The Farmer Field School Reproductive Health (FFS-RH) Project was initiated in 2005 by CDA in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in three counties: Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta.
In 2010, the project focused on KilifiCcounty only where there are 17 Farmer Field Schools-Reproductive Health (FFS-RH) groups and three (3) Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools (JFFLS). These groups have been trained in various agricultural skills integrated with reproductive health issues such as Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights, prevention of HIV/AIDS, Gender Based Violence, FGM/C, safe motherhood, sound nutrition among others. The FFS-RH groups are empowered to carry out outreach campaigns so as to reach as many people as they can with RH information.
The projects’ main objective was to increase access to quality reproductive health services through dissemination of basic reproductive health information by organized Farmer Field Schools. Specifically, the project aimed at:
- Improving farmers’ health through building skills in reproductive health issues (e.g. prevention of gender based violence, HIV and Aids, FGM/C; SRH and family planning);
- Empowering FFS-RH and JFFLS groups to carry out outreach campaigns on RH issues; and
- Awareness creation on social and legal rights.
Achievements
- 33 participants trained on social and legal rights.
- Revolving funds to 4 FFS-RH groups to establish Income Generating Activities given out.
- T-shirts with RH messages for JFFLS members printed: (100 T-shirts heavy duty (medium); 50 T-shirts heavy duty (small); 20 Polo T-shirts heavy duty; 72 printed caps).
- Increase in deliveries at health facilities reported.
- Condom distribution on-going.
- Equal opportunity given to girls and boys.
- Improved sanitation – 50% of farmer groups have an improved toilet facility.
- Recognition of RH farmer groups as key community entry points for other development activities
