and follow-up plans. Plans refresher training for DYP in financial literacy, entrepreneurship and leadership to avoid regression. More child-to-child activities during school opening. Follow-up on Peer group projects. To follow up on more SGBV and psychosocial issues at the family level. More customised SL training sessions for duty bearers, generating more awareness tools and information for peer groups and partners |