ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:

Food for the Hungry (FH), a Track 1 ABY partner, implements activities in Nigeria as part of a multi-country

program. This activity will support FH's Nigeria program, which it implements through three major sub

partners: Beacon of Hope (Christian Reformed World Relief Committee), the Salvation Army and the

Church of the Nazarene. FH currently supports activities in the 20 states where Salvation Army and

Nazarene churches exist. Expansion efforts will be closely coordinated with the USG's LGA coverage

strategy to contribute to multiple and reinforcing messages that promote behavior change. Another partner,

Operation Blessing, a media organization, produces public service announcements (PSAs) that reinforce

abstinence and faithfulness (AB) messages for radio and TV throughout Nigeria.

FH will continue scaling in COP08. AB awareness meetings - focus group discussions and presentations

back to the community/group - introduce the ideas of abstinence and faithfulness. This leads to identification

of youth and adults interested in further participation in the program. The strategy in this activity is

community awareness campaigns and only those who participate further in the program are counted as

people reached.

Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) groups aim to increase the commitment of individuals to abstinence before marriage

and faithfulness in marriage. Each Y2Y group consists of fourteen leader youth (LY) who are trained by

promoters using the age-graded "Choose Life" curricula. Each LY shares what they learn with a group of

peers. Trained promoters and on-site co-promoters assist, coach and mentor these LY through the Y2Y

groups. Each youth is encouraged to have a mentor who is invited to a Y2Y group session to learn more

about AB and his/her role as mentor. The curricula include essential life skills and while promoting AB

provide accurate information on condoms to youth 15 years and older. Culturally appropriate materials help

guide the Y2Y discussions that address issues relating to relationships, sex, HIV and AIDS and its impact

on the community. Through these small-group discussions and the multiplier effect of the LY, the Y2Y

groups promote AB as healthy and desirable sexual choices. Guidance and encouragement to continue

meeting as accountability groups after completion of the curricula is included. Strategies used in these

activities are the peer education model, curricula based approach, interactive and participatory learning

through games and dramas, the use of role models and addressing vulnerability issues through essential

life skills training and gender roles.

FH's faithfulness training emphasizes faithfulness to married men and women between the ages of 15-49.

The faithfulness training utilizes a culturally appropriate and evidence-based curriculum to guide small

group interactions that promote messages about fidelity in marriage and responsible behavior. To

implement this, FH holds training of trainers (TOT) workshops that engage married adults and influential

religious and community leaders in discussions on relationships, sex, HIV and AIDS and its impact on the

community. The trainers teach married couples in their churches, mosques and communities and the

formation of accountability groups is encouraged. The strategies for these activities include peer education

model, curricula based approach, use of role models and addressing vulnerability issues through the

promotion of healthy relationships between married men and women.

In addition, FH trains community and religious leaders in the prevention of sexual abuse. There are societal

factors that limit the ability of youth to make and enforce decisions about their sexuality. This training will

increase awareness among influential adults of sexual abuse and guide them in its prevention within their

own community through the development of policies and strategies to suit the local context. The strategies

used in this activity include the peer education model, curricula based approach and addressing

vulnerability issues.

Lastly, FH will commence skills training and provide start-up capital for income generating activities for

selected vulnerable youth in the program. Seeking to address a specialized need, FH will identify and work

alongside sister organizations to engage youth in this program. The USG team will facilitate linkages with

other IGA activities so that best practices can be developed and lessons learned can be shared.

To ensure consistent and high quality implementation of activities, FH uses a wide range of evidence based

M&E tools that include barrier analysis survey, BEHAVE Framework, KPC surveys, quality improvement

verification checklists and posttests.

The impact the Y2Y groups, faithfulness training and sexual abuse prevention training have on communities

continues to be tremendous. These programs encourage discussion and dialogue within the family and

larger community about various social issues related to HIV and AIDS.

CONTRIBUTION TO OVERALL PROGRAM AREA:

Through the Y2Y groups, faithfulness training and sexual abuse training, FH will promote AB to youth and

adults as a means of reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS. FH will work alongside its faith-based and

community partners to train 8,580 LY and influential adults to promote HIV and AIDS prevention through

abstinence and/or being faithful and to reach 112,504 youth and adults with AB messages. FH will reach its

targets by implementing activities with 1,809 churches, schools, Y2Y groups and other community

organizations.

LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES:

FH's goal is to integrate its program into the lives of the churches, schools and communities where it works.

Therefore, it works to promote community acceptance of AB as healthy sexual choices and as social norms.

FH integrates these messages into other program activities with its partners and builds their capacities to

continue promotion of AB when this project ends. As there are currently no direct links with other

USAID/PEPFAR activities, FH's partners seek and the USG prevention team will actively promote linkages

with implementing partners involved in other activities that will improve the response to HIV and AIDS.

POPULATIONS BEING TARGETED:

FH targets unmarried youth between the ages of 10-24 years and married men and women aged 15-49

years. This is based on the National HIV/AIDS & Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS) of 2003 that found

the median age of first sex was 16.9 years for females and 19.8 years for males. The NARHS survey also

found that sex with a non-marital partner was highest in women aged 20-24 years (15.1%) and in men aged

25-29 (36.6%) followed closely by those in the 20-24 age group (34.9%). The 2005 Sentinel Survey found

the highest prevalence of HIV in the 25-29 age group (4.9%) closely followed by those 20-24 years (4.7%).

Activity Narrative:

EMPHASIS AREAS:

Emphasis areas include human capacity development, SI and income generating activities for youth.

Gender equality continues to be addressed through the Y2Y groups and faithfulness training. The

curriculum used by these groups is very intentional in promoting equality between males and females.

Training will also raise awareness of and reduce sexual coercion, violence, cross-generational sex and

other unhealthy sexual behaviors in the community. This training also addresses the stigma that exists

within Nigerian society towards those with HIV and AIDS.