Members of the CHASE Africa team were recently invited to attend a Youth and Adolescent dialogue facilitated by Rwenzori Centre for research and Advocacy (RCRA) in the Maliba sub-county of the Kasese District in Uganda. We also had the opportunity to visit a number of kitchen gardens, cultivated by the young mothers in the community.
In this area of Uganda, communities are particularly threatened by poorer health conditions and environmental degradation. Often, these marginalised communities experience under resourced access to healthcare, particularly family planning services and information and maternal and neonatal healthcare.
The growth of the population in this part of Uganda has put further pressure on already restricted natural resources. Issues such as deforestation, soil erosion and additional environmental issues have exacerbated food poverty and restricted related opportunities.
Young mothers in their kitchen gardens
Approximately 20 young people ranging from late teens to early twenties were at the dialogue, all had either finished school or had left early due to pregnancy. The group was made up of young men and women, the majority of the young women, carrying their babies.
The lively dialogue was co-ordinated by RCRA but led by the Youth Peer Mentors. The discussion focused on a number of themes including how to avoid, unwanted pregnancies, prevent HIV, as well as the different types of contraception.
Jo McClellan, CHASE Africa Programme and Partnership manager said “It was encouraging to hear the amount of understanding and knowledge from the group on the subjects covered.”
These types of discussions are hugely important in creating positive change. They provide an opportunity to share knowledge and experience. RCRA engage trusted community leaders to support the sessions, which helps ensure positive behavioural changes.
Adolescent Dialogue
Our work with RCRA also includes support to young mothers to help them back into education and given access to health services. They are supported to set-up a kitchen gardens and provided with fuel-efficient cookstoves. RCRA have also been offering trees from their tree nursery for use in the gardens.
These allocated gardens offer an opportunity for the young women to grow food for their families, with many other family members also becoming involved. As well as providing a source of food, the gardens provide an income from the sale of excess produce, giving the women and their families more robust financial security. This in turn leads to a deeper understanding of how to use the land productively and works toward a healthier environment, especially important in reversing environmental degradation and promoting improved biodiversity.
fuel-efficient Cookstove
We spoke to Kabugho and Musoki, two of the young mothers benefiting from their own kitchen gardens
“These vegetables have enabled me to save money to use on basic needs for my family, especially my child. I am so grateful. The volunteer Peer Mentor makes sure that I know about different family planning methods and how to manage pregnancy, which means i can manage the size of my family and the costs that this brings”
Kabugho Apophia, young mother and kitchen garden holder, Maliba sub-county, Uganda
“The kitchen garden means I am able to support myself and my family. Life was hard after I got pregnant for a second time but since I have started gardening life has got better as we have food to eat and can sell the surplus to meet our basic family needs. Since having the kitchen garden we have become happy again as a family”
Musoki NaTasha, young mother and kitchen garden holder, Maliba sub-county, Uganda