Programming throughout 2020

For the GHFGHC program, Self-Help was able to safely continue distributing porridge supplements and eggs to mothers by asking community leaders to help get the supplies to the women. While staff were unable to conduct large group sessions or monitor the growth of the babies during the pandemic, they did continue one-on-one visits with mothers and babies that were the most high risk during this time. With schools not in session, Self-Help worked with some communities to provide alternatives to the school feeding program so that children could still access a nutritional meal.

With schools closed during the pandemic, it was crucial to keep girls engaged. SelfHelp staff set up a peer-to-peer learning structure between SHS students that returned to communities and JHS students in communities to ensure that both groups of girls continued learning. The pandemic was hard on many businesses, so Self-Help staff worked with women who were facing challenges in their businesses or with their payments. Self-Help offered flexible payment plans and advised some women on how to adapt or diversify their businesses to improve their incomes.

Because families were not able to travel to markets and their household incomes were more volatile due to the economic disruptions of the pandemic, Self-Help staff facilitated trainings on household gardens to promote the family cultivation of diverse, readily-available, nutrientrich foods such as greens and orange-fleshed sweet potato.