Mama's Smile Health Foundation
About Mama's Smile
Our Mission:
Mama’s Smile Health Foundation (MaSHeF) is an NGO in Kenya that strives for universal Health Care and Education; strengthened within the golden triangle of Quality, Quantity and Equity. MaSHeF was initiated in July 2019, by Leah Wandera.
Our Programs:
MaSHeF has two operational arms:
A. Under Health Care:
i. Health Advocacy: trainings, safe space for conversations and self-care; advocacy for universal health care, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education
ii. Communal Health Insurance fund: to support the most vulnerable to be able to access health care needed
iii. Research and Development on Common /Recurring health issues among children, youth, and women
B. Education:
i. Education Advocacy: advocating for all children to access education- priority to children from impoverished families and girls; amplifying the voices of children through school clubs; Adult learning for women,
ii. ICT support for woman and youths
iii. Educational centers establishment and support toward learning materials- such as books and full uniforms; feeding programs.
iv. Support further learning for Girls
Mama’s Smile Health Foundation (MaSHeF) is an NGO in Kenya that strives for universal Health Care and Education; strengthened within the golden triangle of Quality, Quantity and Equity. MaSHeF was initiated in July 2019, by Leah Wandera.
Our Programs:
MaSHeF has two operational arms:
A. Under Health Care:
i. Health Advocacy: trainings, safe space for conversations and self-care; advocacy for universal health care, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education
ii. Communal Health Insurance fund: to support the most vulnerable to be able to access health care needed
iii. Research and Development on Common /Recurring health issues among children, youth, and women
B. Education:
i. Education Advocacy: advocating for all children to access education- priority to children from impoverished families and girls; amplifying the voices of children through school clubs; Adult learning for women,
ii. ICT support for woman and youths
iii. Educational centers establishment and support toward learning materials- such as books and full uniforms; feeding programs.
iv. Support further learning for Girls
Healthy Living for Girls MaSHeF Program in Migori
Objective: To promote Healthy living and furthering of education among girls.
Region: Migori County, Kenya
Summary
Majority of children in Kenya are girls. However, most of them are left behind in the political, social, and economic development spheres because hardships related to limited access to education, menstrual hygiene, early and unwanted pregnancy, child marriages, harmful cultural practices like FGM, and lack of effective mentorship programs that can help avert all the mentioned problems and assure them a better and brighter future.
To address the gaps in the areas above, Mamas Smile Health Foundation has designed a mentorship program to empower girls from Migori County in Kenya. Mamas Smile has been implementing mentorship programs in vulnerable communities like people in informal settlements of Mathare and Soweto in Nairobi for the past one year.
Migori county is classified as a child-rich county with more of 50% of its population constituting of children between 0-14 years. Only 15% of the population has an education level of secondary and above. Only 28% of the residents have access to clean water and sanitation. Migori is among the poorest counties, highest prevalence of both Female Genital Mutilation-(one region in Migori, Kuria, has a 96% prevalence of FGM) and HIV/AIDs in the country. Further, in every 100 girls enrolling for school in Migori, 24 do not proceed to the next level because of teenage pregnancy and 70 never make it universities/colleges.
It is because of the challenges described above that Mama Smile plans to have a quarterly healthy living for girl’s mentorship in the region. A pilot program was implemented in October 2020 where 118 girls attended. The attendance, which was above the 70 targeted girls, showed a massive need for mentorship on healthy life skills education.
To implement this program successfully and efficiently, Mama Smile Health Foundation will need to partner with the First UMC Moheto in Migori which equally implement unique and impactful programs in the area. It also has a level III health center, to support towards health care and health check-up services for girls and young women. Also, MaSHeF will need to partner with facilitators on matters menstrual hygiene, sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, and academic coaching
The program targets at girls and young women below 25 years who are vulnerable and academically motivated.
The healthy living and furthering education for Girls in Migori program will promote full human potential development and independence.
Region: Migori County, Kenya
Summary
Majority of children in Kenya are girls. However, most of them are left behind in the political, social, and economic development spheres because hardships related to limited access to education, menstrual hygiene, early and unwanted pregnancy, child marriages, harmful cultural practices like FGM, and lack of effective mentorship programs that can help avert all the mentioned problems and assure them a better and brighter future.
To address the gaps in the areas above, Mamas Smile Health Foundation has designed a mentorship program to empower girls from Migori County in Kenya. Mamas Smile has been implementing mentorship programs in vulnerable communities like people in informal settlements of Mathare and Soweto in Nairobi for the past one year.
Migori county is classified as a child-rich county with more of 50% of its population constituting of children between 0-14 years. Only 15% of the population has an education level of secondary and above. Only 28% of the residents have access to clean water and sanitation. Migori is among the poorest counties, highest prevalence of both Female Genital Mutilation-(one region in Migori, Kuria, has a 96% prevalence of FGM) and HIV/AIDs in the country. Further, in every 100 girls enrolling for school in Migori, 24 do not proceed to the next level because of teenage pregnancy and 70 never make it universities/colleges.
It is because of the challenges described above that Mama Smile plans to have a quarterly healthy living for girl’s mentorship in the region. A pilot program was implemented in October 2020 where 118 girls attended. The attendance, which was above the 70 targeted girls, showed a massive need for mentorship on healthy life skills education.
To implement this program successfully and efficiently, Mama Smile Health Foundation will need to partner with the First UMC Moheto in Migori which equally implement unique and impactful programs in the area. It also has a level III health center, to support towards health care and health check-up services for girls and young women. Also, MaSHeF will need to partner with facilitators on matters menstrual hygiene, sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, and academic coaching
The program targets at girls and young women below 25 years who are vulnerable and academically motivated.
The healthy living and furthering education for Girls in Migori program will promote full human potential development and independence.