By Muskan Singh | Reporting Intern
Greetings and Gratitude from Team RKF!
In our last report, we highlighted the significance of our Girls Empowerment Workshops and provided an update on the numbers from the workshops conducted thus far. For a detailed overview, click here: Turning Novelties into Norms
In this report, we are pleased to share further updates which include additional workshops held at Alendu Primary School and the successful resuming and upgrading of our Meals Program in schools. Additionally, we are continuing our efforts to ensure long-term food security for families in Kisumu.
Girls Empowerment Workshops at Alendu Primary
Alendu Primary School is a rural public school with a population of over 600 learners. Most families reside on inherited lands and rely on income from selling vegetables and fishing. Many face financial hardships as they are elderly and responsible for caring for their grandchildren due to various life circumstances such as the death of their own children or their absence in search of better opportunities elsewhere. We partnered up with Alendu in 2021 to provide Education packs for students and since then the community also became a beneficiary of the Meals Kits and the girls became a part of our Girls Empowerment Workshops.
This International Women’s Day, RKF celebrated the day with the girls and women of Alendu. We spent the day engaging in powerful conversations and reminding ourselves and the community how essential it is to continue fostering spaces for open dialogue and provide support systems that enable girls to thrive and realize their full potential.
Throughout the day, we had 5 sessions that went on for about 1 hour 30 minutes each. During these sessions, our speakers encouraged mothers and daughters to share their menstrual health and hygiene experiences across the two (in some cases even three) generations. What stood out was that while their experiences and symptoms might have been different but the shame and stigmas remained the same. Since mothers are the primary care-givers, we highlighted the importance of building a relationship so daughters can feel supported and comfortable sharing their hardships.
Above all these challenges, the most significant and pressing one is that having access to menstrual products is still a luxury for many. Especially in a rural community like Alendu.
Vivian, a Standard 8 student, shared that she began menstruating in 2021, and during her monthly periods, her senior teacher at school usually assists her by providing pads. This support is necessary because Vivian's mother finds it challenging to purchase pads for her every month. The situation becomes even more difficult during school holidays when Vivian is at home, as she is forced to use makeshift solutions like kitambas (pieces of cloth) while menstruating.
Like Vivian, 51 girls in total received a Sanitary Kit which includes a pack of 5 reusable pads which last for 12-18 months. The kit comes in a bucket that includes 2 panties, soap, tissue paper and a Girl-Talk Booklet. Additionally, all 51 mothers and female guardians who attended the workshops also received a small meal pack with dry rations that will serve about 20 meals to their families.
Upgrading the School Meals Program
Time and time again, we have highlighted the importance of students receiving meals in schools. According to The World Food Programme (WFP), malnutrition in early childhood can lead to cognitive deficits, poor school performance, and reduced productivity later in life. Providing school meals and nutrition interventions can improve school attendance and academic achievement, particularly among girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Students who are part of the program receive two nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch) and a fruit at least once a week.
Their menu for the Meals Program is:
Monday: Rice and green grams
Tuesday: Ugali and cabbage/sukuma wiki with a fruit
Wednesday: Chapati and beans
Thursday: Rice and green grams
Friday: Githeri with potatoes
Uji (a highly nutritious, local porridge made out of millets is served every day for breakfast.
Since the start of the program a few weeks ago, 4,090 meals have been served taking the total number of meals served through the RKF Program to 823,868 Meals. And we only hope for this number to continue increasing.
Meal Kits for families…
Families continue to receive Meal kits and since our last report, we have served an additional 83,420 meals to 778 families (3890 beneficiaries).
Little by Little: Small Donations, Bigger Impact
Our favourite Little by Little Matching Campaign is only 3 weeks away. Starting from the 8th of April 2024 to 12th April, GlobalGiving is giving away $200,000 in matching funds by matching 50% of all donations up to $50.
Please note: this is the only Little by Little Matching Campaign this year and everyone is gearing up to give to RKF as we celebrate the completion of 8 years.
Be a part of this celebration and make a donation that will help us continue empowering the girls and their mothers in communities like Alendu.
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