Gender Equality Kenya Project #17210

Train 120 Health & Human Rights promoters in Kenya

by Hope Foundation for African Women (HFAW)

Project Report | Sep 11, 2023
MALE TRAINING HELD AT MEKENENE

By Doris kananu | HFAW Program Director

Group photo after training

Dear Esteemed Friends and Partners,

We want to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support in our mission to transform societies and combat harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Your contributions have made a significant impact on our work, and we are thrilled to share the outcomes of our recent male training session held in Mekenene, Nyamira County, on July 16th, 2023.

At HFAW, our primary goal is to drive societal change, and we recognize that men play a crucial role in this transformation, both as advocates for change and as individuals who may inadvertently contribute to harmful practices like FGM. To address these issues, we selected 25 men to undergo training and become ambassadors for the anti-FGM cause. Notably, we also included law enforcement officials in this training due to the intersection between gender-based violence (GBV) and FGM.

The agenda for the training was comprehensive, covering vital topics such as:

Men's Involvement in Ending FGM.
Living with Survivors of FGM: The Association of FGM with GBV.
Utilizing SCC (Social Change Communication) Methodology.
Creating and Implementing Action Plans.

During the training, participants were actively engaged in dialogues and asked insightful questions, reflecting their commitment to the cause. James aptly pointed out that FGM should be seen as a national disaster that many men are unaware of, a sentiment that resonated with the group. Shockingly, four out of five men admitted to unknowingly mistreating their wives, highlighting the need for education and awareness.

Osoro expressed his newfound passion for community issues and his determination to become an ambassador. He vowed to address the challenges faced by both families and communities, recognizing that ignorance often hinders the resolution of such issues.

Gwaro, on the other hand, acknowledged the unique aspect of the training where women fearlessly addressed a forum of men, openly discussing private matters. He expressed his regret regarding his wife's situation and called for similar training sessions targeting women.

HFAW Staff detailed answers to the questions. She explained that if criteria is cut it can't be replaced that is why everyone must resist the cut. She also encouraged the girls to seek health care if they have a keloid or any other health issue in their private parts. The cultural roots of FGM were discussed including the patriarchal institution which strives to control women. By the end of the day everyone rose against the FGM practice and promised to educate the community.

The men who participated in this transformative training expressed profound gratitude for the knowledge they gained and expressed a strong desire for additional training sessions, inclusive of both women and men.

With heartfelt gratitude, we seek your continued support in our efforts to reach even more individuals on the ground. Together, we can create lasting change and eradicate harmful practices while promoting gender equality and community well-being.

Please share this information with your friends and family as to why FGM must stop and encourage them to make a contribution.Again thank you for your donation.

Warm regards,

Doris Kananu

Round table discussions on FGM

Joyce training the men on the impacts of FGM

A law enforcer urging the men to be Anti-FGM

Engaging the men during the training. jpg

Gladys demonstrating effects of FGM

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May 15, 2023
Anti-FGM Advocacy at Sirete Primary School

By Edah Mokua | Project Manager

One of the boys discussing how to fight FGM.

Our Esteemed Supporters and Cheerleaders,

Thanks to your important support, we reached 313 pupils including 160 boys and 153 girls at Sirete primary school on 17th April 2023. Sirete is located at a hard to reach sub location in Nyamira County a place which is showing high prevalence numbers especially in hard to reach sub-locations. Our staff and Health and rights promoters often have to go out of their way to access such schools and often have to use a bodaboda (mortal cycle). Our sole objective was to educate the pupils about the harmful effects of FGM, how to resist it through speaking up as well as reporting to the authorities.

As you would expect at first the pupils were shy and secretive in talking with HFAW advocates about FGM. Using their popular education approach which is nothing less than participatory HFAW taught the kids to discover how harmful the FGM practice is; what it is, its effects on children and mothers and the whole community. They ensured that the pupils got to unveil the root causes of FGM. How it is rooted in gender inequalities in this community where only boys are allowed to inherit property and how in some homes girls do not compete equally with girls at school despite the fact that in each of these villages girls number more than boys. They then touched on step by step process for resistance by saying no to the cut, reporting to the 116 number, reporting to the elders, and to the community health promoters.

Slowly by slowly the advocates build the pupils confidence to share and speak up about the trends which they see in their village from year to year. Eliana, not her real name, eloquently shared how she was cut at 10 years. “It was really painful and I could not run away from the women who held me down and covered my mouth with dirty linen.” She said with teary eyes. “I wish I knew all these that you have told us today.” She expressed.

Olive shared how her younger sister was recently transported to her grandmother for the cut. “I wish you had been here, we would have known what to do. “She said. Staff challenged the young boys to fight side by side with the girls in ending FGM and work hard with girls to become Nyamira youth ambassadors to end FGM. They were told that in other parts of Nyamira we already have such anti-fgm ambassadors. “You should be pioneers in this area” said Joyce. And the youngsters did not disappoint. They were more than ready and promised to speak up in the villages and churches.

As our valued Supporter and cheerleader, we want you to know that your financial assistance enables us to accomplish far more than we could ever express in words. Saving just one girl means so much to these girls and the HFAW team.

Please share our donation links with your friends and family and explain why their contribution will safe a girl from the FGM cut. Let them know why you care about this project. Ones again, with much gratitude, we thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Edah Mokua

Gladys explaining to the pupils effects of FGM.

HFAW team and sirate fraternity in a group photo

Sirate teacher thanks HFAW for the visit.

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Jan 16, 2023
16th days of activism: Opportunity to mentor youth

By Grace B Mose-Okon'go | Project leader, Founder HFAW

Kenyatta University students learning to speak up

Dear friends and esteemed supporters,

In our effort to continually train health and human rights promoters 16 days of activism provided an opportunity for HFAW Founder, Grace Mose, who is also a lecturer at Kenyatta University to mentor the young Kenyatta University students on how to speak up against violence against women and girls. Many times students in this country graduate from institutions of higher learning without ever getting a chance to learn practical skills of advocacy. So many students have approached to volunteer at HFAW but often they do not know how to speak up against the vices in communities such as GBV, FGM early marriages, early pregnancies and child abuse. Last year’s 16^th days of advice provided a great opportunity for these students to learn the skills. A number of them have committed to proceed to the grassroots and agitate for change and today was the start.

“At first, I was so afraid to speak up as we sang but I gained confidence as we chanted around,” said Elizabeth who was one of those being mentored. Iam Inspired, said Josephine. I want to do this again, said John.

These young people were so happy to discover that what they see others doing around the world is indeed possible with them as they shouted and sang messages: unite and stand up against GBV; No society without women; end GBV, silence will not help us, respect women, men have a role to play etc. to mention a few. It was an inspiring day and these students could not wait for yet another activism day.

HFAW works in communities such as Nyamira and Kajiado where FGM is rampant and young girls are becoming pregnant in numbers among other vices. To you our supporters, we want you to know how grateful we are for your continued support. Thank you for investing in HFAW. As we transition these young people to agitate against GBV, FGM and early pregnancies, we bank on you. Our communities are better because of how you choose to donate to our project. Please share our reports with your friends and family and explain to them the difference you are making when you donate to HFAW. Thank you for choosing to walk with us.

Sincerely and with gratitude,

Grace B Mose-Okong’o

Grace Training students to walk against GBV

She is inspired to end the silence

16 days of activism event is inspiring to them

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