Gender Equality Kenya Project #58442

Educate and Empower Girls in Rural Kenya

by Team Kenya CIO

Project Report | May 23, 2023
Reading for Empowerment

By Ellie Sizeland | Outreach Development Officer

Lots of books and smiles!

Hello again everyone,

Our partner organisation Twende Pamoja and their staff in Ndhiwa have been very busy since we last checked in. They have been working with the girls on a Reading for Empowerment project which has been a huge success!

The library and Reading for Empowerment project was implemented in our 16 partner schools for the first 3 months of 2023. The project involved purchasing and distributing aspirational books to 16 partner schools, as well as expanding book club membership in partner schools, providing life skills sessions to students, and establishing community library access.

The girls have been involved in fun, engaging teaching activities and book clubs to help develop their literacy skills and empower them both inside and outside the classroom. It is wonderful to see reading being encouraged through the provision of books, ipads and laptops, teaching our girls the vital skills needed to thrive in the increasingly digital world.

Here are some impressive impact numbers from the project:

- Over 4000 children have benefitted from the Library and Reading For Empowerment project

- 16 schools have received support from the Reading For Empowerment project

- 16 school library teachers have been trained

- Over 3000 books and STEM equipment have been distributed to the 16 partner schools

- Over 4000 books have been purchased at the Learning Resource Centre

- Reading Clubs have been established in all 16 partner schools with at least 20 participants per school - that's 310 readers

- 28 new editions of set books were purchased for the Learning Resource Centre in line with the changes made on set books by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and a high demand on the same among library users

That impact is pretty amazing!

The Reading for Empowerment project has helped to promote a love for reading and improve literacy skills among students. Reading clubs have given students the opportunity to engage with books and discuss them with their peers, which has led to a deeper understanding of literature. By participating in a reading club, students have also developed critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills.

Of course, none of this would be possible without your continued support. Please continue to share and donate to help us educate and empower girls in Ndhiwa.

Thanks so much everyone,

Ellie

Reading using books and digital

Everyone hard at work!

Books, books, books...

Reading at the Learning Resource Centre

Links:

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Jan 31, 2023
Getting girls into digital!

By Ellie Sizeland | Outreach Development Officer

The IT room in our LRC

Hello and welcome to our girls education and empowerment project!

We would like to update you on our recent work surrounding getting girls in Ndhiwa involved in digital.

As one of Team Kenya's key aims for our girls education project this year, we want to focus on creating an enabling environment for girls in our 16 partner schools and increasing their educational opportunities by addressing the gender gap in STEM and encouraging engagement in extracurricular activities surrounding digital.

Our partner organisation Twende Pamoja have helped deliver excellent IT training for girls in our partner schools in the IT room in our Learning Resource Centre (LRC). We opened our LRC in 2019, and since have been able to provide out-of-school access to computers and tablets for not only our supported girls, but also local women and the entire Ndhiwa community.

Funding from the Inspiring Leadership Trust allowed us to purchase tablets, data bundles and provide digital support to enable 15 girls and women to take part in an education programme from the Inspiring Futures Academy. This programme helped teach participants how to reach their fullest potential, with lessons surrounding morals, values, cultural intelligence, and emotional resilience. The reaction and lessons learned from the programme were described as “life-changing” by Risper, one of the women who took part. Programmes such as these help us to combat digital exclusion and enrich the educational experience of women and girls in Ndhiwa.

With your further support and donations, we want to expand and continue our work with teachers, particularly female teachers, parents, and community leaders to raise awareness of the importance of girls' education, especially in STEM subjects – which are important cornerstones of Kenya Vision 2030. We also want to create further opportunities for girls to develop confidence and skills, including leadership and peer mentoring skills through IT access.

Thanks so much for all your continued support - and for helping to bridge the digital divide!

Asante Sana!

Getting creative on the tablets!

Girls trying out different things on the computers

Anatalia with the new tablets from the ILT

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