People from the neighborhood were wondering what was happening in the home of the two sisters, Amira and Amal, when they could hear the voices and laughter of many children. The two sisters had called children to come to their home to learn about nutrition. Amira , 14 years old and her sister Amal, 15 years old, are from Al-Khafji district, a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Sana’a where a lot of refugees and Yemeni returnees live. They participated in a child focused health education training with a focus on nutrition, arranged by Save the Children. A previous study had shown that children, as well as their parents and teachers, have low levels of knowledge on nutrition. After the training, they were ready to take the lead in their poor community and raise the awareness of the children on different aspects of nutrition, aiming at changing practices through improved information. The idea was unique and never had the community seen children taking a lead in making a change. At the beginning, it was difficult for Amira and Amal to collect children and convince their parents on the importance of children participation in such activities.

Some adults were laughing at Amira and Amal, and they were wondering how they will implement such an activity while they themselves are young and have no experience in training, except for the training they had received from Save the children. “I was afraid at the beginning in how to deal with many children at the same time but because all the activities are participatory and in the form of games, children interacted with me in a very good way. And now I train 15 children three days a week.” Amira said.

Belief in change

This new experience of Amira and Amal changed their life positively; they got to know their own neighborhood much better, and the people in the neighborhood got to know them. The people hardly noticed them before. But now that the sisters have shown what they are able to do with the children in the neighborhood, they became well known and trusted members of the community. Amira explained that after few sessions with the children, a father, who had heard of the activities with the children, came with his children to the session and asked her to let his children participate as well. “I was happy to see how parents trust me as a person who can make a positive change in our community through children; children learn information and skills to better protect themselves from disease and bad nutrition” Amira said.

Amira launches her training in the living room with high interaction of the children.

Families support

The sessions with the children include some ‘home work’ for the children after each session. Children are asked to interview their mothers, or observe some practices at home. Through this interaction, family members start to ask questions of what the children are learning. Family members of the children started to listen to the children, especially mothers. The sisters heard how children advised their mothers on what to cook and why it is important to vary food. Asma , 9 years old, one of the children who participate in Amira’s sessions said; “when I went home, I gathered my family and started to tell them what I had learnt about nutrition and what to eat and why”. “Yesterday I advised my mother to buy vegetables which include iron because it will power us to play and go to school in a good health. And today we ate eggs at breakfast after my advice!” Asma said with a big smile on her face.

Amira and Amal were very much supported by their mother; she allowed them to open their home and welcome more children to participate in the activities. Since the 27^th of June they received about 25 children three days a week, facilitating activities with the children with high levels of motivation and a feeling of really contributing to their communities. “I strongly believe now that I can make a change in my community using simple tools that are fun for children. While playing games children learn new skills contributing to the development of our community. Now I have enough confidence to do the activities again whether in my community or outside” said Amal, while Amira nods in agreement. The experience also strengthened my desire to become a teacher”, said Amal. And for me the desire to become a journalist”, added Amira.

Amal uses her bedroom as a classroom, using flipcharts and the bag with simple child friendly materials that are provided by Save the Childrn.

This work is a result of a training conducted by Save the children to 30 participants in the age range of 14-22 years (27 girls and 3 boys). Amal and Amira were part of this training on nutrition. Afterwards, they formed 16 pairs, each pair works with a group of children. In total they are reaching 283 children.

The described activities are part of a program that is supported by the Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration (a US state department funds) as well as UNHCR.

Najiba , a trainer from Alsafia is like Halima and other trainers who couldn’t receive children in homes so they got the permission from the head teachers of the school to do the activities n the school classrooms and gardens.

The End