Train 120 Health & Human Rights promoters in Kenya

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Supporters,

On 16^th October 2017 and 1^st May 2018, HFAW embarked on journeys in Nyamira County to empower 30 small scale women farmers on Animal Husbandry and Crop farming training respectively. The trainings included field visits to model farmers in dairy and crop farming namely i.e Mzee Livingstone for dairy rearing visit and Wilkister Anangwe for crop farming model. The participants learnt a lot of good things on best practice in agriculture and promised to implement the same in their farms. Ever since, HFAW has worked worked consistently to ensure that these women and a few men have government and non-government experts on their side to support them do better farming and improve their yield for increased income.

July 5^th and 12^th 2018, HFAW made a monitoring and evaluation follow up to see how these women were fairing on after the training and recorded the following improvements:

 “I used to tie my cow on a post outside during the day and at night the cows used to sleep outside whether there was rain or not. After the animal husbandry training last year, I decided to make a permanent cow shed structure.” Explained Martha, while showing us her new cowshed....... “I also used to throw cow dung by the roadside, but after the animal husbandry training, I allocated a place to pile it and wait for it to 'cook' and when it is ready i apply it as manure on my banana plantation. I have also planted napier grass to prevent soil erosion as I learnt during the crop farming training” Martha added.

Martha also showed us the chicken she begun rearing around her homestead and lots of beans which she is so proud of having.

“Knowledge is important for growth in the homestead,” said Martha happily. “With this kind of change, I won’t see food scarcity in my household.”

“I also improved my cow structure,” said Karen. “I no longer use the bull method of fertilization, I use artificial insemination (AI) as we were taught at Mzee Livingstone’s farm,” stated Karen.

On 12^thJuly 2018, HFAW visited Mr. Kennedy and saw the breakthrough he had made with transforming his cow sheds.

“I have built a shed holding a capacity of 12 cows. I have different structures where they eat, sleep and even a milking parlor. The training enabled me to interact with other farmers and enhanced my production skills. I learnt what works and what does not.”Said Kennedy

Lydia who was also a participant in the dairy training commented about what she had done so far.

“I did not know what to do and how to get to feed my cows during the dry season. After the animal husbandry f training, I have been able to make silage.”Said Lydia.

“God bless HFAW, United Methodist Women and all our Global Giving friends and supporters for assisting in this knowledge to reach us,” said Joyce, the HFAW Grassroots Coordinator and a direct beneficiary of HFAW projects.

In order to end structural gender inequalities which encourage the persistence of GBV and FGM/C, HFAW  works towards economic empowerment of women. One way of doing this is to bring in other partners such as One Acre Fund who are training women and giving them crop farming skills and Nyamira County Government ministry of livestock and crop which is sharing and following up animal husbandry and crop farming skills. These skills range from sources and use of better breeds, feeds and seeds and other best practices. 

The positive transformation is evident in the anticipated increased farm produce, improved livelihoods and most importantly, in the bright smiles on their faces.

Thank you again for your continued support in making the world a brighter place.

With utmost gratitude,

Winnierose N Sululu.

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Supporters,

Like many Kenyan women, Nyamira women are submissive mothers and wives who can bear a lot of burdens and pains that come with life. Many peasant women think that they have no power to change anything and that only men can make decisions that drive the direction of the family and community. This attitude has changed with the women who have undergone the HFAW trainings and popular education and social change communication.

In the video Jane (see link below) is sharing with the GlobalGiving fellow Mike who visited us in April 2017. Jane shares about how she and her fellow community health worker, the groups chairperson, were given work by the County Commissioner and they could not get their payment. Because of the strength and advocacy skills gained “we went to the County Commissioner and asked why we were not paid…he heard our voices and we were paid” Said Jane. In the past these women could not have had the courage to speak up.

These women are the same ones going into schools and churches and advocating against the cut for the girl child. In a recent conversation with Jane during our women leaders training Jane shared how she rescued a girl from the cut. Here is Jane’s positive story.

“I had undergone training with HFAW about the dangers of FGM.  I took the message seriously. I went back home and told my neighbors about the dangers of FGM and about the Anti – FGM Law and the consequences of carrying out the cut.

My neighbors were aware of the same and knew how serious I am in ending FGM. And some of them have stopped cutting girls. Many people in my neighborhood know that I will take action of I hear of anyone trying to cut a girl. We went through schools with anti-FGM messaging with the other community health and rights workers and we could see that the girls and boys were listening but we did not have a clear sense of how children behaved when someone wanted to cut them by force.  It was not long before one of the girls came running to my house at night and explained that she is just about to be cut.

I stepped up and told the girl to stay put in my house. She had to stay in my house for a while as she was afraid to go back home. Through HFAW, I had learnt that in such a situation, one is not supposed to take the parents straight to the police. We have to educate first and then take action when they disregard. So I arranged a meeting with the parents and the school headmaster at the girl’s school. I then educated the parents about the Anti FGM Law and the consequences of carrying out the cut. I told them that this was a warning and that if they tried again, they would face the consequences with the relevant authorities. I took care of the girl the best way I could and now she is in Laboso Secondary School after her completed her grade eight. This girl has not been threatened with the cut from her parents.

It is an understatement when we say that you are changing lives. It is a big deal for a woman to gain her voice and stand up for what she believes in. None of these is possible without your support. Many of them have shared with us about how they demand to be paid back when husbands borrow their money. That the program has changed gender relations at their homes is priceless. We invite you to continue sharing information with your friends and family about HFAW and its empowering work that is transforming lives. These women could not do what they do in their community without continuous capacity building.

Are you still searching for a perfect gift for Mothers' Day Next Month? We invite you to make this perfect gift which is...Your Donation to honor these mothers!

Thank you for supporting this cause.

Sincerely and with gratitude,

Grace Mose-Okong’o

Links:

• Jane sharing with Global giving Guest Mike