Traditional and cultural practices play a crucial role in determining the role and status of girls within the pastoralist community. Adolescent girls are vulnerable to exploitation, physical and sexual violence. In some cases, part dowry is paid against a young girl child, securing her for marriage at the behest of an adult male at some later date. So many of the girls that we work with describe themselves as property, a commodity that secures much needed investment into the family at a future time to be determined.
A lack of appreciation of the true value that girls and women bring to the family and community deprives them of a chance to be educated, to be appreciated for their skills and potential to pursue career goals and take on leadership roles, or simply to make informed decisions affecting their own health, safety and wellbeing.
Established in 2018, more than four hundred girls have graduated from our Girls Mentorship Programme. The evolving design of curriculum now includes problem solving, critical thinking, engaging in and building healthy relationships, decision making, gender and social inclusion, self-esteem and peer support. Each academic term, local qualified nurses deliver modules on adolescent and reproductive health. This access provides opportunity for girls to ask questions, challenging myth and taboo whilst building trust and confidence.
Since inception we have hosted two Mentorship Camps, taking girls away from Karare and their daily chores to a unique environment where five days of workshops, teambuilding and mentorship focuses purely on them. Arriving meek and even bewildered, the programme transforms them into confident, energised and hopeful young women with a dream to do well and achieve big! Their collective mantra from a recent Camp hosted in 2024 was ‘ If you’re scared, do it scared’
The support of parents and guardians is crucial to enabling these girls to complete their education and to be empowered to maximise their academic ability. We recognise how important it is to engage parents to ensure they understand the need and recognise the ability and potential in their own daughter.
Throughout the academic year, Class 7 girls from Karare, Lakartinya and Loruko Junior Secondary Schools meet twice a week immediately after classes. Under the guidance and support of an Amuka mentor, the girls follow a structured syllabus which explores a very diverse range of topics, all designed to enhance her knowledge and understanding, build confidence and strengthen her ability to make informed decisions through critical thinking against a set of values which protect her.
Given the significant influence of social culture and tradition, and the limited access to credible sources of information, we recognise the need for girls to develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving. They need to be able to effectively research, analyse and process what they see and hear. Our Mentorship programme is the only mechanism by which they are encouraged to think differently.
The introduction of creative resources and the smart use of activities and exercises encourages girls to more clearly define problems, to consider options for decision making, and how to mitigate risks before they arise.
Poverty and lack of such resources fundamentally impedes girls access to such opportunity.
Objectives
- To maintain highest levels of attendance of girls in Class 7 and 8
- To enhance the academic performance of girls, encouraging them and their families to support their continued attendance at school
- To equip the girls with skills and confidence to ensure better protection from exploitation and abuse
- To develop peer mentors who can support other girls within the school, community and home
- To establish a Parent Engagement Group
- To secure the support and commitment of parents and families in the continued development of adolescent girls
- To establish mentorship roles within the community to ensure ownership and sustainability of the programme
After School Programme
Running in parallel with the Girls Mentorship Programme, we support a teacher from each of the three Junior Secondary schools to provide academic tuition two afternoons a week after the conclusion of classes.
Equipped with revision and text books and stationery, the girls have unhindered access to support and guidance from a teacher. They have chance to ask and answer questions, to participate in discussion without fear of being mocked or outspoken by male classroom peers.
The girls are further supported with monthly provision of sanitary towels and bathing soap. This goes some way to afford them to menstrual hygiene and protection they need to maintain attendance and full participation in all school activities.
Monitoring and Evaluation
In conjunction with Head Teachers, we monitor attendance and performance of each of the girls as well as their engagement within both programmes.
Under the professional guidance of our Head Teachers within the Karare Board of Trustees, we have established Academic Clinics which seek to strengthen the partnership, and responsibilities between student, parent and school. Guidance on how to read and analyse end of Term reports, helps both student and parent to assess progress and identify areas for additional support.
Regular surveys and facilitated discussion with the girls and teachers help us to evaluate the impact of our investment and support. Pregnancies and child marriage has significantly reduced over the past four years, enrolment into new academic years by girls has increased and their attendance improved.
Resources
As we receive donations of clothing, sportswear and stationery items, we ensure that each girl is equipped with essential items. We intend that every girl will be a beneficiary of the re-usable sanitary towel initiative being developed in Karare by Mwangaza Women.
The provision of educational resources significantly enhances a girls ability to fully engage in learning, no longer having to share with three or four other pupils. A solar lamp ensures that she can complete homework late into the evening after she has concluded household chores.
Sanitary towels and bathing soap maintains her dignity and personal hygiene. No longer afraid of soiled uniform or unpleasant odours, she can fully engage in all school activities with confidence.
