A beacon of hope in her community
International Women’s Day, from Christian Aid Nigeria
Hile Msendoo is a farmer in Nzaav community, where Christian Aid Nigeria implements its UK aid-funded Partnership for Improved Child Health project.
When the project started in her community, Hile was selected to be a Community Resource Person (CORP) — a health care volunteer — and was trained by Christian Aid to provide treatment to children below the age of five for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea.
Hile says her role has boosted her image in the community:
‘My status has changed drastically. Many people know that I am a CORP.’
Hile’s popularity has grown in her community-villagers stop her in public places to make inquiries about her role dispensing healthcare to children below the age of five.
Closing the gender gap
Deliberate targeting and inclusion of women in community structures, like Community Development Committees (CDC), is one of the ways Christian Aid Nigeria is pressing for progress in closing the gender parity gap.
By including women in established community structures, we ensure that due recognition and respect is given to the role of women in development and their contributions to society.
Presently, through our inclusion efforts, women in some of the communities where we work are the leaders of their Community Development Committees.
Christian Aid Nigeria also employs the gender and inclusion strategy to programme implementation. Using this approach, women and other excluded groups are selected for inclusion in every project implemented by Christian Aid Nigeria not just the Partnership for Improved Child Health project.
This recognition of the contributions of women along with their inclusion and empowerment to undertake development activities challenges harmful social norms which hinder their progress and brings communities and Nigeria as a country one step closer to gender parity.
