Project Launch:

In Kusa Beach, located in the lower reaches of Lake Victoria in Kenya, most community members, men and women, rely on fishing as their main source of income. A common practice in the region is “jaboya” or trading sex for fish. World Connect revisits a previously successful initiative, "No Sex for Fish," in which we were able to support women trading sex for quality fish to turn the tables on this practice and become entrepreneurs and boat owners, as opposed to currency. The prior project in Nyamware Beach succeeded at changing local power dynamics and gender roles, and increasing income for women boat owners. The No Sex for Fish initiative has the potential to reduce the rates of sexually transmitted infections due to the reduction in transactional sex.

 

Project Update

The participating women have been selected and will soon receive business trainings from the Fisheries Department. Three out of the four boats have been constructed, and will all be presented during the boat launch in June, 2015. The project has received a lot of support from the community, and has generated a lot of awareness around the dangerous implications of "jaboya."

 

Testimonials

"It is amazing to see how this NSFF initiative has been greatly embraced by widowed fisherfolk. It means a lot for them because at the end of the day, they can put food on the table for their orphaned children." - Joash, Project Leader