Name of Youth Empowerment Center, Youth Group, Youth Club or Youth-led OrganizationMichael Masai
Email Address:Email hidden; Javascript is required.
Phone+254715464759
Location (City or Town):Kitale
CountyTrans Nzoia
Team Leader:Michael Masai
Innovation TitleMale for female SRHR Advocacy
Focus AreaPromoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), including maternal health
Problem Statement:

Most of the male gender in the community have little knowledge on reproductive health of the female counterpart which pose very serious risks as far as respecting the sexual reproductive rights and giving them support is concerned. Key factors include: harmful cultural practices and illiteracy. There is marked bias on the female gender seen in the way their priorities always come second in almost all aspects of life, ranging from education to inheritance of property. There is need to change this perception in a more creative way.

Innovation Description:

I propose an approach where issues related to sexual reproductive health of the female gender be advocated by the male gender and vice versa. There are stigmatising incidences common in adolescent girls concerning their menses where they are seen as dirty and unmannered when they try to share their menstrual period experiences. Some have opted to use unsterile pieces of cloths since they felt ashamed to ask their father or brother for cash to purchase sanitary pads. If we keep such unwarranted boundaries in our communities, we will end up with irresponsible men who will continually fail to understand the importance of sexual reproductive health of women is as far as a healthy nation is concerned. In this approach it targets to make community based recruitment of men and women; both young and old who will undergo a special seminar that will enlighten them more on the importance of sexual reproductive health who will then be key mobilizers to ensure that more people become positive concerning SRHR. The effectiveness of this approach is centered on knowledge and understanding of the reproductive health and to have emotional attachment to the gender roles. There is tendency of male inclining more to their mothers and the female inclining more to their fathers which is very important fact as far are sustainability of this approach is concerned. For the longest time women have been advocating for the rights of fellow women and it has ended up to be more of contest rather than positive influence. I believe interchanging roles will bring positive results.

Uniqueness and Innovation:

The uniqueness is in the win win approach where there is direct involvement of the male in empowering the woman and vice versa. The approach is focused on influence rather than policy approach which sounds more coercive and hence susceptible to resistance. This approach will address the issues of women who have unknowingly accepted harmful treatment and if no intervention is made the same will be passed to generations. We have had women with Fistula who have faced greatest stigmatisation even from their own kids and husband for a condition that they had no control over. If fathers and brothers are influenced to love their daughters and sisters respectively, they won't allow early marriages and FGM

Impact and Scalability:

There will be a robust transformation in behaviour and attitude that is gender based. The children will be raised knowing how to be responsible, sensitive and respective to everyone irrespective of gender. There will be reduced number of preventable maternal deaths. There will be increased involvement of both genders on decision making concerning sexual reproductive health matters. It will break cultural barriers that restricts expression of matters concerned with SRH.

Implementation Plan:

Implementation plan
Will do inception meeting to introduce the project and seek goodwill from the stakeholders in the mapped area.
Identify and train volunteers who will champion for positive behavioural change.
The exercise to take place two months preferably when school are closed.
The exercise will need commuter allowance and refreshments for the participants.
Will also need atleast two community sensitization meetings through barazas which will include appreciation of the community champions.
Challenges
Main challenge will be culture barrier.
The mitigation will be through ensuring that adequate study of the culture is done and the most ideal approach is made in reaching out to the members of the community. Conformity to workable cultural demands such as dressing and conversation protocols will be among the strategies.

Confirmation:
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