Breaking the cycle of gender violence

Summary

The project equips local leaders with adequate information to enable them collaborate with marginalized peasant women in opening up discussion on gender violence and offering abused women safe haven.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

In Kenya, over 48% of women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, 25% of 12-24 year olds lost their virginity by force while over 60% of victims did not report to anyone. The project will strengthen gender violence victims' resolve to break the silence, offer medicolegal care and trauma counseling. It will tap talents, resources and skills of community gatekeepers and increase their collective power in dismantling cultural attitudes that subject women to violence.

How will this project solve this problem?

We will offer medicolegal and counseling care to victims, rebuild their self-esteem and build their individual capacity to intervene in identifying workable solutions. Creating space for discussion will ensure men are involved in abolishing the norm

Potential Long Term Impact

The project will incorporate the support of community gatekeepers in addressing the denial surrounding violence by creating access points within the community that enhance members' ability to find help and connect to social networks.

Project Message

"Dad said it was OK to beat a girl. My peers sided with him. I changed my mind when my baby sister was gang raped and left for dead. She is now HIV+. I believe this project will change how men think."
- Sebastian Okere, Beneficiary of a "Man2Man Empowerment" training

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

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