Category: HIV-AIDS
ACSHR 2016 Accra, Ghana: Pre Conference – Foundations of African Feminism
ACSHR 2016 Accra, Ghana: Pre Conference – Foundations of African Feminism
AWDF facilitated a women’s only pre-conference session for the 7th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights which took place in Accra, Ghana, from 8-12 February, 2016.
The meeting was jointly held with Curious Minds, Ghana, which acted as secretariat and conference host for this year’s gathering. AWDF wanted to provide a safe platform for an intimate and in-depth discussion of sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and youth. Aimed primarily at 15 – 30-year old women, it ended up being a mixed age group of both genders, which ignited some fiery discussion. But at the end of the day everyone agreed it had been worthwhile.
“We wanted to provide a safe space for young women to discuss the issues relevant to them around issues of SRHR,” said AWDF’s donor liaison specialist Joan Koomson.
The pre-conference session also looked at helping young women develop common strategies and messages on engaging effectively with issues during the conference, influencing outcomes and how to derive the maximum benefit from being there.
A Position Statement (see below), worked on at the close of the day’s activities, was presented at the opening session of the main conference held Feb. 11. It summed up the major concerns and aspirations of the young women.
Takeaway:
“Negotiating the space to have young women’s issues represented with government is a priority,” said Catherine Nyambura.
Grantee highlight: Sex for Fish
Grantee highlight: Sex for Fish
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]They call it “jaboya” in their native Dhuluo language. It refers to the practice in which female fishmongers along the lake communities in Kenya offer sex as a bribe to fishermen and middlemen in exchange for the best catch.
One would expect that after sex, these women would receive the fish for free. But shockingly, the women still have to pay cash for the fish. Sometimes, for leverage, women are forced to make available their younger female relatives, many of whom are below the age 18. This provides them with the competitive edge that they require in order to cushion themselves from the difficulties caused by scarcity of commodities.
Approximately 27000 women in Nyanza trade fish either directly or indirectly. The practice is so prevalent, that it makes it very difficult for a woman to be involved in the fish trade without using her body as a bargaining chip. Female fish traders are forced to give sex as when it is wanted by the fishermen to guarantee their survival at the beach.
It is therefore not surprising that the Nyanza province, which is located on the shores of Lake Victoria has one of the highest HIV/AIDs prevalence rate of 14.9 percent in the region, which is twice the national average prevalence rate of 7.4%. Many of the women are aware of the risks associated with the practice of ‘jaboya’, however, the shackles of poverty in their opinion is stronger than the fear of contracting HIV /AIDS.
Furthermore, the lack of access to comprehensive sex education has fueled the spread of the jaboya practice. Many of the fishermen and female fish traders view themselves as victims and therefore do not see the essence of taking precautions because they are convinced with no room for doubt that they will “contract HIV anyway” due to the high prevalence rate in the region.
In the Karachuonyo district of Nyanza, the Africa Health and Community Programme (AHCP), a grantee of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), is attempting to transform the lives of 320 women directly and indirectly involved in the jaboya practice. From 2008-2014 the organisation implemented two economic empowerment and livelihoods projects in the area and the results have so far been remarkable.
The women are actively involved in 14 investment groups (locally known as chamas) through which they have been able to begin several income-generating activities and businesses that have enabled them to provide not only for their own families, but also for other vulnerable members in the community.
To them, the lake is no longer a source of anguish where their dreams and pride go to die, but a lifeline that enhances their respective businesses.
Join us in supporting work like this by making a contribution to AWDF today! [/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Ils appellent cela “jaboya” dans leur langue maternelle le Dhuluo. Cela fait référence à la pratique des poissonnières dans les communautés lacustres au Kenya qui offrent des actes sexuels comme pot de vin aux pêcheurs et intermédiaires en échange de la meilleure prise.
On pourrait penser qu’après avoir offert leurs charmes ces femmes recevront le poisson gratuitement, mais étonnamment, elles ont encore à payer comptant. Parfois, par effet de levier, les femmes sont obligées de mettre à disposition leurs proches plus jeunes et dont beaucoup sont mineures. Cela leur donne l’avantage concurrentiel dont elles ont besoin afin de se prémunir des difficultés causées par la pénurie de produits de base.
Environ 27 000 femmes sont directement ou indirectement impliquées dans le commerce du poisson à Nyanza. La pratique est si répandue, qu’il est très difficile pour une femme d’ être dans le commerce du poisson sans utiliser son corps comme monnaie d’échange. Les marchandes sont forcées d’avoir des rapports sexuels lorsque les pêcheurs le souhaitent afin de pouvoir assurer leur survie à la plage.
Il est donc pas surprenant que la province de Nyanza, qui est située sur les rives du lac Victoria, ait l’un des taux les plus élevés de VIH / sida avec une prévalence de 14,9 pour cent dans la région, ce qui est le double du taux moyen de prévalence nationale de 7,4%. Beaucoup de femmes sont conscientes des risques associés à la pratique du «jaboya », cependant, les entraves de la pauvreté sont pour elles plus fortes que la peur de contracter la maladie.
Dans le quartier de Karachuonyo à Nyanza, le Programme Santé de l’Afrique et de la Communauté (AHCP), un bénéficiaire du Fonds de développement des femmes africaines (AWDF), tente de transformer la vie des 320 femmes directement et indirectement impliqués dans la pratique du jaboya. De 2008 à 2014 l’organisation a mis en œuvre deux projets d’autonomisation économique ainsi que des moyens de subsistance dans la région et les résultats ont jusqu’ici été remarquables.
Les femmes sont activement impliquées dans 14 groupes d’investissement (connus localement comme Chamas) à travers lesquels elles ont pu commencer plusieurs activités et des entreprises génératrices de revenus qui leur ont permis de soutenir non seulement leurs propres familles, mais aussi les autres membres vulnérables la communauté.
Pour elles, le lac n’est plus une source d’angoisse où leurs rêves et fierté vont mourir, mais une bouée de sauvetage qui améliore leurs entreprises respectives.
Grantee Highlight: Vegetable Farming Gives New Hope to Women Living with HIV in Sironko
Grantee Highlight: Vegetable Farming Gives New Hope to Women Living with HIV in Sironko
In Uganda, HIV and AIDS infection rates continue to increase in both rural and urban areas despite aggressive public awareness campaigns by both public and private institutions. This development has had a unique effect on the lives of women. With married women, for instance, the loss of a spouse often leaves them to fend for themselves and their children who are sometimes also infected with the virus. The Community Holistic Development Organization, (CHODO) a local community-based organization that focuses mainly on economic empowerment for women living with HIV and AIDS, has been working to address this issue.
Equipped with a grant from the African Women’s Development Fund, CHODO set out to train 308 selected HIV infected women in the Sironko district of Uganda in vegetable farming. Through vegetable farming the women inherit a sustainable source of income and provide life-long skills that would be useful in other areas of economic activity.
To start with, the women identified pieces of suitable farmland before being trained in fertilizer spraying, seed selection and other farming methods. Soon, cabbage gardens sprung up in various areas of the Sironko district of Uganda.
To create a ‘sustainability’ cycle, the vegetables grown were then sold to generate income that was invested as start up capital for their own businesses. Some of the capital was invested into livestock rearing. The women were given technical assistance and training on how to manage their livestock rearing projects. This gave them a sense of ownership and self-confidence in their abilities and creative capacities.
CHODO has been successful in improving the livelihoods of the women living with HIV, who do not earn an income . In most cases such women experience discrimination and are likely to die faster due to lack of financial support and marginalisation from their communities. Through the project, the women have been able to develop a consistent source of income allowing them to become economically cally independent.
‘As an HIV positive person, I feel proud that I am doing something that will enable me live a better life. ‘Harriet Namono, one of the beneficiaries of the vegetable garden project elatedly reported.
“All I can say is I am very grateful and very happy.” Modesta Nakusi, another beneficiary shared. “Whenever I look at my cabbage, I smile to myself. I have lived with HIV for 15 years but I am still strong. Thank you CHODO for supporting me.’
The success of the project is also challenging the community’s’ negative perceptions about women living with HIV, recognising them as still significant and productive agents in the country’s economic development.
CHODO intends to undertake another project to help the rural women diversify and sustain their household incomes by engaging in both farm activity and off-farm business during different seasons.
Join us in supporting work like this by making a contribution to AWDF today!
Grantee Highlight: Tuli Wamu Nawe- Fighting Stigma and Discrimination to end the spread of HIV/AIDS
Grantee Highlight: Tuli Wamu Nawe- Fighting Stigma and Discrimination to end the spread of HIV/AIDS
Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU), a not-for-profit youth-led organisation, and a grantee of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), is running an anti-HIV stigma and discrimination project focusing specifically on young women and girls living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Dubbed “Tuli Wamu Nawe,” meaning “We are together with You”, the project aims to use peer education and training to help share knowledge about the effects of stigma and discrimination on young women and girls’ HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment efforts in Uganda. Additionally, the experiences keeps women and girls from actively participating in the social, economic and political development of their local communities and the country at large.
Under the Tuli Wamu Nawe project, 25 women and girls with HIV/AIDS will be mentored and assisted with setting-up sustainable income generation activities (IGA). PHAU will work to forge partnerships with key community stakeholders and train peer educators and volunteers in HIV education activities to ensure that change is sustained long-term. The project will benefit 5 selected communities within Wakiso and Kampala districts.
Follow the project activities on the PHAU social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube using the following hashtags #TuliWamuNawe #AcceptMe #EmbraceMe #WomenandGirlsagainstStigma. The project has also been featured on Women Deliver’s blog.
Some of PHAU’s other HIV/AIDS awareness education campaigns:
2015 International Women’s Day: Make it Happen campaign focusing on young women and girls
International Condom Day 2015 : ‘Condoms are Cool’ campaign
Join us in supporting work like this by making a contribution to AWDF today!
Grassroot Soccer Zimbabwe (GRS)
Grassroot Soccer Zimbabwe (GRS)
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]$10,000 to train and organise girls street soccer sessions aimed at building the confidence and knowledge base of girls and young women to adopt less risky life styles and to strengthen their negotiating skills
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]10 000 dollars pour entrainer et organiser des sessions de foot de rue pour les filles afin de renforcer leur confiance et connaissances de base dde manière à ce qu’elles adoptent des styles de vie moins risqués et renforcer leurs capacités de négociation[/tp]
Kuvwuna Youth Foundation (KUYOFO)
Kuvwuna Youth Foundation (KUYOFO)
$10,000 to provide sustainable means of generating income for women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS; support the education of OVCs and launch a campaign against gender based violence.
National Coalition of Women with AIDS in Uganda (NACOA)
National Coalition of Women with AIDS in Uganda (NACOA)
$15,000 to set up income generating activities for women living with HIV/AIDS.
Mubale Umoja Women’s Trust (MUWOT)
Mubale Umoja Women’s Trust (MUWOT)
$5,000 to purchase a fishing boat and train 20 women in fishing net and basket weaving.
Isore Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (IWINSUDE)
Isore Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (IWINSUDE)
$10,000 to train and support 20 peer educators to sustain HIV awareness creation and to support 20 women living with HIV supported with start-up capital and technical assistance to set up income generating activities.
Community Holistic Development Organization (CHODO)
Community Holistic Development Organization (CHODO)
$10,000 to train selected women living with HIV or caring for persons living with HIV in vegetable farming and provide them with the input to set up vegetable gardens