Activity Report

GERI ACTIVITIES

• GERI continued monitoring of 37 Communities triggered in Ikyurav-Tiev II Ward of Katsina-Ala LGA in Benue State to Open Defecation Free (ODF) under the UNICEF SHAWN IIPect. 2017. The aim of the project is to end open defecation in the community by 2017 and promote healthy living. 82% of the community have since claimed ODF status.

• Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative carried out a Menstrual Hygiene Management sensitization among Adolescent Girls in Schools on the Occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2017 in partnership with three other organisations at Government Secondary School Ikpayongo targeting 50 students (2017). An Assessment was also conducted during the course of the sensitization exercise to ascertain the knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene of adolescent girls. The outcome was successful as all the objectives were met

 

• GERI carried out Training of schools in Katsina Ala on WASH Practices under the UNICEF WASH in Schools Programme (2017). The aim of the project is to build capacity of public school pupils, reinforce the importance of monitoring hygiene and sanitation promotion in and through schools and form Environmental Health clubs in schools trained. So far, 5 schools have been trained with a total of 40 pupils reached

 

• GERI in her quest to promote healthy living carried out a Sensitization of four Primary/Secondary Schools and the High Level Market on Importance of Effective Hand Washing on the Occasion of Global Hand Washing Day in Makurdi (2017) with the theme “Our hands our future”. The aim of the activity was to spell out importance of proper hand washing with soap/ash and water. A total of 530 people were reached

Demonstration of hand washing to pupils during the 2017 global hand washing day

 

• Sensitization of Primary/Secondary Schools in Katsina Ala on Importance of Hand Washing in  Collaboration with UNICEF on the Occasion of Global Hand Washing Day (2017) A total of 167 school students were reached, 70 males and 97 females.

GERI Team in partnership with UNICEF mark Global Hand Washing Day 2017

 

• To ensure proper hygiene at the flood victims camp, GERI carried out Sensitization of Internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Importance of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene best practices and donated Sanitation Materials at IDP Camp Makurdi International Market (2017). A total of 4,874 people were reached.

GERI Team during sanitation and sensitization at IDP camp Makurdi 2017

 

• GERI in preparation to mark this year’s World Toilet Day carried out a survey in Tyomu community, Agan community and Imande Akpu all of Makurdi Local Government to ascertain the knowledge, attitude and practice of the community members over the usage of toilet. A total of 60 households were surveyed and Imande was picked for intervention as it had highest cases of open defecation

A house hold at Imande Akpu during the survey

 

• GERI spearheaded and conducted Triggering of Imande Akpu Community, Agan Ward of Makurdi LGA in Benue State to Open Defecation Free (ODF) in partnership with three other NGOs on the Occasion of World Toilet Day (2017). A total of 70 people representing 21 households were reached and pledged to dig pits and work towards ending open defecation by 28^th February, 2018

Triggering of Imande Akpu community during World Toilet Day 2017

 

• Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative also joined Benue Non-Governmental Organisations Network’s Environment, water Sanitation and hygiene thematic group to Trigger Tyomu Community in Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State to Open Defecation Free (ODF) on the Occasion of World Toilet Day (2017).74 households were earmarked and triggered successfully towards ending open defecation by 30^th January, 2018

Triggering of Tyomu community for the 2017 World Toilet Day

 

• Addressing Climate Change and Land Degradation Risks on Livelihood Activities in Daudu Rural Community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State

We continued with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), funded project through the Small Grants Programme (SGP) to implement a wide range of activities to address climate change and land degradation while enhancing rural livelihoods through alternative approaches. A total of 120 direct beneficiaries comprising 70 female and 50 males participated in practical and hands-on trainings on compost manure making, innovative and sustainable farming and forestry practices and production of animal feeds. In addition, the 70 female beneficiaries participated in vocational skills training in soap and bead making

 

• GERI is implementing the livelihood-support component for out-of-school, unemployed and unskilled youth on Global Engagement and Community Resilience Fund (GCERF) funded project in conflict affected Local Government Areas of Ado, Agatu, Kwande and Logo in Benue State. With the understanding that unemployed, unskilled out-of-school youth are prone to easy radicalization and recruitment into militias to perpetuate violence. GERI Facilitated the communities and identified, profiled and selected 268 beneficiaries 134 male, 134 female who are been trained on specified vocational skill areas of their choice ranging from tailoring ,carpentry, welding, hairdressing, Electrical Work, Phone repairs e.t.c

 

 

• INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE CELEBRATION 2017

To mark the International Day of Peace 2017, Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative organised a symposium at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) House to discuss security issues which ranged from Boko Haram insurgency to Herdsmen attack, communal crises and agitation for sovereign State of Biafra and the way forward. The activity which had the theme “Together for Peace” had security personnels, Writers and Development workers in attendance were all charged with the responsibility of preaching peace in all they do

Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative carried out this activity along with four other organizations – Sevhage Literary and Development Initiative, Gender and Community Empowerment Initiative (GECOME), Women’s Right to Education Programme (WREP)

 

• Gender ad Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative in her quest to promote peace in Nigeria also joined the NGwomen4Peace under the #WhiteBlouseDay to organise a Press Dialogue, de-escalation , women’s leadership “No Be Fight” campaign in Benue State. The event was held at Foundation for Justice Development and Peace conference Hall Makurdi on 1^st October 2017.

Voices were raised to promote non violence as a strategy for achieving national unity and integrity by NGwomen4Peace Benue

 

 

• CANCER AWARENESS ACTIVITIES

GERI also joined other partners to mark different cancer awareness days in support of the need for Early Detection to save lives. World Cancer Day March along with Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria (CiSCANEN) on 4^th February 2017 while on October 5^th we marked Wear It Pink Day for Cancer awareness in collaboration with Eunice spring of Life Foundation and Nigerian Medical Women Association  with all staff wearing pink or a touch of pink. Discussions were held on cancer, impact of cancer and various ways of using the media to disseminate the message about early detection of cancer. Collectively or as individuals everyone can play a part to reduce the global impact of cancer.