Starting June 2011, the Binti Pamoja Program has partnered with Krep Bank to strengthen the financial assets of adolescent girls in Kibera, by opening savings account for Binti Pamoja safe spaces girls, through the Go Girl Account initiative. The project aims at opening accounts for 600 girls in the safe spaces program.
This opportunity will enable the girls to fully understand the concept of money and how to manage it wisely, by practically applying the basic skills taught in their weekly financial literacy session, such as budgeting and savings. Apart from giving them the experience of using financial services, it will also increase their confidence to make financial decisions and to become more economically empowered in the future by being able to take control of their finances. The opportunity will also give the girls accessible and formal ways to save money which will reduce the risks and challenges faced when saving at home.
The Program has taken a strong asset development approach to address the economic vulnerability of young girls within Kibera especially.
The Binti Pamoja program has partnered with the Zion Zone Tennis Foundation of Nairobi to teach tennis fundamentals to a group of girls from Kibera. The collaborative project seeks to address the plight of girls in Kibera slums, providing structured activities when the girls would otherwise be idle. Currently serving 15 girls, the program will eventually reach around 60 girls between the ages of 11 and 18. Along with tennis coaching from a professional player, the program educates the slum girls on HIV and AIDs and promotes positive self esteem with mentoring and counseling. The program includes weekly tennis coaching and HIV awareness classes, as well as visits from local women's sports personalities. Tournaments are held once a month.
The Binti Pamoja Center was honored by the recent visit of Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. vice president Joe Biden. On June 8th, 2010, Dr. Biden visited Kibera to learn more about the center and its programming. She spent time with the Binti Pamoja girls and took a tour of Kibera led by CFK staff. Originally scheduled for a short walk down the main street in Gatwekera village, at the last minute the group went deeper to visit the home of Aaliyah, a Binti alumni leader and first-class tour guide. Many thanks to the Bidens for their visit to our community!
The Center creates and provides a safe space for adolescent girls in Kibera, which is otherwise a very dangerous environment for this demographic. Binti Pamoja has helped girls explore the issues that are prevalent in their daily lives: violence against women, rape, prostitution, HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation, poverty, sexual abuse, unequal access to education, lack of reproductive health care and information, and demanding domestic responsibilities. The Center uses photography, drama, writing, and group discussion to investigate such issues in depth, allowing the girls to confront these issues and learn technical information about reproductive health and financial literacy. The Center hosts monthly speakers and field trips, community service projects, family events, and peer education programs designed to further empower the girls and provide an outlet for them to educate their communities through drama, a newsletter, and youth forums.
Binti Pamoja has held group counseling with the girls to discuss the emotional, physical and psychological aftermath of the post-election violence. The Center has also held several team building and cooperation events to rebuild bonds and friendship across ethnic lines. Binti Pamoja organized a peace concert called "Let's Give Peace a Chance" and has also included the CFK peace initiative 'Jamii Ya Kibera' at its family event.
The Safe Spaces network continues to expand, now comprising over 600 girls ages 11 to 18 in the Kibera community. Educational and artistic activities are designed to give invaluable support to all Binti Pamoja program participants.
