Participants after the Girls First Fund project launch in June 2019

Conducted a one day meeting for 25 stakeholders to launch the MPWDA GFF partnership project.
They committed to support of implementation of the project.

Conducted a two day training of 20 duty bearers on disability mainstreaming on the legal framework and referral on SRH rights of girls and young women with disabilities and the relationship to prevention and response to child marriage and early unions in September

The training focused on the roles and responsibilities of duty bearers, disability mainstreaming, legal framework, referral , SRH rights and came up with strategies of ending child marriages and early unions in their communities. This resulted into increased knowledge and skills on disability legal framework, disability mainstreaming, referral, SRH in line with prevention and response to child marriages and early unions. Duty bearers pledged to mainstream disability concerns in their developmental plans and budgets. Pledged to put knowledge gained into practice with a view of eliminating child marriages and early unions in our community; hence contribute greatly to community development.

Conducted an orientation session for 40 parents and caretakers of girls and young people with disabilities on rights, obligations, the legal framework, Gender Based Violence and HIV and SRH in relation to child marriage and early unions in October

The session with care takers resulted into: Pledged to report any forms of violence including child marriages, commitment to play their role as parents and caregivers to ensure ending child marriages and formed a support group that will be a watch dog towards cases of child marriage. The support group will also ensure social economic safety for livelihood support at household levels.

We conducted a training for 40 girls and young people with disabilities on knowing their bodies, the reproductive health organs and functions, their SRH rights and obligations, prevention and response to Gender Based Violence STIs/HIV, reporting mechanism on violence with special focus on prevention of early marriages and forced unions.

Girls during the training on body changes

The training resulted into

• Increase in knowledge and understanding on implications of the body changes, prevention and response to HIV and GBV and how to undertake personal responsibility to say no to child marriage and early unions.
• The adolescent girls and boys are in position to access services including HCT, STI screening, general counseling, legal support and spiritual guidance.
• The girls and boys with disabilities are empowered to speak up against violence and discrimination.
• Conducted community dialogues on prevention and response to child marriage and early unions for

The leaders came up with community owned actions to addressing child marriages and early unions in the community. They appreciated and committed to advocate doing all that it takes to end child marriages and support efforts to girl’s child education.
The dialogue resulted into commitment to work with schools and other learning institutions to ensure girl enroll, stay and complete school, enforce laws and policies that promote rights of children including those with disabilities and committed to support all efforts against child marriages

• Conducted a training of 20 peer to peer supports on SRH with special focus on prevention and response to child marriage, violence, STIs, reporting mechanism on violence.

The Peer educators were equipped with knowledge and skills different components which include; peer education, life skills, importance of completing school, value of an educated girl to self, family, community and the nation, communication and counseling skills. Peer Educators include 10 girls with disabilities and 10 without disabilities of which are 15 school going girls and 5 out of school. A Peer Educators data collection form was designed to capture information on the work they do and also make referral of such cases which need both medical, legal attention and counselling services. One quarterly meeting was held for the Peers Educators to give feedback on the work they have so far done.