The Madada Project is a transformative girls led initiative and organized under the Mwelu Foundation, designed to empower young girls and boys in Mathare, a densely populated informal settlement in Nairobi. This project receives funding from the Swedish Institute and is implemented by Stiftelsen in Sweden. It focuses on addressing critical issues, including Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Menstrual Health Management (MHM), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and leadership development, employing the Backa methodology.
The principal objective of the Madada Project is to foster a safer, healthier, and more equitable community where both boys and girls are empowered to lead, advocate for their rights, and become agents of change. As an initiative of the Mwelu Foundation, the Madada Project utilizes photography and filmmaking to document and amplify the voices of young individuals in Mathare. By presenting their stories, challenges, and accomplishments, the project raises awareness within the community while also highlighting the realities of Mathare to a global audience, thereby inspiring further support and collaboration.
This foundational program equips young individuals with essential knowledge and skills that they will carry throughout their lives. As these empowered individuals evolve into leaders, they will continue to advocate for gender equity, health, and education in Mathare, thereby ensuring a lasting legacy of positive change.
Workshops and Education Sessions
Comprehensive Sexual Education: Host workshops covering essential topics like puberty, reproductive health, contraception, and STIs in an age-appropriate, culturally sensitive manner.
Consent and Healthy Relationships: Educate youth on the importance of consent, healthy relationship dynamics, and boundaries, promoting respect and safety in personal relationships.
Media for sexual reproductive and health rights awareness
Storytelling through Photography and Film: Empower participants to use photography and film to share stories, raise awareness, and tackle stigma around sexual and reproductive health issues in their community.
Campaigns and Documentaries: Create short films or social media campaigns addressing sexual reproductive and health rights topics, made by youth for youth, which could then be showcased within the community or at local events.
Peer Counseling and Mentorship
Peer Educator Program: Train interested youth as peer educators who can provide sexual reproductive health and rights information and support within their community. Peer educators can help normalize discussions around sexual health and serve as trusted figures.
Mentorship by Health Professionals: Connect youth with health professionals for guidance and information on sexual reproductive health and rights topics, building trust and providing a reliable source of information.
Access to Resources and Healthcare Referrals
Provision of sexual reproductive health and rights Materials: Ensure access to essential resources such as sanitary products, contraception, and educational materials.
Partnerships for Health Services: Collaborate with local health facilities to create referral pathways for sexual reproductive health and rights services, allowing youth to access services like contraception, counseling, and STI testing confidentially.
Parental and Community Engagement
PCommunity Awareness Campaigns: Host community workshops to engage parents and caregivers in sexual reproductive health topics, fostering an environment where these conversations can happen openly and without stigma.
Advocacy for sexual reproductive health and rights : Raise awareness about sexual reproductive health and rights, promoting policy changes or programs within the community that support safe and accessible healthcare for young people.
Benefits of the sexual reproductive health and rights Program.
Integrating sexual reproductive health and rights into the Mwelu Foundation’s work aligns with its mission of youth empowerment and well-being. By addressing these topics, the foundation can help reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies, STIs, and gender-based violence, while fostering a healthier, informed, and empowered community.
This sexual reproductive health and rights program, alongside the foundation's media training, could lead to a generation of youth who are not only skilled in creative storytelling but also empowered advocates for health, equality, and their rights.
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