PREVENTION VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN USING HOUSE HOLD COMPETITIONS

Good Hope Foundation organized a household competition on prevention of violence against children and adolescents among the women groups that where supported with the seed capital in order to assess the value addition that has been made as a result of supporting women groups with income generating initiative specifically linked to reduction of violence against children and adolescents in the households. The competition was mainly on household hygiene and sanitation.

During the process of competition, several visits were arranged to different stakeholders to discuss the parameters that were used during the competition. Among the people engaged were sub county health assistant, CDOs, village health team members as well as the village Local council leader who assisted in assessing the households. Attached are the parameters that were used in the competition however some of the items assed included; availability of a pit latrine with a TP tap cover, kitchen gardens for nutrition, food security specifically the availability of a granary, appearance of children, school going children, safe and clean drinking water and many others. 60 households from the two women groups in the two sub counties of Kisinga and Karusandara were visited and assessed. 

The model family declaration function was organized involving all stakeholders including the sub county health assistants, CDOs, Village health teams, local and religious as well as the entire community members in the two sub-county of operation. Community members and other partners were invited to witness the model household’s declaration function which ended with awarding the model households with prizes and certificates which were determined by the committee for being non violent basing on the criteria which was openly read to the gathering. Three model families were selected and awarded per group in the presence of many people so as to motivate and encourage other households and community members to also actively participate in preventing violence against children and adolescents in their households so as next time they may be awarded and among those who were awarded included; Jenipher Muthabali, Victoria Baluku, Muhindo Milda and many others.

In all the events, over 150 people were met per declaration function and thus a total of over 300 people. This was due to the approach used by engaging the village health teams and using opportunities like on worship days in addition to the thorough mobilization done by the local and religious leaders and NA members.

Lesson learnt

The idea of household competition is more likely to increase community members participation in preventing violence against children and adolescents in their respective households as every member strive to win the ward.

The sub county health assistant and VHT inspecting the latrines during the household hygiene competition

The sub county health assistant and VHT inspecting the kitchen garden during the household hygiene competitions

The sub county health assistant and VHT inspecting the latrines during the household hygiene competitio

Sub county health assistant handing over a prize to best clean household in Karusandara S/County

Community members being sensitized about the relationship between violence against children and hygiene