WASH, Menstruation and Teen pregnancy Are All Inter Related.

 

Under COVID there is a major crisis in Kenya: 250 % increase of teen pregnancy, increased FGM and early marriage have set the UN development goals of no child marriage and FGM back years.

Collaborating with the youth led Ugunja Development Initiatives, Sasa Harambee, Denver 21 and SE Rotary are delivering education of girls and boys about sexual reproduction, menstrual hygiene, and condom use.  School is still out in Kenya.  Outreaches are being done in 22 villages in an area of 78 square miles in western Kenya.  Each outreach has 20 youth attending because of COVID.  The program works closely with the county Ministry of Health and the National Ministry of Education.

A proposed new Global Grant led by Denver 21 with Bill Korsted as the champion, Rotary working closely with these collaborators will establish health clubs in 22 schools.  Twenty females and 20 males will follow a curriculum adopted  by the National Ministry of Education but not taught.  Content: reproduction, menstruation, RTIs, drugs, peer pressure, abuse, etc.  Each school will assess their school for hygiene and health.  The health club applies for a grant to address gaps that will provide better hygiene for all children attending a school but especially providing clean water to wash with and latrines with doors to support girls when menstruating.

 The proposed grant includes four parent sessions on growth and development, talking to your kids about sex, keeping your daughter safe.   Finally in true Rotary fashion each club will participate in a community clean-up day.  Having filled a bag with trash they take it to a disco party.  The ticket for entry is a bag of trash.  Dancing and drama contests will celebrate a year of School Health Clubs.

 

We need your club to help us deliver the global grant.   Please contact Carol Carper  ccarper1337@gmail.com or Bill Korsted  bkorstad@mac.com   Thank you