Mother and Baby Health Workshops
The idea is to have monthly information workshops for pregnant women and those thinking of having children. These will focus on all the proper preparations from conception to post-natal health of women and children.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Zola
Last Name
Ndimande
Website
Organization
Country
South Africa
Are you an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 who would like to apply for a nine month Young Champions Program mentored by an Ashoka Fellow?
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
Organization Country
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Your idea
Name Your Project
Mother and Baby Health Workshops
Country your work focuses on
South Africa
Describe Your Idea
The idea is to have monthly information workshops for pregnant women and those thinking of having children. These will focus on all the proper preparations from conception to post-natal health of women and children.
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
The workshops will happen on a monthly basis and will be offered for free.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
This project has not started yet.
Problem
The health of women and infants is highly compromised due to lack of knowledge and up to date information on maternal matters.
Women feel powerless and give all their decision making powers concerning their health to men and health professionals
Most decisions made by prengant women are fear based.
Actions
Providing free up to date vital information to pregnant women about the importance of the health during pregnancy and most importantly their baby's health.
Emphasise the natural cycle of birth and women's natural abilities regarding pregnancy
Results
Women should feel empowered to decide on issues affecting them
Women will know all available options and act without fear but from and informed position
Women will form alliances and support groups with other mothers in order to rally any assistance if needed.
Women will be confident in their knowledge and be supported in their decisions
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Commitment from caregivers and health professional to be available at said times
Thorough research and information sourcing. It is crucial that information on maternal health be relevant to the needs of the women
Ongoing support from the community, local clinics, men and the women themselves
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Institutionalised thinking. We are entering a new era in maternal health and health preofessionals have to keep abreast of new information. Holding on to ineffective ideas may be harmful to the project and produce fear based thinking.
How many people will your project serve annually?
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Idea phase
Is your organization a
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
If yes, provide organization name.
How long has this organization been operating?
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with government?
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Approximately 150 words left (1200 characters).
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
Time
Dedication
Research
The Story
What was the defining moment that you led to this innovation?
I am woman and I was shocked at the lack of information out there given to women during pregnancy. I was lucky but what about the thousands of women who don't have the right information especially at such a crucial time.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
I'm a mother and advocate of womens issues. I believe in empowering women in all areas especially African girls.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
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Comments
This is an interesting idea and I just wanted to say that you could apply Freire’s educational model in your workshops.
Hi Faatemehzahraa
Thank you for the feedback. I'm not familiar with the Freire's educational model--but I will look it up.
This is wonderful am just wondering if you thought of how the workshop will be conducted if some of the women will be ilitrate .
The main aim of the workshops is to not give out pamphlets but to engage and communicate to each other. The emphasis is on sharing experiences, knowledge and expertise with mothers to be. These workshops will be carried out in "birth class" style with a focused objective to empowering the mother with choices.
Anyone that does not speak the same language will be catered for in another way. Perhaps start a similar workshop in their own language. The objective is for women to feel strong and understand the information suggested to them.
In some countries birth classes are a norm but in other countries, they are paid for, received by a few mothers. This needs to change-
Women are very powerful in creating spider networks that support each other and learn from each other. We must not belittle that. When all technology and modern medicine fails to meet our needs it is these connections that are really important to us and which sustain us. Communities ( doctors, nurses, midwives, men, sisters) need to mobilise themselves from within to take care of the needs of the women and create supportive structures for mothers to feel safe and empowered.
Its a simple model, but it can transform the way women think about the health of the babies and themselves.
You mentioned that most women give decision making to men and health professionals. Will the men of these communities be supportive of the workshops that will be offered? How will you advertise and encourage participation in areas where it is not readily accepted? And what specific information will the workshop curriculum include?
Thank you for this comment. No doubt it is a challenge. I think the best way to go about it is have open dialogue and communication within the community and family unit. Maybe some kind of incentive for men (in the beginning stages)in areas where such subjects are taboo.
The information contained in the curriculum will be based on empowering the woman with information so that she doesn't give the decision making powers to others but feels confident enough to make those desicions herself.
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