The drama group in action.

Karamoja region registers about 88% illiteracy among its population, with only 12% able to read and write in the districts of Moroto, Kotido, Nakapiripirit, Abim and Kaabong. Based on this information, AfrII and Farm Africa’s Livestock for Livelihoods (L4L) project is using community drama to effectively deliver information on promotion of diet diversity, WASH practices, and discouraging negative cultural norms among the project beneficiaries in Moroto, Napak, Kotido and Nakapiripirit. A drama titled “Diet rights” was successfully shot following the drama script developed in close consultations and guidance from the AfrII L4L nutrition team.

The script was adapted to the local dialect, Ngakarimojong, so as to enable the communities clearly understand the key messages required to effect behavioral change among the women of reproductive age with children less than 5 years in L4L households. The drama emphasizes Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as important in prevention of diseases known to affect nutrient utilization among vulnerable groups.

Coincidentally, the drama shooting occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected lifestyles world over. Therefore, borrowing from and observing the popular message ‘regularly wash your hands’ to control its spread, most of the current L4L project activities are tagged to respond to covid 19, to widely popularize such key messages within the communities reached to ensure their health and safety.

The highly educative drama will be broadcast as a docuseries on AfrII’s YouTube Channel and the website www.afrii.org for wider audiences. The drama / film will also be broadcast on local televisions for further popularity.

The Film director (red blouse) interacts with one of the film actors.

The film crew in action

Credits: Ngikukus Ug. Ltd, a local film crew that acted the drama, Native Voices International that shot the drama and the L4L project team.