“I want to be in control of my life!”
Photo: SOS Children´s Villages
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on humanitarian and development situation and work in Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini and Nigeria. Lockdown and closed schools severely compromised the learning outcomes for millions of children and left many of them vulnerable. In addition to education, schools offer a safety net and meals, and reports shows an increase in the number of child marriages and teenage pregnancies.
Families are able to provide quality care for vulnerable children in Zambia and Malawi
Grieg Foundation has contributed to strengthening families’ ability to provide quality care and protection for children in Malawi and Zambia. In both countries, the Family Strengthening programme facilitated the formation of Village Savings and Loans Associations groups. These enabled caretakers to use and increase their income to meet the basic needs of their children. In Malawi and Zambia more than 2500 caretakers received training in parenting skills, learned about children’s rights and non-violent child-rearing practices, improved nutrition for children, child participation, and the importance of parents’ involvement in the children’s education. This activity also enabled almost 5,000 children in the two countries to be included or consulted in decision-making affecting their lives.
I want to be in control of my life
Thanks to
The SOS Children’s Villages’ programmes, I am focused and determined to complete my high school and become a doctor.”
“I am a girl of 17 years from Mbilaneni community in Eswatini. My family is very poor and was also economically affected by Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, as my father lost his job at one of the factories in Nhlangano. Currently, I am in school but two of my elder sisters could not finish school due to early and unintended pregnancies.
My family is religious and very strict, especially my father, and we are not talking about any sensitive issues like sexual health and rights in our family. When I started menstruating, I was afraid to tell my parents about it, so I went to a friend who invited me to join a session conducted by my peers in my community. At first, knowing my father and his views on girls roaming around in the community, I didn’t’ dare to ask. But finally I did and was allowed to attend! I have learned so much during these sessions, the first one was covering the impacts of Covid-19 related to teenage pregnancy and how to prevent pregnancy.
During supper at home, I shared with my family what I have learnt, and after a few days my father attended a session for the parents. This changed his mind! From that day, he encouraged me to attend the sessions and I have benefitted a lot as I now understand much more about my body, I am more focused, I know my rights and I have a direction and a purpose in my life.
Thanks to the SOS Children’s Villages’ programmes, I am focused and determined to complete my high school and become a doctor.”
Teaching young people about sexual and reproductive health and rights
Myths and taboos concerning women’s health continue to persist despite significant efforts to reduce the stigma for girls. A concerning number of girls have limited information about menstruation by the time they reach puberty.
In Eswatini and Nigeria, community health facilitators trained by SOS Children’s Villages are distributing sanitary pads and hygiene packs, as well as giving counselling on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and early marriages to youths and caregivers. To reduce barriers and stigma, both boys and girls are educated on these subjects.
2020 also saw an increase in young people in the targeted locations in Malawi who have access to safe and affordable contraceptives, from 55 percent to 60 percent.
Important work towards prevention of early pregnancies
In 2020, The Grieg Gender project increased the efforts towards prevention of early pregnancies, as reports showed significant increase in pregnancies among young girls due to lockdown and closed schools. Via home visits, the project identified 164 girls who got counselling, psycho-social support and help to get back to school after their baby is born. 84 percent of the girls reported to be willing to return to school. The Grieg Gender Programme will continue to follow up and support these girls in 2021. It is also paramount to educate parents, teachers and school administrators on the importance of improving the confidence and self-esteem of these girls as well as ensure a safer environment in schools for returning young mothers.
Sekeleni got pregnant at 17
Sekeleni
Her new life as a wife and pregnant, put an end to her dream of becoming a nurse.
Child marriages are a serious violation of children’s human rights, and they continue to rob millions of girls under the age of 18 of their childhood and prospects of a better future.
Sekeleni, a young girl from Ngabu in Malawi, got married in 2020 at the age of 17. Three months later, Sekeleni became pregnant. This affected her studies and eventually she dropped out of school. Her new life as a wife and pregnant, put an end to her dream of becoming a nurse.
In her community, traditional structures and insufficient access to information on sexual and reproductive health is a major problem. Also, there is limited enforcement of laws protecting girls from violation of their rights, which causes many girls to be married off at an early age.
However, the fate of Sekeleni was changed thanks to the Thiphanje Community Based Organization and Malawi SOS CV, which works on ending child marriages and promoting children’s rights. When learning about Sekeleni’s story, a supervisor from the organization teamed up with members of the child protection committee and the mother group to follow up Sekeleni.
After engaging with parents of both children, they successfully agreed to end this marriage as it is in fact illegal and a violation of Sekeleni’s rights due to her age. They further agreed that Sekeleni should return to school after she delivers her child and that the young man’s parents will continue to support both Sekeleni and the expected child.
Zainab
Zainab is a 15-year-old from Nigeria who has lost both parents. When Zainab’s father died, her stepmother could no longer afford to pay school fees. Zainab had to drop out of school, and was really worried about her future and whether she would ever be able to set foot in a school again.
The Grieg gender programme was informed about Zainab’s situation through one of the community leaders, who reported that the family was struggling to cover even the basic needs of the children.
With support from the programme, Zainab was re-enrolled into the secondary school, in Tudun Wada. She is also enrolled in a vocational training, learning how to make shoes. Zainab attends the vocational training classes after school and in weekends, and her ambition is to become a shoe designer.
Despite the struggles, Zainab is growing into an independent young girl with an increased ability to take care of herself. She regularly attends safe-space meetings for girls where they learn more about sexual and reproductive health, and children’s rights meetings arranged by SOS Children’s Villages and community health workers.
“The power of caregiving”- Grieg Foundation funds crucial research work
In 2020, Grieg Foundation funded a desk study entitled ‘The Power of Caregiving’ on how to support early childhood development and mental health in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was launched in early 2021 with Norway’s Minister of Development Cooperation attending.
In addition to raising awareness among Norwegian policy makers and NGOs on the benefits form and impotence of parenting and family strengthening programmes in the development aid context, the report included recommendations for the inclusion of mental health and early childhood in e.g. the Norwegian development policy.
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