Repro-Mental Health program
At WWAYI, we understand the profound intersection between mental health and reproductive health, particularly for vulnerable populations in Kenya. That’s why we’ve developed our Repro-Mental Program, aiming to comprehensively address the interconnected needs of individuals and communities. Through our Repro-Mental Program, we recognize the critical link between reproductive health and mental well-being, especially among Kenya’s youth. The Repro-Mental Health program is dedicated to enhancing the overall health and resilience of young people through comprehensive support and education. At the individual level, WWAYI helps girls develop their academic competencies alongside self-esteem, life and leadership skills, raising their confidence and voices. At the community level, we work with parents, teachers, community and religious leaders to shift negative gender and social norms affecting girls, therefore increasing support for girls’ education and girl’s participation more in schools. Our long-term vision is a world where all girls have access to quality education regardless of their status.
Finding ways to raise awareness around the impact of trauma and early adversity on individuals, families, and communities.
Workshops and mentorship programs aimed at empowering women, girls, and youth via capacity building, financial management, access to vocational training, job preparedness, entrepreneurship, leadership and self-sufficiency.
Training health and community workers to tackle stigma and discrimination while also being able to identify and understand mental health conditions.
Mental Health Focus
WWAYI works to raise awareness about mental health issues, attain resources for mental health care, inform public policy, and reduce discrimination and stigma against people with mental illnesses. According to the World Health Organization, 1 out of 4 persons who seek healthcare in Kenya have a mental health condition. Depression, alcohol and substance abuse are on the increase among the youth. Too often, people living in poverty with mental illness are seen as broken, cursed, somehow less than. Misunderstanding, stigma and exclusion, combined with a lack of support and treatment, pulls whole families deeper into poverty. WWAYI works with local communities to advocate improve and increase access to mental health services. According to our needs assessments, there are very few resources for the diagnosis, care, and treatment of mental health disorders in Kenya and not enough data about the prevalence and severity of these disorders. Kenyans living with mental disorders often experience stigma, which is fueled by stereotypes surrounding those with mental illnesses. Furthermore, those struggling with mental disorders may internalize others’ negative perceptions of them, impacting how they view themselves and their overall quality of life. To ensure success, this project develops tools and strategies for prevention and treatment through:
According to a review of the Kenyan curriculum, the approach towards reproductive health is prescriptive and fear-based, which is not effective in enhancing learners’ understanding. Additionally, cultural and religious inhibitions prevent parents and teachers from discussing sexual matters with students. Some stakeholders also oppose the inclusion of contraceptive-related topics as they believe it may encourage teenage sex. Another challenge is the lack of training for teachers on sexuality education due to scarce funding and lack of motivation or time while covering their other course load. Some teachers feel that teaching topics related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is an additional burden.
WWAYI collaborates with schools and other stakeholders to enhance the quality of teacher training, including pre-service and in-service training, to ensure that teachers remain informed about the latest information, skills, and techniques. We provide teachers with the necessary support and resources to teach sensitive topics on reproductive education confidently, accurately, and effectively. These activities are inclusive of all members of the community, including parents, to raise awareness of reproductive and adolescent health education. Comprehensive sexual education can help prevent teenage pregnancies and enable young people understand the consequences of unprotected sex and the importance of taking responsibility for their sexual health.
Reproductive Health Education
WWAYI works to improve the overall health and resilience of young people by providing access to reproductive health information, resources and comprehensive healthcare services. We conduct monthly health education sessions and distribute hygiene products among schools in our project areas.
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health system in Kenya was struggling to meet the needs of the population, particularly when it came to sexual and reproductive health. The pandemic has further exacerbated these challenges, putting hard-won gains in health equity and gender justice at risk.
We provide hygiene products like sanitary towels, underwear, moisturizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks etc. ensuring teenage girls stay in school, transition to higher levels of learning, and enhance their academic performance. Additionally, WWAYI recognizes the importance of engaging boys as allies in our mission by providing them with essential items such as underwear, socks, shaving kits etc. By involving boys in our efforts and equipping them with these necessities, we foster a sense of solidarity and collaboration, empowering them to become advocates for positive change within their communities.
WWAYI focuses on the core needs of Kenya girls facing period poverty with core components of product and education. Additionally, we bring in boys as allies with Boxers, socks, shaving kits, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. In the initial design, the program anticipated covering all needy girls and women in all counties; however, due to financial constraints, only schoolgirls in public primary, special primary, and secondary schools will benefit from the program.
Hygiene Products and Menstrual Health
It is estimated that girls from poor families miss 20% of school days each year due to lack of sanitary products. WWAYI strives to increase the access of teenage girls to sexual and reproductive health products so that we can increase their retention in school, transition to higher levels of learning, and thereby enhance their academic performance. We provide hygiene products like sanitary towels, underwear, moisturizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and socks.
The culture of silence around menstruation leads to menstruation being viewed as a weakness and stigma for women and girls. The subject is hardly ever discussed freely in families, schools, or the public. This prevents girls from participating and attending school because they feel ashamed or “unclean”. There are many instances where girls drop out of school once they start their periods. Staying at home and being out of education leaves them even more vulnerable to violations of their rights such as child marriage and sex abuse.
It has been previously reported from various marginalized regions and rural areas in Kenya that schoolgirls have been using unhygienic materials such as torn pieces of cloth, matters sponge, animal skin, old rags, leaves, cow dung, or even dig a hole on the ground to sit on for the whole period to manage their menstrual flow. The use of unhygienic materials can lead to leakage, infections, psychological discomfort, which may culminate in poor performance and stigmatization. The inaccessibility of menstrual products resulted in embarrassment, anxiety, and shame when girls and women stained their clothes.