Leadership Training for Girls in Rural Kenya

Our Health and Leadership Training Program, known locally as Jijue (“know yourself” in Swahili), equips adolescent girls and boys with necessary knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. The program is currently operating in 55 public schools, reaching 10,321 youth from grades five to seven. Previously implemented as a six-month afterschool curriculum, we modified the program last year to be taught over three years. In past base- and endline surveys of the shorter program, participants underwent positive shifts in attitudes towards gender equality, demonstrating the effectiveness of our curriculum. This May, we conducted a mid-line survey of students at 10 partnering schools. Through continuous evaluation and assessment of this program, we aim to deepen students’ engagement and increase their capacity to advocate for themselves, their peers, and for more equitable communities. 

This July, our community’s first youth-friendly clinic, the Kakenya Health and Wellness Center, marked its one-year anniversary. Prior to opening, individuals from our community had to walk up to five hours to receive basic medical care. The opening of the clinic last year filled a critical gap in the local health infrastructure by providing essential services, including primary care and mental health resources. 

In recent months, our community—like many around the world—has experienced significant reductions in healthcare services due to cuts in government-supported aid through USAID and PEPFAR. Until now, PEPFAR was the sole provider of HIV treatment in our community. While a waiver program has allowed current treatments to continue, critical prevention services, including prenatal care to prevent mother-to-child transmission, have been eliminated. This funding cut comes at a time when the HIV rate in our sub-county is 1 in 25—the highest in Narok County. Responding to increased demand, our clinic has been conducting HIV and tuberculosis screenings alongside its other services to nearly 7,000 patients so far this year. 

We also operate the Linda Dada Campaign (“Protect a sister” in Swahili) to convene village elders, parents, youth, and religious leaders for critical discussions surrounding sexual and reproductive health, fostering open dialogue on these taboo topics. Thus far in 2025, Kakenya’s Dream has conducted 50 Linda Dada community meetings, reaching 7,998 individuals. Through our multi-pronged approach of direct services, youth education, and community engagement, we address the barriers to health that girls face, while reshaping the social norms that drive them. 

Your contributions through GlobalGiving to Kakenya’s Dream are making life-changing impacts on the lives of thousands of girls, empowering them with health and resources while transforming their communities to value and support them. Thank you!