Vital community education for a 'lost generation'

Thank you so much for your support of this project.  This report is from Judith Chelangat who is the Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) coordinator for schools and youth.

The SRHR element of this project empowers young people with education, information and practical resources. It encourages communities to talk about topics and issues that will protect young girls and women from harmful practices such as child marriages, unwanted pregnancies and gender-based violence.

In the past, menstruation was handled in secret, a whispered topic. But now, thanks to your support, the girls are not just talking about it—they're shouting it from the roof tops!  Menstrual Health is the ‘hot topic’ in the village of Motobo where the community recently worked with Brighter Communities Worldwide to Say No to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and break free from the chains of taboos and myths.

As part of our FGM Abandonment programme, Brighter Communities Worldwide work with communities to provide an Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) 5 day course for girls.  The course provides the girls with the opportunity to learn about SRHR, menstrual health, cultural wisdom and traditions and other topics with the backing of the community and without undergoing FGM.

The girls from Motobo village say the ARP course was a game-changer. With infectious enthusiasm, the participants shared that, "Brighter Communities Worldwide came into our village and enlightened us about menstrual health. It was like a secret nobody dared to speak about, but now, there is no fear. We have learned how to use reusable pads and make our own sanitary products.  Life is wow!"  

100 Girls were reached and each received a Reusable Sanitary Starter Kit containing underwear, soap, liners, information pamphlet and cotton reusable pads. They learned how to use them, take care of them and how to make more sanitary pads themselves using locally available material e.g. cotton t-shirts. This gives the girls a sustainable solution and allows them independence.

Brighter Communities Worldwide has transformed the narrative around menstruation, turning it into a natural and empowering process. We not only provide factual and reliable information but we are also breaking down negative taboos and ensuring everyone can openly discuss menstruation.

Imagine girls and women going through their periods with dignity and pride, armed with knowledge and the ability to manage their menstrual health safely. In addition, it is not just the ladies .. boys and men are joining the conversation, supporting their counterparts with a newfound understanding

Here is to breaking barriers, empowering girls and making menstruation a topic worth celebrating. Thank you for your part in making this happen.

Thank you so much for your support of this project.  Irish volunteer, Fiona Twomey, as part of a team of volunteers in Kenya this month, has been helping facilitate business training courses.  We are grateful to her for sharing her thoughts on the experience for this report.

“I have been working with Brighter Communities Worldwide staff members Salim Kiprotich and Bob Collins Kipngeno, two savvy business minded men with a brilliant understanding and empathy with the participants of the business training course.

The course is run over 3 days and covers topics such as pricing, marketing, competition, book keeping and accounts and impressively climate change - something that business courses worldwide should be incorporating. It finishes with participants developing a business plan using the knowledge and skills they have gained over the 3 days. 

As part of my volunteer role, I was delighted to join Salim and Bob Collins on two courses - one at Kipsinende coffee factory with a group of excellent coffee farmers and the other in Lemotit with a group of predominantly maize farmers who formed their group in 2021 so that they could buy maize locally and sell it on together as a group with the aim of better prices.

The experience was brilliant! Through part English and part Swahili, we managed to cover all content and have some great laughs along the way. One lady, Monica even chastened me for suggesting she treat herself if her business is profitable this year - profits are for reinvesting in the business and her wages will go towards personal expenses!  A lesson well learned and communicated by Monica.

Importantly the class recognise the importance of record keeping now. How will they know if they make profit if they don’t write it down? They assure us that from now on they will all keep records! Something that really struck me over the two courses was the respect that the class showed each other and the good and honest conversations they were able to have as a result. Men, women, youths and older people all worked excellently in smaller groups together. Helping each other and of course having good fun too.

Now it wasn’t all work and no play of course! Over the 3 days, we were treated to chai (African tea) twice daily, Song, dance and even some hurling and camogie at the end of class on day 2 and 3. Once the class realised that the hurleys were not in fact for cooking but sport, they took to it brilliantly and we had great fun - needed after a day of book keeping! 

 We said our goodbyes at the end of the course, but Salim and Bob will return in 3 months to complete follow up, facilitate a networking session and present certificates – something that is very important for the older generation in Kenya as they can show their children and grandchildren their achievement”.