Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Gatherings for Young Women Gardeners

Addressing the needs and aspirations of the whole adolescent mother, an integrated approach

ASRH Gatherings for 500 young mothers and children

Over the course of 2 years, RCRA has organized 25 ASRH Gatherings for Young Mother Gardeners, reaching 250 young mothers in the 1,000 Women’s Gardens program and another 250 young mothers from adjacent communities –  future ‘adopter’ gardeners.

Following each Gathering, young mothers receive ongoing support from selected Young Mother Volunteers (YMVs) through monthly home-based meetings and collective activities to expand their exposure to sexual and reproductive health, and educational and livelihood options, including specific training in organic vegetable gardening. The integrated approach recognizes and addresses the main reasons for unplanned pregnancies ‘while still young’.

Testimonial from the Field

“My name is Christine.  I dropped out of schooling Primary five; I went for a hairdressing course where I met a boyfriend. He promised to support me with hairdressing materials and make a hair styling salon for me if I accept to have sex with him. After having sex with him, I realized that I was pregnant for him when I missed my menstruation periods. The man refused to take responsibility for me and the pregnancy; he even didn’t fulfill her promises of purchasing the materials for me.   I decided to go and stay with my parents to date till I heard of kitchen gardening through a friend that had been supported by RCRA. I am now into kitchen gardening as a source of food and income. I have hopes of finishing my course if I raise money from my garden. ”

– Young Mother Gardener

Young mothers learn ASRH information, socialize and express their aspirations

At each ASRH Gathering, an average of 20 adolescent mothers and their babies gather for a day of learning, sharing, food and play, focused on empowering the ‘whole adolescent’. RCRA staff provide basic ASRH information, address family planning misinformation and concerns, and introduce organic vegetable gardening as a means for improving nutrition, health and income generation.

Reducing unwanted pregnancies through economic empowerment of Young Mother Gardeners ​

Peer Educators trained by RCRA explain that family planning is the decision taken by partners or an individual on how many children they desire to have, when to have them, with what spacing, and using their preferred contraceptive method. Family planning is about planning for a successful and healthy family.

Economic empowerment is a journey toward self-reliance, where adolescent mothers no longer feel pressured to seek money from boyfriends nor parents facing poverty.  They are able to contribute to their own basic needs and plan a brighter future.

In interactive sessions, young mothers are asked to think about and communicate their long-term dreams and goals, and later meet in small groups to discuss big questions affecting their lives. 

unwanted pregnancies through economic empowerment of Young Mother Gardeners ​

 

Testimonials from Young Mothers:

Benefits of vegetable gardening as discussed by young mothers in ASRH Gatherings

  •  Vegetable gardening is a source of income, when one sells the vegetables, she gets money to support herself and the baby financially.

  •  Vegetables are very nutritious; they boost the health of the baby and the young mother.

  •  Vegetable gardening reduces dependency levels. One becomes financially independent and does not only depend on her parents and the partner whenever she wants something.

  •  Vegetable gardens are sources of food. A young mother and her baby cannot go hungry when the vegetables are available.

  •  Vegetable gardening is a source of capital for another business. For example, if the money earned after selling is well saved, one can start a hairdressing salon or any other business in future.

  •  Vegetable gardening keeps the young mother busy and helps her not to engage in activities that may endanger her life

Young Mother Volunteers (YMVs) supporting their peers to realize their personal and collective goals

At each Gathering, one young mother who displays strong leadership skills and has a flourishing garden is selected to be the YMV.  Where one Gathering cannot be expected to lead to sustained change, the role of YMVs is to accompany the young mothers for at least one year, using their own dreams and goals as the starting point for achieving empowerment over time.

A total of 25 YMVs support all 500 young mothers in their respective communities supported by the RCRA and 1,000 Women’s Gardens teams. YMVs receive additional training on facilitation, counseling and family planning to be able to advise their fellow young mothers. They also attend capacity-building training in organic vegetable gardening practices.  

RCRA with UC Berkeley will conduct research on the ASRH Gatherings/YMV program toward the end of 2024. In preparation, YMVs administered a thorough baseline survey to all young mothers participating in the program. The survey also serves to better understand the adolescents they are working with and to guide discussions and activities.

Know Your Rights Workshops

Young mothers attend participatory sessions (Knowing Your Rights) to understand their rights and responsibilities as children, mothers and women under Uganda laws, facilitated by a local leader with the Justice Center Uganda (JCU).  They share personal experiences with rights abuses and learn where to go to report domestic violence and seek relief.

Testimonial from Young Mother

“I got married at the age of 15, it wasn’t my decision to get married at that age. I had a pregnancy that was not planned and when I told my parents about it, they forced me to get married to the man that impregnated me. I pleaded with them to let me stay at home since I wasn’t ready for marriage but all was in vain. While with my partner, I was a victim of marital rape, my partner was abusive, controlling, restricting my freedom of autonomy…This always traumatized me. I decided to divorce him and explained all this to my mother and grandparents. My father is a very rigid man and I fear him. My mum decided to take me to my grandparents where I stay currently since my father said that he does not ever want to see me at his home.” 

 

Mixed Gender Dialogues

The YMVs also organize Mixed Gender Dialogues with young mothers and adolescent boys to talk frankly about local gender and cultural expectations and how to form healthy relationships.  Teenage boys and girls often have different points of view and these Dialogues allow for learning, discussion and coming together on how to reduce harmful norms and ensure mutual consent on sexual relations, among other basics of a healthy relationship.

 

YM Responses to: In your own views, how can harmful norms be challenged and changed?

  •  Sensitization of parents/elders since they are the ones that directly teach these norms to their children as they grow. 

  •  Engage religious, cultural leaders and men in the fight against gender/cultural norms that are affecting peoples’ rights.

  •  Empower girls/women in fighting for their rights. Raising aspirations of girls helps them make individual choices in their lives. 

  •   Gender studies should be included in the curriculum so that those who have a chance to go to school have access to this knowledge.

  •  Using social media. The stakeholders and NGOs should share this knowledge in the media, for example reaching out to people over the radios. 

  •  Promoting equality and inclusivity. Boys and girls should be equally treated and allowed to actively participate in activities and decision making.

     

Funding

Currently, 1,000 Women’s Gardens is supported by over 200 individual donors through Global Giving as well as funding from the Packard Foundation and 128 Collective