Empowering Girls in Kibera

The ‘Binti Pamoja’ (Daughters united) in Kibera is a center for vulnerable 11 to 18 year-old girls. The ability of an individual being able to speak effectively, efficiently and with ease has been attributed to good public speaking skills and now the girl center gives the young girls and women a forum to express themselves through their various talents like dancing, drama, writing, life skills trainings and recently, public speaking skills, thanks to Tanya Smith, a volunteer from the American University. Through this skill the girls will be able to express themselves comfortably as they seek to educate the community on issues on reproductive health. Women and girls have been looked upon with great ability to change the world, and if public speaking is impacted in them, then their quest to changing the world can easily be achieved. Apart from educating the girls, the public speaking skills aims at helping these vulnerable girls write speeches on issues that affect the community and how to overcome them. Despite the challenges the girls living in pitiable conditions face each day, they trudge on with a positive attitude to triumph over poverty that has engulfed them. Educating the girl-child is educating the whole community in retrospect and indeed there is no other better way than imparting them with one of the most important tool; Public speaking skills.

For nine years the Binti Pamoja Center has been providing safe spaces for adolescent girls and young women in Kibera, giving them an opportunity to receive quality comprehensive education on reproductive health and financial education. We begun with 12 girls and over the years and through the determination and hard work of the Binti Pamoja girls we are now able to work with over 1000 girls in Kibera. Working towards building their assets and fighting for and promoting a safe environment for young adolescent girls in Kibera, an environment that is otherwise hostile to the growth of young adolescent girls. The Binti Pamoja Center has promoted and appreciated the value of peer education, to give young adolescent girls an opportunity to act as agents of social change in their community among their peers and thereby creating an environment that is safe for young adolescent girls to grow and excel in their lives, an environment that enables them to reach their full potential.

This year 81 adolescent girls who recently graduated from our comprehensive two year training on reproductive health and financial literacy will now have the opportunity to be part of this great initiative by recruiting girls and forming their own groups, thereby being leaders in their community that empower other girls in the community and being role models and mentors for other young girls.

Links:

• Binti Pamoja's Graduation Day- Blog Post