Health and Wellbeing

What we do to promote women, youth and children’s health and wellbeing

AWYAD’s commitment to empowering women, youth, and children encompasses a holistic approach to their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. This is achieved through focused interventions in sexual and reproductive health, mental health and psychological well-being, and hygiene and sanitation.

1. AWYAD’s Sexual and Reproductive Health

SRH Interventions

Our work in SRH involves a number of strategies including sex education for adolescents, provision of maama kits for pregnant women, and support for teenage mothers returning to school. We are deeply involved in SRH related projects, focusing on menstrual hygiene management, peer clubs in schools and communities, and increasing access to SHR commodities. By tackling cultural beliefs and practices that perpetuate teenage pregnancy and child marriage, AWYAD is at the forefront of ensuring reproductive rights and health, fundamentally changing lives through education and advocacy. Specific program interventions include:

AWYAD’s promotes Sex Education for Adolescents which involves comprehensive sex education in schools and communities and we cover topics such as human anatomy, reproductive health, consent, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim is to empower young people with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their health and relationships.

We provide “Maama Kits” for extremely vulnerable pregnant women in refugee settlements, slum and rural communities with limited medical supplies. A maama kit is a package that generally includes items necessary for a safe delivery, such as sterile gloves, cloths, a child health card, soap, cotton wool, and surgical blades. By distributing these kits, AWYAD helps ensure safer childbirth conditions, which is crucial in areas with high maternal and infant mortality rates.

AWYAD supports teenage mothers to return to school. Our support includes providing financial assistance, counselling, and day-care services. The support helps to give teenage mothers a second chance to education, mitigate the high dropout rates among teenage mothers and promotes gender equality in education.

AWYAD promotes Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in schools and communities for vulnerable women and adolescent girls. This initiative focuses on ensuring that girls and women have access to sanitary products and proper facilities for managing menstruation. Education on menstrual hygiene is also a significant part of this intervention, helping to combat stigma and misinformation surrounding menstruation.

AWYAD establishes peer clubs in schools and communities where peers educate and support each other on topics related to sexual and reproductive health. These clubs serve as safe spaces for young people to discuss their experiences and learn from each other, fostering a supportive community environment.

AWYAD also works with health providers to increase access to SRH Commodities in underserved communities. This intervention involves providing access to contraceptives and other reproductive health supplies. Ensuring availability of these commodities is crucial for preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing the spread of STIs.

AWYAD engages in advocacy and community dialogue to address and change harmful cultural norms, such as those leading to teenage pregnancy and child marriage. These efforts are crucial for creating long-term change in attitudes and practices around SRH.

Beyond direct interventions, AWYAD in broader educational and advocacy efforts to influence policy and raise public awareness about SRH issues. This includes working with other likeminded organizations through partnerships, networks and alliances as well as engagement with local and national governments to improve health services and policies.

Innovative approaches to SRH and SRH rights

AWYAD has adapted and implemented a number of innovative approaches and some of these include:

AWYAD’s uses innovative mobile phone-based approaches as; whatsapp Groups, Caller-Groups and SMS-based alerts for SRH education. This has significantly enhanced SRH knowledge and service uptake among Uganda’s youth. This approach provides a platform for safe and confidential access to SRH information and discussions, encouraging responsible sexual behaviour and increased interaction with SRH services.

AWYAD champions Comprehensive Sexuality Education at community level and school level as a pivotal tool for promoting a positive and informed view of sexuality. AWYAD’s CSE covers a broad range of subjects including Abstinence, consent, safe sex and relationship communication, promoting respect for SRH rights and reducing stigma.

AWYAD also employs the Peer Education and Youth Involvement as an approach that that trains young people to educate their peers about SRH This approach has proven effective in spreading information and changing attitudes within communities. Young people often feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics with their peers, making this a potent approach for disseminating vital SRH information and promoting healthy behaviours.

AWYAD also uses the Community-Based Participatory Research and Action Approach (CBPRA) which involves community members in the research and action process to address SRH issues that are most relevant to them. This CBPRA approach has helped tailor interventions to specific community needs and built local capacity to address SRH issues, ensuring sustainability and relevance.

AWYAD also uses the Menstrual Health Management (MHM) Approach in Schools has been very instrumental in enhancing adolescent girls’ knowledge on MHM. Providing access to menstrual products and sanitation facilities in schools, along with education about menstruation, empowers adolescent girls and reduces absenteeism.

AWYAD also uses Male Engagement as an approach to strengthening uptake of SRH services and promoting SRH rights. Through this approach a number of men have become strong allies and champions of SRH rights in the communities.

AWYAD utilizes community dialogues as a powerful tool to promote SRH and SRH rights. We organize dialogues as structured discussions that involve various community stakeholders including youth, parents, health professionals, and local leaders. The objective of these dialogues is to come up with community solutions and resolutions that increase access to SRH services and promote SRH rights.

AWYAD also uses the Mass Awareness approach which involves using recorded messages aired on community radios and played through public address systems at shops, markets, buses, and boda bodas (aka: boda-boda talk-talk) is an effective approach to promote awareness on SRH and SRH rights. This approach leverages widely accessible communication channels to reach a broad audience, including those in remote or underserved areas.

AWYAD also uses the partnership approach by working with with health facilities and family planning providers to organize community outreaches, SRH camps and special SRH spaces at health facilities to increase uptake of family planning services and commodities.

2. Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing

AWYAD focuses on improving the mental health and psychosocial well-being of women, youth, and children affected by conflict and other socio-economic challenges. Key interventions and approaches which have been adopted from AWYAD’s core MHPPSS partner War Child Holland include the following:

Key Interventions

(i) Therapeutic Interventions
AWYAD provides a range of therapeutic services aimed at addressing trauma, stress, and other mental health issues. One of our key interventions is structured group therapy sessions, where participants engage in activities designed to help them process their experiences and emotions. These sessions often use creative arts therapies, including music, dance, drama, and visual arts, which provide safe and expressive outlets for individuals to communicate their feelings and experiences.

(ii) Individual Counseling
For those requiring more personalized support, AWYAD offers individual counseling sessions conducted by trained mental health professionals. These sessions provide a confidential space for individuals to discuss their concerns, develop coping strategies, and work through personal issues. The counselors use evidence-based therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), to help individuals manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Key approaches

AWYAD’s work on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for women, youth, and children involves a range of evidence-based approaches that integrate therapeutic activities, community engagement, and capacity building to support mental health and psychosocial well-being.

Interpersonal Group Therapy
AWYAD employs an interpersonal group therapy (IPT-G) approach to address depression, primarily among women in Africa. This approach focuses on improving mental health through structured group therapy sessions that emphasize interpersonal relationships and social support. The therapy is delivered in a group setting, typically with 8-12 participants, and is facilitated by a trained lay counsellor. IPT-G aims to help participants identify and understand the connection between their interpersonal relationships and their depression. The therapy focuses on four key areas: grief, role disputes, role transitions, and interpersonal deficits. By addressing these areas, participants learn to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and build healthier relationships, which in turn helps to alleviate their depressive symptoms. The group setting provides a supportive environment where participants can share their experiences, gain insights from others, and practice new interpersonal skills. This collective support fosters a sense of community and reduces the isolation often associated with depression.

TeamUp
TeamUp is a movement-based psychosocial support intervention for children aged 6-18, developed in collaboration with UNICEF Netherlands and Save the Children. It aims to improve children’s well-being through structured, interactive group sessions that include games, sports, and movement-based activities. These activities help children regulate their emotions, release physical tension, and develop social-emotional skills. The program’s non-verbal approach allows participation regardless of language barriers or disabilities. TeamUp creates a stable and predictable environment, fostering a sense of connection and safety for children affected by conflict.

EASE (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions)
EASE is a group-based MHPSS methodology developed by the World Health Organization, with input from War Child, aimed at reducing psychological distress in adolescents aged 10-14. It involves seven 90-minute sessions for adolescents and three sessions for their caregivers, delivered by trained non-specialist community-level providers. The intervention addresses symptoms of depression and anxiety, focusing on building emotional regulation, coping skills, and resilience. EASE is adaptable to various settings, including community, health, protection, and education environments.

Be There
Be There is a nine-session group intervention designed to support parents and caregivers of children exposed to armed conflict, displacement, and adversity. It aims to reduce caregiver stress and improve their well-being, ultimately enhancing their ability to provide positive parenting. The program includes stress management techniques, positive parenting strategies, and the promotion of supportive family dynamics. Research has shown that improving caregiver well-being directly benefits children’s psychosocial health and development.

Stronger Together
Stronger Together is a holistic family intervention that enhances intra-family communication, conflict resolution, financial literacy, and emotional support. It involves six core sessions for the entire family, followed by tailored advanced modules addressing specific needs. The program aims to strengthen family functioning and resilience, reduce distress, and improve coping mechanisms. By focusing on the family unit, Stronger Together creates a supportive environment that promotes mental health and well-being for all members.

ReachNow
The ReachNow Tool is designed to improve access to mental health care for children and adolescents by strengthening community-level detection and help-seeking promotion. Trusted community members are trained to identify signs of psychological distress and link families with available mental health services. The tool uses context-specific stories and illustrations to facilitate recognition of distress symptoms. ReachNow has been shown to significantly increase the utilization of mental health services, addressing barriers such as stigma and lack of knowledge.

3. Hygiene and Sanitation programing

AWYAD is committed to improving community and school hygiene and sanitation to enhance public health, particularly for women, youth, and children. Our comprehensive approach integrates emergency response with long-term development to ensure sustainable improvements in hygiene and sanitation practices. Here is a detailed narrative of our key intervention approaches:

In emergency situations, AWYAD prioritizes immediate access to clean water and sanitation facilities to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases. This involves setting up temporary latrines, distributing hygiene kits, and ensuring a safe water supply through the installation of water tanks and the distribution of water purification tablets. The hygiene kits typically include soap, sanitary pads, jerry cans, and other essential items. These rapid interventions are crucial for stabilizing the health conditions of affected populations, particularly women and children who are most vulnerable during crises.

AWYAD employs the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach to eliminate open defecation and improve sanitation practices. This participatory method involves engaging community members in identifying sanitation problems and developing their own solutions. Facilitators from AWYAD guide communities through the process of mapping out areas of open defecation, discussing the health impacts, and creating action plans to build and maintain latrines. By fostering community ownership, CLTS ensures that sanitation improvements are sustainable and culturally accepted.

Education and awareness is a cornerstone of AWYAD’s strategy to enhance hygiene practices. The organization conducts hygiene promotion campaigns targeting women, youth, and children. These campaigns include workshops, school programs, and community meetings where participants learn about the importance of handwashing, safe water handling, food hygiene, and menstrual hygiene management. Interactive methods such as drama, songs, and games are used to make these messages engaging and memorable. AWYAD also distributes hygiene kits, which typically include soap, sanitary pads, and water purification tablets, to reinforce these practices.

AWYAD collaborates with Water service organizations to support communities construct and repairs boreholes, wells, and piped water systems to ensure reliable access to clean water. In schools and public areas, AWYAD builds latrines, handwashing stations, and bathing facilities. These structures are designed to be accessible to all community members, including people with disabilities. AWYAD also trains local technicians and community members in the maintenance and repair of WASH infrastructure, promoting local capacity and sustainability.

Menstrual hygiene management is a critical aspect of AWYAD’s hygiene promotion efforts. The organization provides education on menstrual health to women and girls, addressing the stigma and misconceptions surrounding menstruation. MHM sessions cover the use of sanitary products, personal hygiene practices, and the importance of menstrual health for overall well-being. AWYAD distributes reusable and disposable sanitary pads and ensures that latrines in schools and communities have facilities for safe and private menstrual hygiene management.

AWYAD collaborates with schools to implement hygiene programs that educate children about proper hygiene practices. These programs include the formation of school WASH clubs, where children participate in activities such as clean-up campaigns, hygiene education sessions, and the maintenance of school sanitation facilities. By engaging students, AWYAD not only improves hygiene practices in schools but also empowers children to act as hygiene ambassadors in their homes and communities.

Behavior Change Communication (BCC) is integral to AWYAD’s approach to improving hygiene and sanitation. BCC strategies involve using targeted messages and communication channels to promote positive hygiene behaviors. AWYAD employs various media, including radio broadcasts, posters, and community theater, to disseminate information and encourage behavior change. These messages are tailored to address specific cultural beliefs and practices, making them more effective in influencing behavior. Continuous reinforcement of key hygiene messages helps establish and maintain healthy practices within the community.

AWYAD trains community health workers (CHWs) and volunteers to support hygiene and sanitation initiatives at the grassroots level. These individuals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to conduct hygiene education, monitor sanitation practices, and encourage community participation in WASH activities. CHWs and volunteers play a crucial role in reaching remote and marginalized populations, ensuring that hygiene messages and interventions are inclusive and effective.

Youth engagement is a key strategy for AWYAD in promoting hygiene and sanitation. The organization involves young people in WASH activities through youth clubs, peer education, and leadership training. These initiatives empower youth to take an active role in improving hygiene practices in their communities and serve as role models for their peers. By fostering youth leadership, AWYAD ensures the sustainability and scalability of their hygiene and sanitation efforts.

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