{"id":15206,"date":"2015-11-25T01:00:35","date_gmt":"2015-11-25T01:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asdhostingservices.com\/awdf-2\/?p=363"},"modified":"2015-11-25T01:00:35","modified_gmt":"2015-11-25T01:00:35","slug":"sex-for-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awdf.org\/fr\/sex-for-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Grantee highlight: Sex for Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]They call it \u201cjaboya\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2018jaboya\u2019, however, the shackles of poverty in their opinion is stronger than the fear of contracting HIV \/AIDS.<\/p>\n
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 \u201ccontract HIV anyway\u201d due to the high prevalence rate in the region.<\/p>\n
In the Karachuonyo district of Nyanza, the Africa Health and Community Programme (AHCP), a grantee of the African Women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n