Femme in Moshi: A Training of Trainers with TEACH!

PictureCo-Founder Sabrina Rubli with TEACH trainees!

Femme is growing! Last week our field staff spent time in Moshi, Tanzania to partner with TEACH: Time To Empower Africa’s Children, a UK-based NGO. TEACH has been present in Moshi for the past few years and has developed several strong programs which focus on the education and empowerment of young people in their communities. TEACH combines social enterprise with community development to create an innovative and effective development model.

Currently, TEACH is working towards the implementation of a new Female Health Program in the summer of 2014, which will focus on providing women and girls in the community with essential health education and sustainable menstrual management supplies.

Femme staff conducted a two-day Training of Trainers session with TEACH staff to teach them about the Feminine Health Management program we have implemented in Mathare. The overall goal of the Training was to share specific challenges and successes Femme has encountered while in the field, in the hopes that TEACH’s project this summer can be as successful as possible!

Each female trainer was provided with a Femme Kit, including a reusable menstrual cup, in order to help her better explain to beneficiaries how they work, and how to properly use it!

PictureTwo TEACH trainees make a presentation on proper usage of a menstrual cup.

Ten TEACH staff were present for the Training, and the positive energy in the room was exciting! Day One covered basic female anatomy, the menstrual cycle, and the introduction of the menstrual cup! We also focused on the importance of establishing safe spaces within workshops and answering student’s questions in a respectful and appropriate way.

On Day Two, we explored teaching techniques and discussed how keep students engaged and how to make the workshops interactive, fun and educational. The session completed with trainees making short presentations on what they had learned over the course of the session, and facilitating a variety of activities.

Femme and TEACH share similar values when in comes to development programming, and we excited to continue this partnership as the years go on. We are thrilled that they will be implementing such a high quality Female Health Project this summer! International Development should be a collaborative effort between organizations and communities, and by partnering with like-minded groups, we are ensuring the best possible programs are delivered to beneficiaries. Femme and TEACH will continue to discuss future opportunities for partnerships, in Moshi and Nairobi!

Sabrina Rubli