Projects

The MDA projects and activities pertain to the following categories:

Health and environment

Extension of health services seeking active community participation, with an emphasis on
the availability of essential drugs through community pharmacies; and school health.
Improved education on nutrition and food safety, promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Mobilization of the community for environmental health, safe drinking water, sanitation and garbage disposal, tree plantation, promotion of energy-saving schemes, and promotion of healthy homes.
Establishment of literacy centres for girls and boys who missed opportunities
Recreational activities such as sports and literary competitions.
Women’s development through their organization and the establishment of vocational training centres for handicrafts and life skills.
Youth support through skills development and technical training.

How does MDA bring about change?

We will be focusing on bringing meaningful change in the following:

Transformation for encouraging change in self and society.
Introducing inter-sectoral coordination and partnerships.
Breaking the vicious cycle of dependency by active community participation and ownerships (community development for the people, by the people).
Developing awareness among the masses concerning their needs and rights, coping with problems, practicing healthy lifestyles and health care measures.
Mobilizing local and public resources.
Changing the attitude of government and NGOs to be more supportive of the community.
Reducing poverty and improving quality of life.

The MDA healthy community programme

The MDA health community program is concerned with the physical, social and economic dimensions and the essential elements of health and environment.

To address issues such as improving health services, water supply, sanitation, pollution.

Focus on the promotion of healthy lifestyles, supporting projects and activities that generate income, address women’s issues, children’s needs, and enlist the support of volunteer groups within the community.

Steering Committee for administering village healthy community program will consist of a Coordinating committee group:

It is expected that this committee will consist of several key individuals in the village or community activists who have leadership abilities and the capacity to improve the health conditions of the village along with the ability to stimulate the participation of the support group. The coordinating committee is also expected to collect and analyse information and make contacts with the key individuals needed to address priority issues..

Types of future projects targeted by the Marakissa Diaspora Association (MDA)

In addition to health promotion projects, the following areas usually attract special attention in village settings:

Drinking water quality control
Intermittent water supply systems
Environmental protection
Healthy schools
Women’s development
Encouraging gender awareness and capacity building
Creating opportunities for the participation of women in decision-making at all levels.

Addressing harmful traditional health-related practices.
Integrating health concerns and issues into economic development processes.
Developing gender-based health information systems.
Taking into account the special health-related needs of women living under difficult circumstances. Promoting positive cultural, traditional, and religious values.