Like a deer in headlights. That’s how I felt in the first month of my new job at Plan; my eyes wide open from information overload.
Despite having worked in the sector for ten years, the new faces, programs and acronyms had my head spinning. You would think that my experience in places like the Tsunami response in Sri Lanka, or Public Health program in post conflict northern Uganda would accustom me to new situations. But like any new job, it’s been a mind shift.
One acronym I did know was WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). And as my new job title is WASH Program Manager, it would have been a little worrying if I didn’t!
Did you know that 783 million people live without access to safe water sources and 2.5 billion don’t have toilets? Even after working in the sector for so long, those statistics still shock me. As does knowing that my toilet water is cleaner than what billions of people drink.
The headlights have started to dim and now I’m organising my first field trip. Uganda, Malawi and Kenya are on the itinerary and while they are all great projects, it’s Uganda I am most excited about.
1. Because Uganda is one of my favourite of the 55 countries I have travelled, and where I worked for nine months a couple of years ago.
2. To kick off the Menstrual Hygiene Program – an innovative four year project that will provide girls the knowledge and means to use sanitary pads and stay healthy ‘down under’. Ultimately it is hoped that this will keep girls at school longer and reduce the 1 in 10 African girls that drop out of school largely due to having their period. This alongside empowering women’s groups to make a profit from selling the pads is all pretty exciting!
This is one of the most interesting and exciting programs that I’ve worked on. Not only does it work towards girls’ health and education, but also income generation for women which together will help to end the cycle of poverty.
I’ll report back more from Uganda when I know more. I’ll be meeting with Plan Uganda staff, women’s groups, partner organisations and girls in the community who will all be a part of the design and planning process to get the ball rolling.
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