Train 120 Health & Human Rights promoters in Kenya

Dear Friends, Colleagues and supporters,

Thanks to you, the month of August 2016 was not just an eventful month but a time of discovery. As the mothers traversed through 4 schools, they discovered that they have so much to offer to their community and to themselves. They had completed talks with students at Itumbe, Nyaronde, Mwongoli and Nyansiongo DEB primary schools. There events were scheduled on different days and spread through the month. The women spent a day in each school sharing with both teachers and students on various topics. Their presentations were based on popular education model which is very participatory and involved the teachers and students in question answer, role plays, skits/drama and educational songs on key gender topics. The key topics included discussions about FGM and encouraging the boys and girls to denounce it ones and for all. There were skits about early pregnancies and how girls become sexual prey to young men and especially when they get rides from the now very common motor-bike riders which ply in their neighborhoods as taxis. The health promoters dramatized the now too commonly known story much to the amusement of kids and teachers how ones the girl become pregnant and confronts the owner of the pregnancy, who more often than not will be a  rider rejects the girl saying “Iam not your ATM machine”. This then becomes a reminder to the girl that the money and the rides she has been getting were not for free. In other words, she allowed herself to become pregnant by allowing sex for small money or rides.

The faciliatator explained the message to the girl that in a system where men are not held accountable to their actions, girls end up being double victims and so they should take care and report promptly to teachers and parents if they are targeted by young men.

Some songs and drama raised awareness on child labor and child rights. The topic of child abuse was extremely sensitive to teachers in one school. The teacher on duty knew that the health promoters were visiting. She met the women and literary asked them not to speak to the topic of battering students. She said’ students have to undergo behavior correction using a cane. “If you tell them (meaning students) that they can’t be caned then how shall we discipline them? She appealed.  The health promoters responded humbly that they were discussing the things allowed by the constitution and guided by the child protective policy. They role played on issues of child abuse through so much labor that often stops girls from attending school or excessive beatings which discourage them from coming to school.

The children were so pleased to participate and they were asked to share experiences, and answer questions. They were also given note pads to write what they learnt, what they discovered or what suggestions or questions they had and stick them on the wall. This was very effective way of getting students feedback as they were excited in pinning their answers on the wall. Sampled repsonses include: "I discovered that child labor is abuse of children’s rights"; "I discovered that boy and girl child are equal"; "I discovered that FGM can lead to death and loss of blood";" I learnt that I could abstain from sex in order form  to complete school". Due to the positive outcome and response from the students, teachers in this school requested a separate discussion with teachers to discuss ways of dealing with students which does not necessarily involve corporal punishment. These teachers are also invited to our November training of client centered response by service providers.

Discovering that the schools have come to respect the women’s role in community intervention on GBV issues, FGM, early pregnancies and child abuse and rights transformed the way these women feel about themselves. Karen, one of the health promoters was thrilled when she reported back about the experience when she said; we really have become teachers now,” This comment resulted from more school requests from the health promoters to visit them. We had originally planned to visit two schools but ended up with four schools at the request from the neighboring schools. We still have another 4 school requests pending. We will prioritize them when we find resources.

We realize that the challenges in our community facing the girl child are many and it will take time to fully address them. We however strongly believe that the small incremental steps we are taking to empower the community tackle this issues will go a long way to change minds. We could not have done this without you, our supporters. A community where girls and women are treated as second class citizens is doomed. We invite you to continue to support us, to share information to your family and friends. Your support means a world to the girl in a very rural village and HFAW which works to bring hope to communities. Thank you!

 Sincerely,

Dr Grace Mose- Okong'o

Links:

• HFAW Facebook-describes HFAW work