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 and often lack awareness and confidence of the basic life skills which protect and empower them throughout their development.
Within pastoralist communities such as Karare, girls are adversely affected. Tribal feuds, drought and poverty enhances that degree of vulnerability. Reported levels of teenage pregnancy are of particular concern as well as the significant drop out of girls from education across three main primary schools in Karare.
Parents and guardians are crucial to enabling these girls to complete their education and to have the full support in maximising their academic ability. It is important to engage those parents to ensure they understand the need and recognise ability and potential.
Our programme syllabus has developed based upon the existing Amuka Twende programme. This syllabus has been utilised within Ngando and Kibera townships for more than two years and proved very effective in enhancing awareness and confidence as well as protecting young people. The syllabus will be complemented with local community based initiatives, highlighting those issues more relevant to the needs within Karare. This will include adolescent, reproductive health, empowerment and enabling of girls and addressing early child marriage and fgm.
For more than a year, the girls have met twice a week; for three consecutive weeks at their respective schools, and the fourth week the three groups come together at a community focal point where they can share progress and enhance strength of peer support. Parents should meet monthly at their respective school.
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
Monitoring and Evaluation
In conjunction with Head Teachers, we monitor attendance and performance of each of the girls as well as their engagement within the mentorship programme. Each group is encouraged to develop peer mentorship and support as well as hold each other to account for attendance and engagement.
End of term structured surveys and analysis assess all aspects of performance and development. At the end of each term we invite parents, Head Teachers, mentors and participants to come together to share with the community, the Kenya Board and each other what they have achieved. We recognise the crucial role that everyone has to the development of the girls.
Resources
As we receive donations of clothing, sportswear and stationary items throughout the year, 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.
Educational resources will be provided to each girl and a library of text and revision books available to each mentorship group. Following successful completion of the years programme and attendance at Girls Mentorship Camp, each girl is provided with a revision book for the new school year.