Research Project Title: Engaging and Mobilising an Informally Settled Community to Prevent NCDs.

The goal of the project is to design and implement community interventions aimed at reducing non-communicable diseases through food access and increased physical activity. NCDs have become a global public health concern. To address this issue, this research plan outlines the design and implementation of community interventions aimed at reducing NCDs through improved food access and increased physical activity. The plan encompasses a holistic approach that includes safety, educational resources, curriculum design, and certification. The ultimate goal is to create an inclusive and sustainable program that caters to the diverse needs of the target community.

Phase 1: Infrastructure Development

1.1. Identifying Safe Spaces: Our first step is to identify safe spaces with water and security fencing for all our community initiatives. These spaces will serve as hubs for our programs, ensuring a secure environment for participants.

1.2. Educational Resources: To facilitate education and training, we will require equipment such as tables and chairs, primarily for use in educational settings. For the preschool component, we will utilize a local preschool yard to maximize resources.

Phase 2: Content and Activity Development

2.1. Literature Review: To inform our interventions, we will conduct a comprehensive literature review on NCDs, nutrition, and physical activity.

2.2. Data Critique: We will critically analyze data gathered in phase 1 and gather qualitative data in phase 2 to determine the content and activities for our interventions.

2.3. Education Expert Involvement: An education expert will lead the development of our educational materials. Curriculum design methods will be applied to guide learning outcomes in the creation of educational documents.

2.4. Consideration for User Diversity: The level of education, language, and available resources of the program participants will be taken into account to create inclusive materials.

2.5. Certification Consideration: We will assess the feasibility of developing an education program for the National Qualification Framework and SETA certification, ensuring that illiterate participants are not excluded.

Phase 3: Educational Material Development

3.1. Material Creation: We estimate that it will take 3-4 months to develop educational materials such as pamphlets, posters, and flyers for health education.

3.2. Certification Training: For participants seeking certification, we will provide training over a period of 3 to 6 months.

3.3. Accreditation Process: The accreditation process is estimated to take approximately 6 months, involving experts in the field.

Phase 4: Nutrition Education

4.1. Content Development: Following the framework of Contento (2011) and Sahyoun et al. (2004), we will identify goals and objectives, understand factors affecting behavior, and prepare for the implementation and pre-testing of nutrition education materials.

Phase 5: Physical Activity

5.1. Guidelines: We will adhere to the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO 2010) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM 2010) for physical activity programs.

5.2. Safe Exercise Spaces: We will identify safe spaces with minimal traffic to prevent accidents during moderate and vigorous intensity exercises, such as netball and football.

5.3. Assessment Tools: Relevant assessment tools will be utilized to track participants' progress and physical activity outcomes.

Phase 6: Agriculture Activities

6.1. Secure Gardening Space: Utilizing the preschool yard, we will create a secure space for agriculture activities, with access to water for irrigation.

6.2. Expert Involvement: A Zoology expert will advise on land preparation, water access, and support the project with seeds, ensuring the success of our agricultural component. The ultimate aim is to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in the target community.