Empowering Families through Education and Sustainable Practices.

Empowering Families through Education and Sustainable Practices.

Elizabeth Charles Mandaru, a community health worker in Nyamilama Village, has seen a profound shift in how families approach health. Through the LEAP training, she learned effective strategies to engage entire families in health discussions, including fathers. “Fathers are beginning to see themselves as part of parenthood,” Elizabeth explains, now fathers accompany their wives to health clinics and actively support them during pregnancy. This wasn’t common before, but education has reshaped these perspectives.

Beyond clinic visits, Elizabeth encourages families to implement sustainable practices. “I urge mothers to grow vegetables and fruits,” she says, highlighting how home gardens improve family nutrition. Many families have embraced this advice, and some have even gone further by building modern toilets and starting vegetable gardens. This simple step has significantly improved both their health and sanitation.

The LEAP platform has also has also enhanced the effectiveness of community health care workers like Elizabeth. “Even when I’m at home, I can receive messages and continue with my studies and if I don’t finish a lesson, I can pick up where I left off,” she explains. This flexibility has allowed her to stay updated while balancing other responsibilities. LEAP also provides reminders for incomplete lessons, ensuring health workers remain engaged.

LEAP’s impact extends to practical knowledge. Elizabeth has been able to teach families how to build modern toilets, explaining that separating the toilet from the house reduces health risks and makes the home safer. “People now understand the importance of building a proper toilet,” she shares, noting how these changes have led to healthier living conditions and better community engagement.