Fact sheet

Fact sheets and drawings are designed as part of community development programs with the aim of assisting people in self-help groups (Village Action Groups). The focus is on rural communities in Africa to become aware and learn how to improve their health, well-being and welfare.

The fact sheets cover a wide range of topics: from water and sanitation to diseases, and from agriculture to family issues. Through these sheets people become aware of simple actions that have a direct impact on a person’s livelihood. Also, the fact sheets are used to discuss difficult topics, like domestic violence. The fact sheets and the drawings used in these sheets are meant to be largely self-explanatory. For this purpose they are extensively tested amongst rural communities in Africa. The group is usually guided through the fact sheets by a community coach who receives training on how to use the fact sheets. Some fact sheets include a sheet with key information. Every fact sheet includes:

  •	A short introduction to the subject.

  •	Questions, discussion points and explanations on the subject and referrals to the fact sheet drawings. 

  •	One or more drawings.

Currently the following fact sheets are available:

  •	Diseases (Malaria; Diarrhea; HIV/AIDS; Respiratory diseases; Hernia; Worms; Sexually transmitted diseases (STD); Tuberculosis)

  •	Family (family planning, family hygiene, personal hygiene, food hygiene, safe pregnancy, child development and immunization, dental care and maternal health)

  •	Watsan (sanitation and hand wash facilities, water contamination, protected water points and treatment of water)

  •	Agriculture (planning, preparing and planting the garden, compost, pesticides and small-scale drip irrigation)

  •	Human rights (equality and diversity, child rights, domestic violence and establishing good relationships)

These can all be found on http://www.connectinternational.nl/english/smartmodules/smart-dev/fact-sheets

Several fact sheets are also available in Portuguese. Please contact [email protected] for more information.