NGO "ANOTHER WAY" (STICHTING BAKENS VERZET), NETHERLANDS, SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED SELF-FINANCING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES

The very first structures to be created are the health clubs, which are the foundation stones of each project. Hygiene education courses in schools are also covered in this section.

About 200 voluntary health clubs are formed in each project area. The members of each club, which is also open to men, follow a hygiene education course lasting at least six months. During the courses, various topics relating to hygiene are discussed under the leadership of a specialist trained by the NGO Africa A.H.E.A.D or other specialist.

Course leaders and materials to be used are prepared in an initial Moraisian organisational workshop. The administrative structure of the system is also set up on that occasion.

The Health clubs have two tasks:

The first is hygiene education itself tending to the improvement of health standards pending the installation of the drinking water and sanitation structures foreseen under the project.

The second is the formation of a socially acceptable platform enabling the population, and in particular women, to work together, which is basic to the success of the project. The health clubs constitute a forum for women, helping them to identify the requirements of the community and to fully participate in the planning and execution of successive phases.

Hygiene education should become an integral part of the school curriculum at all levels in the schools in the project area. The purpose of the courses is to reinforced the work done by the Health Clubs. The cooperation of trained personnel of the Ministry of Health is foreseen. This personnel will participate in the Health Club workshops during which the courses will actually be prepared and the Health Clubs organised. Teachers from the schools will also participate in the workshop and in the preparation of the material for the courses.

Where necessary, schools will be supplied with appropriate quality clean drinking water and proper sanitation systems under the project.

In some cases children from poorer families may not have access to the schooling system, especially where schooling is mostly funded by parents. This will put extra responsibility on the Health Clubs which will in such cases be called upon to cover hygiene education for the children not covered under the arrangements made with the schools.

The health clubs for women and on-going hygiene education courses in the schools in the project area are sustainably run under the local money systems set up in an early phase of project execution, just after the formation of the health clubs themselves. They include household hygiene, the need for keeping clean water clean, germ theory, water-borne diseases, skin infections, worms, malaria, the sanitation ladder and nutrition. It is the intention of the project that aspects relating to AIDS prevention, anti-conception and family planning in general also be introduced and discussed. Course material can also be extended to discussion of circumcision practices, household violence, and the physical abuse of women and children, and child labour. Some of these health related topics are taboo in some project areas. Since the local people are themselves directly involved in project planning and execution, there is little point in extending the courses to cover subjects they do not wish to discuss. Sensitive cultural issues needing very careful and patient management may be involved.

Annexe 15 – Information on hygiene education courses of the Model provides some basic details on the courses.. This information is subject to adaptation to the requirements expressed by the populations in each project area, as the course curriculum is defined in detail during the initial Moraisian workshop.

On the important issue of female genital cutting, in particular in Africa, see : Diop N., Askew, I., Strategies for Encouraging the Abandonment of Female Genital Cutting : Experiences from Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali., taken from : Abusharaf, R.M. (ed) Female Circumcision : Multicultural Perspectives, pp. 128-141.

Another important social (and technical) issue for inclusion in the work of the health clubs and in school courses is menstrual hygiene education. Full course information is available at S. House et al, Menstrual hygiene matters : A resource for improving menstrual hygiene around the world, Water Aid et al., London, 2012.

The Health Clubs are permanent. They continue to meet after completion of the hygiene education course. Their role is indispensable to the success of each project, as they are a forum for the identification of the requirements of each community, for planning, installation, and the development of a sense of unity and cooperation essential to the success of the projects. The Clubs form a platform for the organisation of women, so that they can actively participate in meetings at tank commission level, and express their opinion en bloc, and take important administrative responsibility in the running of the various project structures. They will nominate at least one of their members for preparation as inspector of sanitation, water supply, and waste recycling structures.

The Clubs will make proposals for the discussion at community level of hygiene- and health-related issues not already covered, for further study of subjects already dealt with and for the institution of systematic recalls which take the special interests and needs of new generations into account, especially those of girls.

The Clubs serve as a level of primary control over child health A system for the systematic inspection of individual sanitation installations, of drinking water supply and waste recycling facilities will be set up. The quality of the available drinking water will be systematically checked at a local clinic using equipment provided under the budget of each project.

The hygiene education courses introduced in all the schools in each project area will be supported by the local public health authorities and by the Ministry of Education. Lessons will be held during normal school hours under the supervision of teachers’ commissions. It is hoped that both representatives of the Health Ministry and the teachers themselves participate in the Moraisian workshop during which the structures are set up, and in the drafting of the material needed for the courses.

Creation of the health clubs

The Health Clubs must form a socially acceptable platform to get users, and especially women, to work together as this is the base of the project. They will create a forum for women, so that they can identify the needs of the community and participate fully in the planning and execution of the structures to be set up.

For this project (one) Moraisian workshop will be held during which draft Health Clubs rules will be prepared and discussed with the local people so the community fully "owns" the project. The Health Clubs will be a socially acceptable method of getting people used to working together, the cornerstone for a successful project. Local Health Workers will be trained to lead Health Club discussions. Material for the Health Clubs and for hygiene education courses in schools will be adapted, preferably using local artists. Preference will be given to the use of traditional (give name) art styles from the project area.

Indicative participation (all workshops together) :

The Moraisian trainers.
The project coordinator.
The general consultant.

The Africa AHEAD Consultant.
Representative of the local NGO.
At least 5 observers (possible coordinators for future projects).
20 qualified instructors indicated by the Ministry of Health to guide the Health Club lessons.
350 female initiative takers at the level of the future Tank Commissions.

Duration of each workshop: about three weeks.

The Workshops will be expected to produce the following structures:

a) A system coordination structure for coordination:
- with the project coordinator.
- amongst the main project areas.
- with the Health ministry.
- amongst the Health Ministry trainers and the women locally responsible.
- the statues and rules for the running of the clubs.

b) A materials structure:
- discussion with potential members of the Health Groups.
- definition of the content of the courses according to local requirements.
- adaptation of the material according to local customs (illustrations, languages etc).
- actual physical preparation of the course.
- distribution of the material.

c) A methodical structure:
- how to use the material.
- the role of the Health Ministry specialists.
- the role of the local Health Club leaders.
- practical exercises.
- how to call meetings and lead the first lessons.
- continuation of the Health Clubs after the termination of the courses.

d) A communications structure
- vertical, at project level (coordinator, Health Clubs leaders, Health ministry teachers).
- horizontal, amongst local Health Club leaders, (future) radio programme.

e) A structure at local Tank Commission level:

- Payment of the local Health Club leader once the local money systems have been formed - Relationship between the local Health Club leader and the (future) Tank Commission - Relationship between the local Health Club leader and the Health ministry teacher responsible for the area - Discussion with persons (women) interested in the (future) local Tank Commission - Registration of Health Club members - Practical organisation of the lessons and later group meetings

Hygiene Education in the Schools

(One) Moraisian workshop will be held during which Local Health Workers will be trained to lead hygiene education courses in the schools. Material for the courses in schools will be adapted, preferably using local artists. Preference will be given to the use of traditional (give name) art styles from the project area.

Indicative participation (all workshops together):

The Moraisian trainers.
The project coordinator.
The general consultant.

The Africa AHEAD Consultant.
Representative of the NGO.
Representative of the Health Ministry.
Representative of the Education Ministry.
At least 5 observers (possible coordinators for future projects).
20 qualified instructors indicated by the Ministry of Health to guide the lessons.
70 teachers from the schools.

Duration of each workshop: about three weeks.

The Workshops will be expected to produce the following structures:

a) A system coordination structure for coordination:
- with the project coordinator.
- with the Health ministry.
- with the Education ministry.
- amongst the Health Ministry trainers and the teachers' commissions.

b) A materials structure:

- discussion of course content according to the different levels of the pupils.
- definition of the content of the courses according to age groups (illustrations, language etc).
- adaptation of the material according to local customs (illustrations, languages etc).
- actual physical preparation of the course.
- distribution of the material.

c) A methodical structure:
- how to use the material.
- the role of the Health Ministry specialists.
- the role of the teachers.
- planning the courses.
- continuity.

d) A communications structure:
- vertical, at project level (coordinator, Health ministry specialists, teachers' commissions)
- horizontal, amongst the teachers' commissions and the families, (future) radio programme

e) A structure at the level of each tank commission :

- Payment of the Club leader following formation of the local money system,
- Relations between the Clubs leader and the (future) tank commission,
- Relations between the Club leader and the Ministerial representative responsible for the area,
- Discussion with persons interested in the formation of the (future) tank commission,
- Registrations of course participants,
- Practical organisation of following lessons and meetings,

f) Formalities - Payment (in LETS) of the Health ministry specialists - Payment (in LETS) for the teachers involved

Read report A/62/187 Women in development dated 3 August 2007 presented by the Secretary General of the United Nations to the sixty-second session of the General Assembly.

After having indicated at point 10 that : “ It is widely acknowledged that gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals”, the report continues at point 18 :

« 18. It has been noted that the indicators for Millennium Development Goal 3 are limited in scope. For example, the indicator on political participation measures the proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments……….It also neglects women’s political participation at the local level. “

On the role of women, the report states in paragraph 44 :

“44. Women are critical agents of change in development and poverty eradication. Their participation in decision-making is a fundamental human right, as enshrined in the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Political participation is one of the three indicators of progress on the implementation of Millennium Development Goal 3 on gender equality and the empowerment of women.”

The report concludes :

“72. It is important to recognize that although women are particularly vulnerable to poverty, they are also critical agents of development and poverty eradication.

73. Analysis of national Millennium Development Goal reporting and poverty reduction strategy papers highlighted the missed opportunities to fully identify and address critical gender perspectives and build on the capacity of women in development and poverty eradication efforts.

74. Research has shown that increased participation of women in decision-making has a positive impact on development and poverty reduction. Women bring different perspectives and prioritize new agendas that focus on the priorities, needs and contributions of poor women and men and of children. Women decision makers also give greater attention to women’s and children’s rights and to critical issues such as violence.”

During your work on 03 Third level: states of Section 1. Anthropological analysis of the Third block : Solutions to the problems you considered the problems linked to the loss by the traditional chiefs of their power in project areas as a consequence of project execution.

1. Opinion.

You are a man. During the organisational workshop for the creation of the Health Clubs your wife has become a candidate for the representation of women on the (future) tank commission where you live. You don’t want her to do this. On one page explain why you will not let her participate and describe your right to stop her from doing so.

2. Opinion.

You are a woman. During the organisational workshop for the creation of the Health Clubs you became a candidate for the representation of women on the (future) tank commission where you live. On one page say why you want to do it.

3. Opinion.

You are project coordinator for the project in your chosen area. You have received the two preceding documents. On one page describe you would try to solve the problem. Be sure to add comments on your probability of success.

The participation of the +/- 200 women representing future tanks commissions during the Moraisian workshop for the creation of the Health Clubs will call for sacrifices both from the point of view of time and from the point of view of economic consequences. The workshop will last 3-4 weeks The women will often have (small) children. They will be taken to the course centre by a bys services organised by the project. The logistical aspects of this first workshop are vitally important to the practical commencement of project activities.

4. Opinion.

You are project coordinator for the project in your chosen area. On two pages describe how you would handle these problems. You are free as to the form you give to your report. However, the report should include a very short introduction setting the nature of the problem out. It should also include a conclusion. Remember that the workshop itself can set up services such as crèches and child-care, and structures for the supply of drink and food during the day. That is an integral part of the training. In principle, the project supplies a workshop site, the necessary physical structures, including sanitation and drinking water, and the didactical support needed for the training, the transport of the participants, and technical finance. All other aspects must be managed by the participants themselves through the workshop itself.

You are project coordinator. At the beginning of the workshop you find yourself with a group of +/- 200 women each one representing the women to be served by a (future) tank commission, and several other persons. The participants have to organise themselves. They start with nothing. They have to perform basic tasks such as the choosing a temporary chair-person and secretary , and organising the election of the basic workshop organs, set up regulations for the workshop.....

5. Opinion.

On the basis of your work in 3 The first phase of project execution in section 1 of this block 4, explain on one page which forms of technical support you would supply the participants.

The chart showing costs for the creation of the Health Clubs gives indications quarter by quarter of the costs in question.

6. Research.

Make a one-page description of the graph.