to reach ou, to recruit, train and deploy

Siphilile is a Maternal and Child Health non-governmental organisation and is locally registered in Swaziland. The aim of the programme is to promote maternal and child health. The main method of intervention to reach this aim is to recruit, train and deploy “Mentor Mothers ” in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. This intervention is inspired and adapted from a peer support model using Mentor Mothers developed by Philani Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition project in Cape Town, South Africa. The programme is implemented in Swaziland with financial support from the Church of Sweden. In Swaziland, this programme started as a pilot project in health, gender and theology where Siphilile was the outreach area for PHD students from University of Kwa Zulu-Natal.
In Siphilile ’s work to contribute to the health of mothers and children, it has been established that the health of both the woman and her child is largely dependent on the woman ’s capability to make life decisions. Unfortunately, most of the women that Siphilile works with on the ground have very limited power to make these essential decisions. This is why Siphilile embarked on a project to empower women by educating them on Gender and Human rights issues and strengthen relationships between women so that they support each other. In turn, the mentor mothers can strengthen their clients. To strengthen this, Siphilile also works on advocacy and partnerships with governmental Organisations such as the Ministry of Health and hospitals, social workers and the police through victim support unit, and church leaders.

Download : 20803_siphilile-fboapplication-clm032015.docx